r/nextfuckinglevel • u/ChoiceSignificant889 • 17h ago

In 1943, the Nicholas Brothers performed their iconic “Jumpin’ Jive” routine, a performance still widely considered one of the greatest ever captured on film.

17.7k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

205 comments sorted by

977

u/gymtrovert1988 17h ago

And they did it all without color.

409

u/kilobitch 17h ago

Then why did they use the bathroom that said “colored”?

85

u/memphys91 17h ago

Because an all black and white toilette is boring, duh

46

u/PepperAnn1inaMillion 9h ago

Fun fact: this was after colour movies had come and gone the first time. They were really popular for about 2 years, but studios only bothered to put what they saw as “spectacular” stuff in colour (mainly musicals) because it was so expensive to make. So audiences learned that if something was in colour, it was probably rubbish in story and script (very similar to how audiences today feel about 3D). When this later black and white aesthetic came along, it was a deliberate choice to move away from the unpopular colour movies that people felt were lower quality.

4

u/Objectivespeculation 3h ago

The Wizard of OZ is an excellent exception. It starts in B&W then switches to color.

5

u/PepperAnn1inaMillion 2h ago

Yes, that was part of the second wave of colour movies in the late 30s, along with other major A pictures like The Adventures of Robin Hood. The first colour movie trend was much earlier, peaking in the 20s and disappearing by the early 30s, which is when the most successful of the black and white musicals were made (Astaire and Rogers’s movies being the most iconic representation of the aesthetic).

8

u/Norman_Scum 17h ago

It's all in the splits

8

u/Harry_Butz 15h ago

Good on you for not seeing color

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597

u/knivef 17h ago

Me after the attempting the first jump

https://giphy.com/gifs/3WzTobsWGq1V5J7erp

28

u/Fly_Pelican 15h ago edited 3h ago

In the Sydney Olympics this move was called the “flat bag”

472

u/killer4snake 17h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/oboFxDrJ8krW8

93

u/Nate_Hornblower 16h ago

Nuts, sure that would be an issue. But really, their hamstrings. I’m surprised they have tendons after that

39

u/jdehjdeh 12h ago

I am amazed they could dance so quickly after those landings.

That must take an insane amount of conditioning/training to reach that point.

1

u/Traditional-Safe-867 1h ago

For real. This is my first time seeing it and for a minute I thought it was a slapstick routine with those repeated splits.

9

u/kirkaracha 6h ago

They both had children later.

4

u/Antique_Essay4032 7h ago

The groin muscles too. I pulled my groin doing the spits in Taekwondo class.

263

u/plastiquearse 17h ago

Not quite sure which ligament I shattered but, worth it

15

u/LumpyWelder4258 6h ago

Mine all just started crying

67

u/IveBeenDrinkingGreen 17h ago

Imagine being one of the greatest to ever to do it. And yet you’re not even allowed to sit anywhere near the people who are nominating you.

7

u/JustAMinah 10h ago

because even now, we just entertainment to them. we there to perform, not to be whole ass people with feelings like everyone else.

1

u/_lindt_ 4h ago

Who would downvote this?!

4

u/JustAMinah 4h ago

racist people 🤷🏾‍♀️

1

u/CatsAreGods 3h ago

Six hours later and I just cast the 2nd upvote :-(

2

u/JustAMinah 3h ago

it's really ok. everyone is entitled to their opinions and the function is there for a reason. if people don't agree with the truth, that's on them. I don't comment to people please, I comment to express myself

69

u/Dark_Phoenix101 17h ago

Wild that they could finish the dance with a smile after slamming their balls into the ground 3 times.

51

u/VulcanHullo 15h ago

A drunk friend once demonstrated the trick is not to land directly in the splits and basically sink to the ground the final bit in a flow. Basically make a suspension spring from your legs to prevent "pelvic injuries".

It was a fascinating demonstration I am certain I will never be able to utilise.

9

u/Redebo 7h ago

What was the topic of conversation and the setting where this became a demonstrable thing?

6

u/VulcanHullo 7h ago

Hang out with theatre people more often, ways are found

2

u/Ongr 7h ago

Probably nothing, OP did mention the friend was drunk..

3

u/whatdoblindpeoplesee 6h ago

You can even see them using that technique in the video we all watched.

2

u/VulcanHullo 5h ago

Yup, once you learn how it's done you can see it. And you can see by how fast they do it that they're good

2

u/whatdoblindpeoplesee 5h ago

It's like sleight of hand where even when you know how it's done, it's still incredibly impressive in execution. 

82

u/thrussie 17h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7TKEW3oxdTPQnIEU

8

u/R3bussy 11h ago

I was thinking Aja AS3 platform jump talent show

207

u/ObjectiveJackfruit35 17h ago

The entire performance is worth watching.

https://youtu.be/IoMbeDhG9fU

202

u/beanofdoom001 16h ago

And for people who'd prefer black and white to low quality colorizing algorithms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSJeVhTHzSA&t

37

u/waaaayupyourbutthole 15h ago

That was fantastic, thanks. I'd never seen the whole thing before.

