Bill Bojangles Robinson Deleted Scene #1

[debbiecsrb1]

These pioneers had to endure so much in order to lead the pathway for artists today. So sad that prejudice was so strong and deleted his part in the film.

[liamlynchfan]

Who else can make so many taps look incredibly effortless? I also love that silly smile constantly on his face. He is my favorite hoofer for sure.

[pmalone4]

Wait, WHY was the scene deleted?

I can't see ANYTHING offensive or controversial about that,

[kannika12]

The one and only Bill Robinson! He was so talented!

[ganixaba]

Incredible talent, but at the same time I'm happy to see how much tap has innovated and grown over the years.

[rolandangler]

I'm not sure whether anyone has mentioned this here, but Bill Robinson was 59 years of age when he danced in this film in 1937.

Didn't over 1 million people come out in New York for his funeral?

[FurorVikingorum]

@rolandangler He looks like he's only 29. Amazing.

[DixieCricket1]

Ironic when he stands in front of the bandstand, it appears he has wings....You go boy! You were very talented and the greatest!!

[ForteIIV]

Black talent was beautiful as well... Too bad it was stifled

[truthhitmanisback]

Was Bojangles Better than Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly ? Just asking cos I heard people say Bojangles was the greatest tap dancer !

[rossharmonics]

@truthhitmanisback Probably as far as tap goes, he was undeniably the best. Astaire's greatest strengths were elsewhere. There was no one like him. Kelly started late for a dancer and combined athletics with dancing and also relied on his original choreography to show himself to advantage. Kelly freely admitted Astaire was greater than him as a dancer. For pure tap, it's Robinson hands down.

[7t8h4z]

Love how he makes his great tap seem so effortless. What a master!

[liamlynchfan]

When I tap, my whole body is bouncing up and down. When Bill taps he looks like he's barely moving and gets out twice as many taps as I do! Just standing there smiling... I love this man.

[rachel7036]

such talent..:)

[minisch7]

How could this have 4 dislikes, must be some miserable people out there. This is real talent, this is part of our history from the past.

[splinky45]

Thank you for posting this beautiful tap number.

[jae2210]

Thank you for the posting, it was wonderful to see him dance. BEAUTIFUL

[blacsouljah]

The powers that be deleting talent talent like this from its works of art because of racism resulted in this country's loss. I hope they paid him for his work, at least.

[jor99912]

They Wanted AL JOLSON!

JAMES EARL JONES said Black Peoples don't have a culture, African or American!

Hope I'm not misquoting!

Not sure what he meant!

But I say you look at any MEDIA in this Century,(19th) media barely exist before, but I suspect it was the same!

Everyone in North & South American is saying, when music is involved!

What you're doing is nothing, LOOK WHAT I GOT!

And they "ALWAYS" do a Black form of some kind!

And nobody complained but the KKK. STOP IT STOP IT!

It was to much fun

[saucyviolet]

Every tap crisp, clean and clear. There was nobody like Bill Robinson for razor sharp precision on the dance floor and all delivered with that beautiful smile and effortlessness. Hollywood should hang its head in shame to have let this man die drunk and penniless.

[freddymart]

As Neatbeats says it looks like he created a NEW art form, Tap dance. His feet are LIGHT. They are the rhythm instrument.

[glendai7]

How can a person tap without moving body up and down what a gifted tap dancer Bill was. (the greatest)

[Blackjesus3]

bil lwas so good 

[africanzionflo]

EXELLENT!

[guggle86]

It was perfectly acceptable to have a black actor/dancer entertaining in a t nightclub at that time. It would however not have been acceptable in the USA for a black person/private soldier to be seen sitting, as an equal, at a table in the establishment, with a white woman and white officer. (see end of clip). This would have been perfectly acceptable in France (where the movie takes place) and the rest of Europe. Perhaps the rumours surrounding the death of Bessie Smith in 1937 contributed.

[wattever333]

it's all about the taps, they are used as a musical instrument. the taps COMPLETE the music in the orchestra.

[wattever333]

someone also deleted bits from this clip, there's an interruption in the narration at the beginning.

[hajune]

soulblackman is an unhappy person. He shows great anger a wasted ,self destructive emotion. Hope he finds peace and sees things for what they are. White people as a whole did not look upon blacks in the way he describes. Most greatly appreciated the remarkable skills of black entertainers. Same is true today whether it is Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson. BR earned an amazing $3000 a week dancing. He gave it away as fast as he earned it. Hard pressed finding a white person who did not love him.

