Jumpin Jive - Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers 

That's my father in law on the drums, the late J. C. Heard. RIP Papa

I was sitting here going "Damn, these guys have escaped gravity" and then they DO THE SPLITS ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STAIRS and my mouth dropped open.

this is one of the most physically impressive displays I've ever seen, from any era of dance. what I wouldn't give to have seen that in person

70 years later and this is just as impossibly cool and classy as it must have been back then. Truly timeless.

These guys fitness levels was beyond Olympian.

Came for Calloway, stayed for the Nicholas Brothers. Holy COW were they good!

And it's been 80 years and the imitators still can't touch him

72 years later and I haven't seen a dance number top this. Incredible...not that I've been around for 72 years!

Fred Astaire said this was the best dance sequence ever filmed. That's hardly faint praise.

This is why i love youtube....finding incredible performances from years past that I wouldn't ordinary get to see

Anyone notice the way the piano player's fingers danced over those keys????!!!! NO piano teacher can teach that. That is a talent comes from the soul!!!!

Yeah, I think it's pretty safe to assume the Nicholas Brothers were superhuman...

This was light years ahead of it's time, I bet people will be watching this a thousand years from now and will still have their minds blown, absolutely incredible!

Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers, it can't get better than this. This is what true talent looks like.

Gregory Hines said if this sequence were to reproduced in a bio movie of the Nicholas Brothers, it would have to be completely computer-generated because no one nowadays would be able to copy this dance sequence.

This video makes me unbelievably happy!

There is nothing, absolutely nothing in our culture today that can compare to the genius of these performers. They were, and still are, our American trophies.

I would add that for this performance the brothers were told to improvise so that when they came down the stairs jumping over each other while completing the splits, it was all made up by them and not rehearsed. What talent!

Amazing talent.... The Nicholas Brothers were NEVER replicated or duplicated; because nobody could..... They were true dancers in their own right. RIP brothers; you are missed....

This is beyond amazing, how could any dance routine be choreographed better than this. By doing this dance, the Nicholas Brothers have immortalised themselves as one of the greatest dancers of all time. They did all this in one take, if you can, watch the movie, and towards the end you will see this dance, Even Fred Astaire mentioned this is the greatest dance routine of all time.

This dance piece is considered by many cognoscenti of dance, including no less than Fred Astaire, as the greatest filmed tap dance sequence of all time. I would agree.

Man.....showmanship on every level. True performers.

My dad grew up during these times. He told me that when black folks went out on the town back then, they had a BALL!!! Very little, if any, violence at all. Maybe a guy trying to talk to another man's lady. He also told me that getting ready and dressed for the evening was an ALL DAY affair. You picked out what to wear, washed and pressed your clothes, shined your shoes. Then you thoroughly bathed then spent another 2+ hours getting your hair fixed just right. There was a lot of competition.

my legs and balls ache from just watching this

I came here for cab but daaaaaaaamn those brothers are machines!!

The best dance number of all times.

For you youngters out there. These are real dancers.This is called TALENT...THESE ARE ENTERTAINERS...LIVE BAND, REAL MUSICIANS PLAYING- GREAT TIMING, DANCING, with athleticism. Never get tired of watching this. Nobody alive now can do this.

We should also note that Fred Astaire used to work out/practice with these guys which is one of the reasons he was so good.

I just watched two grown men jump over each other and do splits as they jump to land on a split, possibly destroying their crotch, while doing tap-dances. *Thumbs up the video*

This was done in ONE TAKE - NO CUTS - THIS IS GENIUS!!!!

The greatest dance routine ever performed.

My Grandfather, Joseph Castello, was a tailor and use to make suits for the Nicholas Brother's and other great's from this era. Wonderful that there are people out there that keep these legends alive on RU-vid for all to enjoy! Best quality I've seen. Nobody like these two legends!

According to Fayard Nicholas (in an interview you can find on RU-vid) they did the big stairs and jumps at the end with NO REHEARSAL and ONE TAKE. Truly two of the greatest dance artists ever.

I'm 50 and didn't discover Cab Calloway until I saw him in The Blues Brothers movie, but my dad (born in 1923) knew who he was!!! NOW, seeing this, I've discovered the Nicholas Brothers (thanks RU-vid commenters); plus seeing Cab in his younger days is so cool!!!

