From the Wikipedia for Bill Robinson, Shirley Temple recounts, "Robinson walked a step ahead of us, but when he noticed me hurrying to catch up, he shortened his stride to accommodate mine. I kept reaching up for his hand, but he hadn't looked down and seemed unaware. Fannie called his attention to what I was doing, so he stopped short, bent low over me, his eyes wide and rows of brilliant teeth showing in a wide smile. When he took my hand in his, it felt large and cool. For a few moments, we continued walking in silence. "Can I call you Uncle Billy?" I asked. "Why sure you can," he replied... "But then I get to call you darlin.'" It was a deal. From then on, whenever we walked together it was hand in hand, and I was always his "darlin." I find that such a heartwarming and awesome story. One more interesting factoid is that... "...After Robinson was signed by 20th Century Fox, it was decided that he would perform his famous stair dance with Temple. While Robinson liked the idea, he quickly realized that he could not teach his complex stair dance to a seven-year-old in the few days permitted by the shooting schedule. Instead, he taught Temple to kick the riser (face) of each stairstep with her toe. After watching her practice his choreography, Robinson modified his routine to mimic her movements, so that it appeared on film that she was imitating his steps. The sequence was the highlight of the film."
You don't see talent like this, this level, much anymore. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was one of the top tap dancers in the world. The Nicholas Brothers were also incredible, and there's a few more icons of that day. So much talent. Some of those men can be seen in the movie "Taps" and even in their 60's, 70's, and 80's could STILL rip up the floor. Just incredible.
This film also has a historical 1st for its time-Shirley & Bojangles actually holding hands up the steps-that was NOT done in movies of that period til then. Blacks & whites didn't touch if they danced together!
That's sad. Those 2 made such a touching pair and the hand holding was, I think, a part of the "message". The south hasn't changed that much since back then, that's for sure
The way she looks up in admiration--knowing the times--is heartwarming and brings tears to my eyes. We have a lot of work to do here in the States but I feel so much empathy and pain for my ancestors. And, I thank them for their hardwork.
Deva DeWalt speaking as a white woman who grew up watching this, I can attest that everyone I knew had a great deal of respect and admiration for Mr. Robinson.
Ah, Mr. Bill Bojangles Robinson. One of the best tap dancers there ever was and no one can surpass his kind of talent. He who one awards from kings in Europe. When he was receiving one reward from a king, he had to walk up a few steps to the king and he tap danced his way up. That's how it all started. He even held a world record of running backwards in a 100 yard dash in 13.7 seconds in 1922. That record was broken in 1977 by a Paul Wilson in 13.3, but all the same, that's amazing to know. However, his fantastic dancing on the stair shall forever be the best of his signatures. RIP, Mr. Bojangles. And to you sweet little Shirley Temple, the only little girl who could keep up with Mr Bojangles' steps.
@@deliawright8626 Have you not seen Mr. Trevor Miles perform. Many have said his voice sounds like a cross of Yoko Ono in the style of Bob Dylan. And dances like a King crab on fire .
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was a featured performer in the very first Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade. He danced the entire route and, according to legend, never repeated a step the whole way. He was the greatest tap dancer the world has ever seen, or is ever likely to see.
Everybody talking all this crap, and not giving Bill Bojangles Robinson the credit he deserves. He taught Shirley Temple how to to tap dance, as she stated in an article, he told her to feel the beat when he would be teaching her these choreography's and not count it, and she had to want to dance because she did learn it and pick it up so well. He was not a house anything, he did what he did to survive during that time, he was an enormous talent, even Fred Astaire and Gene Kelley said they would not have been as good as they were, if not for Bill Bo Jangles Robinson. She stated they were good friends and that, she had respect for him and he for her, and that he never mentioned the racist things he had suffered to her at any time, so therefore she never knew what he went through. She said in the article he always said to her, that everything was copacetic, even one time when she stayed at a hotel and he stayed in a room above a drugstore and she asked him why did he not stay at the hotel, as she stated, he told her everything was copacetic. Was glad to see these dance scenes with the two of them posted! Again, God bless Bill Bojangles Robinson and Shirley Temple!