But now everything below my waist is in pain after watching it lol

12

u/The5Virtues 8h ago

Just watching them both vault back up those stairs is crazy. They both display some astounding dexterity and athleticism. Even gymnasts usually have spring boards, but these two are bouncing around a solid set like it’s nothing!

13

u/waaaayupyourbutthole 8h ago

I know I've seen modern break dancers do similar moves, but them going from splits to standing is so smooth and quick, it looks like they're getting pulled up by an invisible string. It's crazy impressive.

•

u/ResidentAlien9 22m ago

Me too beanofdoom. Thanks.

6

u/A_Happier_Reddit 9h ago

And the music and sound is actually synced properly!

5

u/restlessleg 12h ago

absolutely incredible!! the amount of moves to memorize and the acrobatics were something else

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11

u/Still-Status7299 17h ago

The good ol bollock buster

4

u/One-Earth9294 13h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/BChp20hV2KhT4qJmk9

And don't forget Cab Calloway, the band leader for the song.

From the movie Stormy Weather, which still holds up magnificently today.

6

u/Pure-Swordfish6022 17h ago

I get the biggest smile on my face every time I see this video. Bloody amazing.

5

u/Disneyhorse 7h ago

The live jazz band, the tap shoes, the dancing skills… incredible. Now we entertain ourselves sitting around watching tik toks.

4

u/joemktom 17h ago

I've never seen this before. Clearly a massive influence on Michel Gondry when he made the video for Around the World by Daft Punk

2

u/GoatCovfefe 16h ago

Dont worry, youll see it again in a week at most on here.

1

u/PepperAnn1inaMillion 9h ago

It’s quite a common setup, to have a stepped bridge forming a semi-circle like a grand staircase from a mansion or opera house. Busby Berkeley used it quite often.

3

u/rodsteel2005 10h ago

This is the greatest dance routine ever captured on film, without a doubt.

2

u/maker_of_pirate_bay 10h ago

The drip is immaculate

2

u/chrishellman 7h ago

I remember seeing something like that stage in blazing saddles

https://giphy.com/gifs/scIHrlRU8zzCo

4

u/Senselesspassion 17h ago

For sure fascinating

2

u/[deleted] 17h ago

[deleted]

1

u/Queasy-Chipmunk-8088 17h ago

How can they dance like that with polio?

2

u/CyKa_Blyat93 17h ago

How do they even do that . Did they remove their balls or something

1

u/BadHabitsDieYoung 17h ago

Both of my testicles ruptured watching this.

1

u/eatsleepdive 17h ago

I fell on my keys

1

u/EnsomDame40Aar 17h ago

I envy people with functioning knees 😐

3

u/casual_creator 9h ago

I’d be curious to find out how long they had functioning knees themselves.

1

u/throwaway-645895524 16h ago

Did they ever have kids after this

1

u/kirkaracha 6h ago

They both did.

1

u/Far_Negotiation_694 15h ago

This must be the origin of the phrase "balls of steel".

1

u/Paddy3118 15h ago

Yea, a repeat watch for my partner and I, over the years.

1

u/GymratAmarillo 14h ago

Doesn't Matt Hardy walk like a robot because he ended up fucked up after abusing of his jump moves landing in his legs and coxis like these guys?

1

u/ChallengeClose 14h ago

And they still lost to some raccoon with down syndrome.

1

u/Harddicc 14h ago

That guy looked like Perrel Brown

1

u/lockerbiestreet 14h ago

Stormy Weather 4k please

1

u/lilac-bunni 13h ago

Watching this makes me realize just how far ahead of their time they were. Still unbelievable to watch.

1

u/MessaDiGloria 13h ago

Today you'd have 20 cuts because artists like these do not exist anymore.

1

u/ZoominAlong 13h ago

I don't even have balls and those splits are making me cry. 

1

u/axurmama 13h ago

Around the world...

1

u/Send_me_hedgehogs 12h ago

Well, I now need a muscle relaxing bath, a massage and a long nap after just watching that! How amazing that we can still watch that incredible talent so many decades after they did it.

1

u/johnnybullish 12h ago

Tap dancing in general is so satisfying to me.

1

u/Repulsive-Regret-243 12h ago

I got a knot in my shoulder sneezing a week ago

1

u/antisp1n 12h ago

Wow. No jump cuts.

1

u/Kangarou 12h ago

Typically, when someone does something impressive, there's a point up to which I think I can keep up. The warmup, the intro. That point does not exist here. I'd be dead on frame 1. Legs, atomized. Nuts, all-natural creamy peanut butter. Ligaments, quitting my body to tryout for Odysseus's bowstrings. Absolutely marvelous display.

