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.

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

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

These guys fitness levels was beyond Olympian.

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

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

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

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

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!!!!

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

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.

my legs and balls ache from just watching this

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

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

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!

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!

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....

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.

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

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.

This video makes me unbelievably happy!

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*

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 KZfaq commenters); plus seeing Cab in his younger days is so cool!!!

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.

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.

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

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

The best dance number of all times.

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.

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.

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

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

The greatest dance routine ever performed.

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

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

These guys knew how to perform

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 KZfaq for all to enjoy! Best quality I've seen. Nobody like these two legends!

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

The Nicholas Brothers! Their dancing leaves me breathless!

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

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

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

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.

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

Nothing short of phenomenal.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nothing new in dancing, these talented persons invented all.

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

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

The Nicholas brothers were amazing.

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

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

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 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!

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

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.

God damn, Cab was truly amazing

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

Im not a 1941 music guy but this was amazing

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

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

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.

Mr Calloway. You just got your self another fan

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

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

How's this humanly possible?! fantastic!

astounding choreography

timeless classics just mindblowing

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!!!!!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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 KZfaq, 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.

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

I love my people! Innovators and original creators!

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.

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

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 have I never seen this before?? This is totally amazing!

They are the best dancers on this planet !

I AM SO BLOWN AWAY WITH THIS PERFORMANCE..THIS IS WONDERFUL.I LOVE THE MEN WORK

I want to come back reincarnated as Cab Calloway! Man, those Nicholas Brothers, too! Yanno, they literally DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS anymore. Seriously, Calloway and the brothers are definitely given the "Class A" treatment in this sequence--it should be preserved in a time capsule. The fastest mouth and the fastest legs of all time! Thanks for sharing this!

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

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