I'm reading her book now and when they showed this movie in the south, they edited out them holding hands in this scene because they knew it would cause an uproar. Made me sad. But what a huge amount of talent between the two.
Have you ever noticed that often times back then whites who were racist against black people still liked black entertainers? Robinson was popular with both blacks and whites, and was probably the most well known and highest paid black entertainer of his era. Even bigots would often look past his skin color and appreciate his great tallent.
Alex tepe yea they appreciated their talent but they would never have them use their bathrooms or restaurants or stay in the hotels etc..... watch the movie green book. Also Sinatra insisted his friend Sammy Davis jr stay in a room in the same hotel as him nd the rat pack. Arseholes!!!
John Knee o read the same thing about Louis Armstrong. Even though he was world famous and a New Orleans native he still had to stay in a separate hotel. He once said that it seemed he got treated better anywhere else in the world than he did in his hometown.
One of my favorite scenes ever! These two great talents are so sweet together. So touching --brings tears to my eyes. Bojangles was Shirley's mentor and they stayed close until his death in 1949. Rest in peace Shirley and Bojangles. Thank you for entertaining us! You were both one of a kind
Looked over him? That man was loved, the world over. When he died, a million an a half people lined the streets of New York, from Harlem to Brooklyn, just to say goodbye. The largest funeral ever in NYC history.
Love this...but it makes me tear up a bit when I think this man entertained millions but had to suffer Jim Crow and segregation. Shameful. Thank you Mr. Bojangles.....
Many criticize Robinson for being an "uncle tom-ish" character. Well people need to remember that he didn't have much of a choice back in the days of the 1930's. He worked with the cards he was dealt with.
+TimelineProvision TP They could've formed, but they heavily restricted from Jim Crow and segregation laws. Plus the KKK kept them too scared to do anything and didn't have the right leadership. So they had to wait until the 60's when civil rights were in full swing and they had the courage to go for it. Then in the 70's they had their own hollywood, it was called Blaxploitation
@@maddierosemusic NO ! Jerry Jeff Walker wrote the song about Jerry's stay in jail with Mr. Bojangles... Two different Bojangles. (Easy research, do it...)
@@johnnyp8979Nah. Meeting another tap dancing “Mr. Bojangles” in JAIL? Nope. You can bet Mr. Walker made up the jail story. But he undoubtedly got the idea for the song from THIS.
@@Amaberean JJW went to jail in 1965 in new Orleans for public intoxication, while in that jail, he met a WHITE FELLOW that also danced and lives hand to mouth and usually stayed in jail(s) basically for room n board thanks to the county/town he was in. Song was written by 1968 with help of David Bromberg. And yes, Mr Bill BOJANGLES died in 1949, he was an African American dancer, YES, and very well known... (but this is another person). This white fella took BOJANGLES as a pseudo name to cover real identity. Mr Bojangles song and something about his dog that died 20 years back but still hurts 🥲, but still dances the days away... Jerry Jeff was a transplanted Nu Yark'er to Austin, TX area, I know, I lived in Austin during that time 😬. All's good 👍, just listen and enjoy the beauty of the Texas country outlaw movement... JAMES McMURTRY. BLAZE FOLEY. JUSTIN TOWNES EARL n dad STEVE EARL. TOWNEZ VAN ZANDT. GUY CLARK. FLACO. DOUG SAHMS n TEXAS TORNADOES. WILLIE. WAYLON. And so many more...
So much talent was required of Hollywood back then, you weren't getting nowhere if you couldn't sing, act, AND dance. Back then tap dancing was the biggest thing and nearly every single successful actor or actress back then had a background in it. Many talent scouts went to dance studios looking for new stars, in fact that's how they found miss Shirley :) I'm not complaining about the new actors and actresses, nor any new stars in general, it's just interesting how much more they had to be capable of back then.