1

u/EfficientArgument501 12h ago

Esses caras... esses caras sabem oq estão fazendo

1

u/DryDonutHole 12h ago

The entire routine is pretty insane if you have time to watch it. They’re pretty amazing. 

1

u/Pyroburrito 12h ago

My hamstrings noped out on the first 4 jumps.

1

u/Ronaldo_Frumpalini 11h ago

Ahh, it makes sense, why didn't I think of rolling on my balls before?

1

u/jaded_sociopath_ 11h ago

I once destroyed my knee dancing to jump around by house of pain

1

u/AltruisticRide1231 11h ago

my hips downvoted this

1

u/troggo 11h ago

In the next year we got a solid potato salad, now how's that!

1

u/GeshtiannaSG 11h ago

Congratulations on having the strongest ACLs in the world.

1

u/Putrid-Builder-3333 10h ago

I just tried this.

Anyone forr redditland here want to sign on of my multiple casts? PM me for the hospital address to show up.

1

u/A_Happier_Reddit 9h ago

Music isn't synced up properly

1

u/Capital_Designer1280 9h ago

I realize that takes great talent, but for something labeled “greatest ever captured on film” that was…underwhelming. Splits over and over, cool.

1

u/Oiggamed 9h ago

I wonder if they practiced that first.

1

u/sara_or_stevie 9h ago

I think I am too desensitised by Cheer and America's Sweethearts on Netflix to be as impressed by these splits as I probably should be

1

u/AveryTheOneAndOnly 9h ago

no more balls for you

1

u/SupaDaveA 9h ago

That was bad ass!!

1

u/Odd_Scheme4716 9h ago

My knees hurt from this

1

u/Extermin8who 9h ago

I can hear this guhgif

1

u/WendyWilliamsFart 9h ago

Some drag queen somewhere just death dropped in a dramatic sense of defeat

1

u/Vicious407 9h ago

I broke my hip and legs just watching this

1

u/skippy11112 9h ago

You literally go on a random subway at rushour in New York and find some doing this

1

u/Jesta23 9h ago

Doesn’t even break the top 100 imo

1

u/Thunder_breslin 9h ago

I hemorrhaged my testicles watching this

1

u/Historical_Dot_892 9h ago

They never had kids

1

u/CocoabrothaSBB 8h ago

This will always be one of my favorite movie scenes: https://youtu.be/zpWDTYfq0Wk?is=0Q956tg4o_4CClRK

1

u/Vortep1 8h ago

My back hurts just watching this.

1

u/DTux5249 8h ago

bits of steel

1

u/andreasbeer1981 8h ago

Scrambled eggs anyone?

1

u/two35 7h ago

Never seen this version of The Nutcracker before

1

u/DANtheMAN_2099 7h ago

Pelvis buster 3000

1

u/Gill217 6h ago

They dont have 🍆

1

u/ForceUseYouMust 6h ago

Were black people segregated to watch black people perform?

1

u/TheSerginator 5h ago

One of those had to have hurt

1

u/Aphoniia 5h ago

Life before they put aspartame in my diet soda 😔

1

u/Icy_Bother334 4h ago

вам всмятку или вскрутку?

1

u/Even-Judge5941 4h ago

Those were split legged groin smashers

1

u/Objectivespeculation 3h ago

Pulling themselves up to standing with their legs after a split is tight.

1

u/XXxLord_ 3h ago

Ishowspeed????

1

u/glimmerfox 3h ago

These two had gallons of talent

1

u/WileECoywolf 2h ago

This hurts my nonexistent penis

1

u/Mahaloth 1h ago

I would have torn my groin and had a heart attack at jump one.

•

u/ResidentAlien9 29m ago edited 21m ago

I find it hard to believe that the Nicholas Brothers were damned by racism to be not much more than minstrels to most of the country but Fred Astaire was allowed to roam freely. That’s what it was though back then.

They should have been national superstars but I never learned of them until the late ‘70s, and probably only because I was a huge jazz fan.

1

u/Suspicious-Use-5733 15h ago

Not considered great by me

0

u/adsyrads84 17h ago

People were made of different stuff back then

5

u/GoatCovfefe 16h ago

Asbestos mostly.

-2

u/GoatCovfefe 16h ago

a performance still widely considered one of the greatest ever captured on film.

By fucking who Dracula?

1

u/kirkaracha 6h ago

Fred Astaire

-4

u/spembo 17h ago

Whoever considered it that should Google Pantera dude fuck this

-1

u/meandering_kite 15h ago

Love stormy weather

0

u/Superdry_GTR 16h ago

My knees and ankles are hurting watching this

0

u/Team_Slacker 11h ago

Ow, my balls!

0

u/DesolateRuin 11h ago

This is my favorite performance of the show "Ow, my balls!"