2:05 You can tell the guy on the right doesn't really like having guys jumping around near his head.

Check out the piano shaking under their weight at 3:00. Amazing they could maintain their concentration on an unstable surface like that.

I watched this movie in film class and fell in love with this scene!

As awesome as the dancing, all in one take...give props to the cameramen and the editors on this one. They were right there with the Nicholas Brothers every step of the way. Simply amazing all around.

Cab Calloway: can even turn an exit for the main act into the classiest thing ever seen.

Now that is something I'd want to see live!

Cab Calloway was the ultimate consummate entertainer who allowed those in his bands with greater talent to shine. While he was a star of my parents' generation, Cab was the guy I wanted to emulate when I started performing back in the 1960s.

These guys knew how to perform

Best team of dancers ever! Can never be duplicated! Rest in Peace Nicholas Brothers!

The Nicholas Brothers! Their dancing leaves me breathless!

Nothing short of phenomenal.

This is nothing but sheer JOY!!!! I could watch this a million times and still get goose bumps! Truly Masters of the Craft of Entertainment!

Elegance and class defined.

Nothing new in dancing, these talented persons invented all.

Great filmmaking. The shadows and lighting effects make it very interesting to watch. And Cab was a " timeless" entertainer. He was as good to watch at 80. In fact, he even looked the same. A true American icon

Vintage Classic talent!!!! ..... I would have dislocated and broken my hips in three different locations.

With all due respect to the great dance hero of the pop age, our beloved Michael Jackson, the Nicholas brothers make him look like a mere beginner......they absolutely blow MJ out of the water.....!!!!!

i love this movie my father whom i just lost was a great jazz muscian and played with alot of the greats.. we would watch this movie 10 times a day lol.. i put this on to remember my dad.. this was his favorite movie of all time..because he played with alot of these people in the movie..my father was Andres Guerra,, or ANDY and awsome bassist..i love this movie as well and entertainment is nothing like this and its a shame..WHAT A SHOW

Fantastic dancers - there is nobody that can touch the style and skills of the Nicholas Brothers

What is so fantastic about this 71 year old clip is that this routine was done by the bottom act of this movie and it stole the show!....The other thing was that it was UNREHEARSED!!!!!!!!!

Their dancing is nothing but amazing and it's great to be someone of the younger generation and still get to watch performances like this.

I've never seen a dance routine as mesmerizing as this. I'm totally amazed by the Nicholas Brothers.

I laughed, gasped, and cheered out loud while watching this. There really is nothing like this anymore. I saw Cab Calloway back in the mid 80's. Still could belt it out, and the pure joy and showmanship was mesmerizing. Never have seen dancing like this though. What I would give to have a time machine.

Ah, to have been young at this time, and seen & heard these outstanding talents live! Nothing generates such joy as this jumping jive music! When I think of these African-American performers giving so much pleasure to audiences & giving their all, whereas they couldn't even get served an egg -Jersey side or not- in the roadside restaurants when they were on tour, makes me see red. What a crime.. Jazz is the greatest & finest form of music we have in the US and people love it the world over.

cant get enough of the jumping jive routine. it smooth all the way through and the first 30 seconds of footwork are unique and superior.

4:00 splits on the stairs lol OMG these guys are remarkable

God damn, Cab was truly amazing

Phenomenal performance! I can't think of any current performers who compare.

The Nicholas brothers were amazing.

My 63 year old husband and I have started tap dancing (I am 60)....we'll never be that good...but what a workout!

Im not a 1941 music guy but this was amazing

I am a martial arts instructor, I can do some pretty awesome stuff and have seen some MORE awesome stuff. This said, nothing compares to this. I have watched it so many times, and I always find myself saying don't do it don't do it, before the splits jumps down the stairs. Not to mention the impeccable rhythm these guys have. Such a shame people don't understand the near inhuman ability of these people through natural talent and HOURS of dedicated practise.

Mr Calloway. You just got your self another fan

I got more pleasure out of watching this than I have most any movie I've seen in the last few years. So shocked to see it's from 1943, I must see more of these people, the athleticism in there is immense!