She was a little bundle of uncomplicated joy. Her talents were limited though, all she could do when just out of infancy, was sing, dance, remember her lines, handle the pressure of stardom without self-destructing, show-up on time and charm the socks off just about everyone.
Best ever. Brings back memories of me and my father. Bill Robinson the hardest working dancer back then. So may people use his routines (borrowed). Lol
and then it took another like 30 something years until Captain Kirk kissed Uhura for the first interracial kiss! but until then they never had a problem with Kirk lusting after green aliens lol
TV was always behind the times. In the movies they were more progressive. They had the first nudity (1890s) first sex (1910s) and first interracial kiss (1950s) .
Robinson was encouraged to do his famous stairs dance with Temple, but he knew he couldn't teach the complex steps to her, at age 7, in the few days they had. So, he taught her the 'kick the riser' step, and then watched her do it. He modified his dance to match her steps so that it would look like she was imitating him.
I just watched that movie Bojangles" with Gregory Hines portraying him and it was fantastic! That scene dancing on the stairs on both sides was incredible footwork. All the charities Robinson gave to ought to be listed on Wikipedia part of his biography! What an amazing man he was! It was also a tribute to Gregory Hines for his tremendous, talented dancing he did in this film. May he rest in peace, too. He was too young to die at 57 years old.
I love how easy he makes it look! Such perfect spatial awareness is rare, let alone the tap skills :D I'm so proud that my 2 yo enjoys this so much that she asks for Mr. Bojangles by name (and wants to be Shirley Temple of course).
I don't think I've ever seen this movie in its entirety, yet I've seen this dance number several times. I will never not love watching this-- puts a huge smile on my face every time!
I love all these classics I don't know why teenagers my age don't appreciate classics such like Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers and many more. I LOVE THEM ALL
This just brought tears to my eyes. Such innocent. We don't see that today. Mr Bo Jangles and little Shirley Temple. We loved you and thank you . Rest in peace.
February 22,1934: "The Little Colonel" premieres starring Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, featuring the famous stair dance; Hollywood's first interracial dance couple. Classic. RIP Shirley Temple, RIP Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Thank you, mysticmoon1984 for the upload of this beautiful and classic piece of movie history. Blessings....
This movie scene is one of the best I’ve ever seen because of the great performances in this scene! Thank you for keeping tap dance on the screen. Tap dance will never end, ever, it’s awesome!
I originally found this used to atmospheric effect in an episode of The X Files (Folie a Deux)...very creepy episode.....but the scene itself is bloody brilliant...my stomach literally flips as he goes up and down the stairs....yup tap dancing up and down steps....anyone else would have shattered their ankles! What talent and confidence you must have had to do that routine....big up respect.
What incredible talent! Miss this so much. No one is looking at skin color, only two people getting along and having fun. HELLO! Most people feel the same! Get it together
Feb 6, 2023: Gosh....Mom grew up on Shirley Temple movies. (Mr. Bojangles was such a talented man!) As a child, learning the dance routines became easier for Shirley. Thanks, Kate
He was amazing! That last part before he went back down to Shirley was fantastic. He zig zagged up and down taking two steps at a time. He wasn't a spring chicken either.
He is amazing because there was never anyone more smooth, slick and classy. She was amazing because she was ... six when this was filmed. Both are still awesome, i.e. they induce awe in me.
I looked it up, he was in his 50s at this point. I'm one of those people that holds on to the rail going up and down. The ability to DANCE up and down stairs is stunning.
shirley temple stood her ground with one of America's great dancers, it's sad to think of the mentality back then, I'm not not mad at my white friends because of the racism, we as black people forgive and move on
Stupid bigotry back then pissed off my grandmother. Most of the employees at my grandfather’s dairy were black, and they would go to their weddings and parties. My grandmother had no problem dancing with other blacks. If someone gave her crap about that, she would release her Irish temper.
