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.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: November 29, 1992 11:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:47:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:35342
- GENRE: Arts documentaries; Dance
- SUBJECT HEADING: Dance; Tap dance
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Martin Haxby … Executive Producer
- Chips Chipperfield … Producer
- Rigmor Alfredsson Newman … Producer
- Chris Bould … Co-Producer, Director, Writer
- Bruce Goldstein … Co-Producer, Writer
- Michael Martin … Director
- Ann Magnuson … Host
- Clarke Peters … Narrator
- Fayard Nicholas
- Harold Nicholas
- Mikhail Baryshnikov
- Cab Calloway
- Hammer
- Gregory Hines
- Maurice Hines
- Dorothy Nicholas Morrow
- Clarke Peters
- Leonard Reed
- Max Roach
- Bobby Short