Even when I was young and flexible and studying dance, trying to match the Nicholas Brothers would have been fatal.

I'm old (52) but, I would have loved this at 15...

SHOW STOPPING dance routine! My dad loved Cab Calloway and thought that the Nicholas Brothers were, BY FAR, the BEST dancers of their time!

timeless classics just mindblowing

Wow - Cab & orchestra are dynamite and then the Nicholas brothers take it out of the ball park like a homer. This is the music that broke down so many barriers and its greatness is plain to see and hear. It makes you feel good. It's exciting still, after so many years.

wow, I would go out to clubs if this was the entertainment!

this was what music was really about having a good time no need for wrong words or phrases just good old fashioned way to get your feet up and just like cab Calloway says jumpin and jiving lol

By far the best of all time ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James Brown, Michael Jackson, Prince... and the Nicholas Brothers. Source of inspiration for sure !

This is one of the most "awesome" things that I have ever seen. The Nicholas' dancing is simply great. I am glad that someone put it on RU-vid, so that everyone can witness the great talent of these brothers. I always admired the dancing of Astaire, Kelly, Nelson--but I have to state--that the Nicholas brothers performance--here is one of the best performance of dancing that I have ever witnessed on film. I am glad that they are finally being given their--due. I also must point out that they were not only great dancer, but they were both Handsome (FIne) --Good Looking--whatever you want to say. MMMMM.

... I'm speechless. That was phenomenal!!

This version of Jumpin Jive is vastly better than the original. I love the part at 1:12, where the people at the tables are just feeling it!

I love my people! Innovators and original creators!

Another inspiration for Michael Jackson. They are strong, they are power.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. These guys must have Olympian legs- they don't even break a sweat! Harold flirts with girls in the audience with his smile through the whole thing! Staggering skill and talent.

Absolutely breathtaking. Unbelievable. Such class, elegance and grace. 2 giants in the genre of dance. BRAVO!!!!

I saw him at the Plush Room in SF when he was in his 70s and his energy was still something else. If I remember right, he had his daughter performing with him.The lesson I learned was if an old timer is performing go see them before it's too late That's why I saw Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald around the same time

Oh man could they move! What a fantastic combo,Cab Calloway,the orchestra,and the Nicholas Brothers!

Kelly, Astaire and the Nicholas Brothers gave us some of the most stunning and creative dance moments in our history. Music and dance...America's greatest contribution to art and joy.

I see them guys I got to smile. Them was some dancing, stomping fools. Way too smooth.

my god ive never seen anything like this! These guys were a super phenomenon, loving this stuff! And they are doing it in coat and tails, amazing!

How's this humanly possible?! fantastic!

I am a real fan of movie dancing. But in my 63 years i never saw the Nicholas Brothers till there was You Tube. Just goes to show you how ignorant I was. I could watch these two masters dance all night. Thank you for posting

Simply amazing. I can appreciate what artists do today, but nothing today comes close to putting a smile on my face like this does. Absolutely love the music, the dance, the spirit from the swing era. Incredible stuff.

How are there 142 thumbs down on this? There shouldn't be ANY!!

if someone told me a live show JUST like this was playing, I'd go to see it every weekend. No joke.

CAB CALLOWAY WAS ONE OF THE REAL AND TRUE EVERLASTING GREATS WHILE ALL YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THE NICHOLAS BROTHERS IS THEY WERE AND REMAIN THE BEST DUO EVER TO TAKE TO ANY STAGE AND ARE LOOKED ON BY MANY AS THE BEST AT THEIR CRAFT WITH THE LIKES OF FRED ASTAIRE AND GENE KELLY SAYING THIS WAS THE BEST TAP ROUTINE EVER ON FILM ... THEY COULD DO IT ALL ... FANTASTICAL, IMPOSSIBLE STUFF !!!

astounding choreography

They are the best dancers on this planet !

That talent puts a smile on my face for so many reasons!

I never get tired of watching this.... how smooth, elegant, light as a feather are the Nicholas brothers... just amazing, what a performance! it is sad that maybe if they were white there would be statues of them in hollywood.

quite possibly the greatest tap dance ever