[RavenC1357]

Soul, I understand your point, and it is very true that a black actor or dancer etc had to be of a certain attitude or not be hired, there wasn't a lot of choice. But that being said, and I hope known to others, he still had talent, and I'm sure he just wanted to do what he loved best and it is amazing he could.

Darkshenu, I would not say to just get over it though. It runs deeper than that, and if all that comes with time is amnesia, NO THANKS! People should KNOW and think about it.

[ranasings]

absolutely amazing! I'm a dancer and I am awe struck by the precision, beauty and talent of the dancers of this time.

[ronniesunshines]

Totally seamless, amazing to watch!!

[KeepTrue56]

I cant believe some of these comments.

This is just a man who wanted to show others what he loved to do which is tap DANCE! Im greatful we're able to see his footage on youtube.

Bill robinson, fred astaire, gene kelly they're all awesome.

[wattever333]

@KeepTrue56 and eleanor powell, ann miller, vera-ellen, ginger rogers, marge & gower champion, etc.

and let's not forget the first one: Ruby Keeler.

[KeepTrue56]

@wattever333 yep!

[helzapopin]

Soulblackman, does this mean that Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly were buffoons and were degrading when they danced? Talent is Talent and YOU, sir, are the one with the black stick up.....somewhere. Bill Robinson was a true talent and he danced the same way the white men did.

[Choefoe]

@helza.. Astaire played Bojangles in the musical swing time, there are discussions about the fact he painted his face black for that fact.1) it,s the only time in his 75 old career he did that2) he had to do that otherwise he would be Astaire taping and singing Bojangles of Harlem would have made no sense at all;-) It,s a wonderfull number. 3)Astaire did not like the idear of pianting his face black but he knew why he did it, cause of the facts I mentiont before.Hurray to all dancers

[strat8383]

so smooth...great dancer!

[LUVSAILOROMANCE]

sorry I looked up the wrong Bo Jangles there was more than one that is the information I was given

I looked it up and he was born 1878 and died 1949.

[atlpaula]

Bill will always be a treasure in my opinion. I grew up watching the old movies and as an adult I taught tap to 3,4,5 and 6 year olds for 10 years. He was an inspiration - and he loved it and had fun! That is what I brought to my students: the love and fun of dance! He was a Master, and I am thankful and inspired by the footage of him in movies. Peace.

[therealepstein]

sometimes people just want to dance, as silly as that may seem to some people. Some people are born to do certain things, and this man was born to dance.

Also, just to put it out there, Bill Robinson is famous for many things, including the fact that in a time when blackface was still particularly popular, he refused to wear it, carving out a name for himself as a black performer above the racial stereotypes of his time.

[6326709]

Bill Robinson was a great tap dancer. He was also a great man. He was a gentleman. He was loved and revered by all who saw him in the movies be they black or white.Why can't you enjoy him for what he did and who he was. I don't think he would have enjoyed these previous comments.

[GO3RGIAP3ACH]

THAT WAS FYEEEEE.....

[SoShi83]

i don't believe performers like bojangles demeaned themselves by 'singing and dancing' their way into white people's hearts. they were well loved because they were masters of their craft. this was a black man in early hollywood. if there were anyone better than him, would he have been cast? certainly not. he was cast because he was the best, a master of his craft. there's certainlly no shame in that.

[Grimli]

While I don't think this was his best effort, you get 5 stars for the history lesson.

[mooalim]

ancestor bill rob was no american, never enjoyed the fruits of being a whole man. dont stain his name "albeit a slave name

[stinkerbelleblue]

A terrific American, a Patriot, an extremely generous man who unfortunately was limited creatively by the ignorant social mores of the times. Despite this, his dignity and talent influenced dance and future of African Americans in entertainment. God Bless him.

[loron91423]

God Bless Bill Robinson a great American

[hervedavid77]

Bojangles of Harlem est une figure légendaire. Fred Astaire lui a rendu hommage dans le film "Swing Time" (en français "Sur les ailes de la danse").

[BethDiane]

I don't think he was smiling because he was being an Uncle Tom. Tap dancing is an art form, and part of that form is to be working your butt off but at the same time giving the impression that you're having a whale of a time. The more easygoing and cheerful you appear the better, so by that standard, he was very good indeed!

