RAVE: NICHOLAS BROTHERS: WE SING AND WE DANCE (TV)

Summary

One in this series of documentaries. This documentary focuses on the stage, film, and television careers of the singing-and-dancing duo, the Nicholas Brothers. Highlights of this program include footage from the following: the motion picture "The Black Network" (1932); a vaudeville scene in Philadelphia; home movies of the Nicholas family; a Buck & Bubbles film; a rehearsal at The Cotton Club; "Calling All Stars" (1936); home movies of Fred Astaire and the Nicholas Brothers dancing together; the Nicholas Brothers' trip across the Atlantic Ocean; the Broadway musical "Babes in Arms" (1937); home movies with Carmen Miranda; the motion picture "Down Argentine Way" (1940); the motion picture "Orchestra Wives"; "Stormy Weather"; "The Pirate" (1948); "Hollywood Palace" (1964); and "The Kennedy Center Honors." During the program the Harold and Fayard Nicholas discuss the following topics, among others: their formative years in Philadelphia; their parents; learning to dance; the acts they based their work on; their father's advice; working at The Cotton Club; Tallulah Bankhead; the policies of The Cotton Club; their relationship; meeting Nick Castle; the response of the audience to the Nicholas Brothers' dance number in "Down Argentine Way"; the way the dance numbers in music videos are cut; Harold Nicholas's opportunity to sing in the Broadway musical "St. Louis Woman"; working with Gene Kelly; why they went to Europe; why Harold stayed in Paris and Fayard returned home; Fayard's bout with arthritis; and Fayard's two hip replacements. Also included are interviews with the following people: their sister Dorothy Nicholas Morrow discusses her feelings about dancing as a child; producer Leonard Reed recalls the audience response to the Nicholas Kids; entertainer Cab Calloway describes The Cotton Club; drummer and composer Max Roach, cabaret singer/pianist Bobby Short, actor/dancer Gregory Hines, and actor/dancer Maurice Hines examine what the Nicholas Brothers meant to the black community; ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov comments on the dance style of the Nicholas Brothers; rap artist Hammer describes the thrill of watching the Nicholas Brothers; Maurice Hines evaluates labels given to dance acts; and actor/writer Clarke Peters laments the fact that the Nicholas Brothers are not remembered by the public as they should be. Commercials deleted.

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