[Soulblackman]

Just as today, black men are most accepted when they are smiling darkies, lending the impression to whites, that everything is just fine, massa. This is nothing more than an offshoot of the [physical] plantation.

[castletriglav]

It's a movie clip; get over it. Stop blaming whitey for your failures in life.

[Soulblackman]

In a sense, black people can blame whites, who have ruled our bodies and minds, since we've been brought here,but I know better than to blame them for all of our failures.That being said,my comments had absolutely nothing to do w/this.You're just grasping at straws to deny what I said.FACT;since slavery times, the BM knew, to appease massa, he had to put on the facade of the happy coon, entertainer,like things "waz all right"".This is what Bojangles represented as many, in an altered manner ...

[Soulblackman]

... represent today. As a rule, the black man is most "respected" as an athlete or stage/movie entertainer.Whether it was Bojg,Fetchit,Blue,Sunshine,Hat­tie or Best, it was all the same; the happy, smiling darkie, who was stripped of dignity and man or womanhood.Never assertive or confident, and existing solely for the pleasure of the white man, women or child, who was always in charge. If you don't like or accept it, that's too bad.I speak from a different view, which rejects this reality.

[gdamac]

People want to hide your comments because they want to hide from the truth. BethDiane's comment completely proves yours to be true. In her words, the more Bojangles smiles the better he is doing. I don't think Bojangles was an uncle Tom, if he hadn't done what he did, there would be no Sammy Davis jr, without Sammy there would be no Michael Jackson, and so on.

[mudbone47]

What an absolutely uninformed statement to make. Bill Robinson was a master craftsman and brought an art form that is uniquely African American to the world stage. A tradition of excellence carried on by the Nicholas brothers, Sammy Davis, Gene Kelly and Gregory Hines to name only a few. Your comments are the epitome of self hatred. Bill Robinson is an icon and opened doors in a racist society that you enjoy today. Learn your history and open your eyes.

[Soulblackman]

Don't know if yr black or white, but either way, ur comments reflect the 400 yrs expectation that blacks smile & dance our way into white people's hearts. Because whites were in charge, they didn't have to act in such a slavish, bafoonish manner' docile, deferential to all whites, ESPECIALLY white girls, unassertive and just plain coons. U disgust me to suggest, despite the acknowledged talent, that I would overlook the obvious, self-degrading images that continue to this day.

[strat8383]

Hey Soulblackman I'm colour blind. I've always admired Mr. Robinson as an incredibly talented dancer. I don't see and shuckin' and jivin' in any of his performances. Get off your high horse man...if you see buffoonery or degradation in this performance, I don't think you'll see any good anywhere.

[Soulblackman]

Unless ur black, u simply don't understand. From the plantation days, 1 way for the slave to assuage the wrath of the master, was to sing & dance, to 'entertain' and to assure him/her that the slave was no threat. It's no accident that relatively a few years after slavery, this image of the coon blackman, was widely accepted as safe by the slavemaster's children. Bill filled that "void" sort of speak,of the docile, pliant and not about anything except clowning & dancing. Hollywood at that time .

[Soulblackman]

would never portray Bojangles w/more depth of being a dancer who spoke to whites as their equals. Again, that smile was an historic way to keep the pressure off of the slave; sort of an example of the "flies with honey vs. vinegar" adage. Bill Robinson's portrayals at that time, where in the same mold as Hattie McDaniel, Stepin Fetchit & Willie Best; non-intellectual;silly;never at = par w/white people & DEFINITELY never showing a side other than happy and gleeful. As talented as Robinson was...

[darkshenku]

@Soulblackman Was Michael Jackson a buffoon? He was doing the same thing, just at another time in history. It's 2010 get over it. What happened-happened, grow up and get a LIFE!

p.s. For the record I'm Black too. Peace and Love! :-)

[Soulblackman]

In the decades after slavery, black entertainers, such as Bojangles, Bert Williams & even Sammy Davis, were expected to portray the dumb, happy, nigger (i.e. the BAFOON), to appease white people. The idea was to make them laugh at us, to put them at ease, perpetrating we were no threat to them. In the yrs since, blacks just upgraded the coon, bafoon act, and this includes Micheal Jackson & any entertainers. Not saying it was anywhere as bad as the earlier ones, but nethertheless, their job is to

[Soulblackman]

promulgate the image of a happy "darkie", whose main role is to entertain and appease white people. They love when we sing & dance, and even more so, when it's absolute filth or the effeminate display of Michael Jackson. I give them all credit for their talent, but am not blinded by the fact that it was used to the detriment of our people.

[Soulblackman]

I understand the paradigm under which he operated and it is to this, that I comment. It's very silly & disingenuous to suggest that because I see Robinson's display as buffoonery & degradation, that I don't see good anywhere. That's simply taking things way out of perspective, that somehow, my standards of class and dignity can be correlated to an accurate observation, based on history. I will actually go as far to say, that even today, the black entertainer continues the role of baffoon.

[darkshenku]

@Soulblackman is Whitney Houston a buffon? You my friend are an idiot's role model!! Enjoy your day. :-)

[HansiFan]

I know you are kidding but it's better to be thought of as an idiot that to open your mouth and remove all doubt!

[dunnonuffink]

He looks so suave & aristocratic in top-hat & tails - wonder if that was part of the perceived "problem"? They might have kept it in i he's been dressed as one of the waiters. Also, sitting at the tables is a mixture of races - notably at 4:11 a black guy in the background + a black officer sitting with a velied "arab" (white American!) actress & a white guy. It looks like it's set in French-governed North Africa (like Casablanca is). A forbidden hint of other countries = other values?

[egocrusher]

i bet you white people told Bill to smile like that as a submission gesture too white folks or just so that black folks don't look too good confident and powerful. White folks always thought they were better and needed to prove that constantly because they knew Black folks could sing, dance, and play instruments better than them. And then they have the audacity to steal they're talent and make all the money.God damn you white folks are sick and evil.

[thedissatisfied]

This sounds like a comment made by a white supremacist who is trying to create a racial tension.

[thedissatisfied]

i mean, egocrusher's comment was....

[misterjtap]

this sounds like bull shit, I think the theater did this because it was TRADITION. Bojangles did not want to be treated unequally, but if you watch any film from this time you will see all the actors and actresses doing just the same thing. BLACK OR WHITE.

[ARbenSRbarGR]

actually, it sounds like egocrusher is a black person who is racist against whites. sorry egocrusher, but whatever happened to "All men were created equal"? - black or white? hmm. sounds to me like we all may have to work on some issues of pride. I'm not saying that either race has been fair in history, but why does that stop us from being fair now?

[YorksTradMusic]

Bill's cartoon was even cut from the Looney Tunes "Have you got any castles". Thankfully it's back in now.

[berlynn2]

im sure to this day most whites do realize how stupid that was whats a movie with cut senes in it you certainley cant pay to see something like this and pay the full amount because a black man dancing with a little white girl.

[bubblinbrownsugar616]

This doesn't surprise me at all.

In Shirley Temple movies that were played in the south, they would take out all the scenes with her and Robinson were tap dancing in it because having a......"Negro" dance with a little white girl was........"wrong".

Their lost. Mr. Bojangles is THE man!!! :)

[ARbenSRbarGR]

Bojangles was fantastic! Even Fred Astaire was a fan. It's too bad that he doesn't get the recognition he deserves anymore.

Entertainment wasn't an easy business for African Americans back then. Not to say that any race is more talented than another. It's just that all the famous people in that era were white.... except Bojangles and a few others. It is strange that there were so few famous African entertainers back then. I can only name a few.

[Astonyshing]

correct Fred Astaire was a great fan - see the tribute in Swing Time. Excellent dancing and hardly controversial, was it? Check out also some of the Nicholas Brothers' comments on how they were accepted as kids, but had great difficulty being accepted as adults.

[Neatbeats]

Bill Robinson brought Tap up onto the balls of the feet, changing it from Hoofing to the art of Tap! We celebrate Bill Robinson and his contribution to Tap each year on his birthday.... May 25th. International Tap Dance Day recognizes and honours Bill Robinson. He will never be forgotten.

[mpauger15]

sho is sum nice dansin'!

[tigerfishgirl]

not only is it wonderful dancing, it's a gorgeous scene full stop. what on earth could replace this piece of pure joy?!

[Zubbug5]

tap dancing doesnt get much btter than that!

[wisefolli]

Hey, would you mind posting the name of the documentary you took this from. It looks interesting. Thanks.

[Mrzappo495]

i would love to see him freestyle all out, cause he seems to be holding back i mean there were glimpses of his true skill it looks like he is just strolling around the floor so to speak.

[shupershanto]

Look "Primeralives", even if you do it better than Bo, you would never reach his leves even if your life depends of it. Because he is a legend, and you're nothing.

So if tou think you're better than Bo, post your vid and then we can talk if you can reach something.

[sourtaps]

You better dance, Bo! That was beautiful.

[primeralives]

I watched this and got the whole routine down in 5 minutes. Whats the big deal???

[frustrado]

We are waiting for your video :)

[primeralives]

LOL, I won't do it because i wouldn't want to make Mr Bojangles look bad.

[frustrado]

XD You are great

[CaptchaU]

It is SO HARD to tap dance without moving the rest of you...let alone seeming casual. I took tap classes a long time ago...believe me this is a lot harder than it looks. This man's very talented, too bad this was cut out of the movie. Glad he gets his justice on You Tube finally after all this time.

[drummerlead]

Is tap dancing more or less like drumming with one's feet? I play drums and I have always wanted to learn to tap dance. I have a little pair of tap shoes and figure, if I have rhythm, maybe I would be able to pick it up. I don't doubt that it's difficult. I mean what Mr. Bojangles is doing on here. Tap dancing must be very hard on one's shins.

[CaptchaU]

Well yes and no...it depends what kind you do. The type he's doing where only the feet are moving - yes that's very difficult to do and make look effortless. But a time step? You can probably find how to do that online. You can practise that even without tap shoes. See if you get the knack of a few basic steps.

But basically - you have interest - go for it! Why not. Don't let those shoes go to waste. :-)

[Xibee]

I have seen him dance more showily elsewhere, but this is really his signature style-the smoother line, deceptively simple looking poses, while you're listening to a very complex rhythm that mimics or compliments the music exactly. I think he was a huge inspiration for Fred Astaire's idea of "simple" and "smooth". I saw an early film of Fred which was pretty racist (blackface being used), but it was obvious he admired Bojangles, and had been studying his moves.

[penguinsloveDW]

If you're talking about the "Harlem" number, yes, Fred Astaire said many times that he took the inspiration for that number and many other numbers from Robinson's style.

[BYLBYL99]

Freds intent was not racism. I dont think it was racist at all. He admired Bill Robinson so much. It was a tribute pure and simple to Bojangles. It is sad some people see it in a bad light.

[proobu]

Without knowing the movie, I disagree with RoyRolling: it sets the tone of the Cafe itself very appropriately. I wonder if anything else in the movie was as much worth watching. Robinson's grace was marvelous, and I wonder if he could walk ever without being in tapping rhythm with something.

[hintofblue]

He was the star of tap and very hot. Of all of the male dancers in the timeline of America, Bill Bojangles Robertson was a great teacher of the art.

[RoyRolling]

He's an immense talent, but I can see why they cut the opening scene---it is not "opening scene" material. Perhaps they should have found a place for the footage elsewhere, but is a poor choice for an opening sequence for a movie titled "Cafe Metropole" I would not think conspiracy as much as I would proper editing---the scene is too long & tedious for most, though some will like it. Unless this is a dancing movie, 3 minutes of dancing up front is too much. I have a short attention span. LOL

[freddymart]

His eyes are responding to the music as he leads with his feet, he is a great actor too. The tux goes magnificently with the class of his invented dance.

[HALbari]

amazing what a talent

[J5MARLON]

Should anyone be offended that a fried chicken restruant chain is called Bojangles.

[Azizah2008]

yes but capitalism is a whore

[ChiTownBlackDragon]

Only if those same people are offended by Aunt Jemima syrup and pancake mix. If the implied intent is to offend then be offended. People know the difference. Ask Don Imus.

[ptitmickey51]

bravo!

[teemingup]

Fantastic dancing, but I can't stand the grinn and the rolling eyes. I guess that's what black entertainers had to do to be allowed a spot in a movie or theatre. And that is a sad conclusion. Such an incredible talent this man...

[JosephNScott]

"I can't stand the grin and the rolling eyes. I guess that's what black entertainers had to do to be allowed a spot in a movie or theatre." -- in a theater catering to "white" audiences, generally speaking yes, although as of the '30s Duke Ellington and Teddy Wilson wouldn't do it and were successful, for example.

[teemingup]

that's right, and later on Nat "King" Cole and Miles Davis where people who wouldn't take nonsence, and who kept their backs straigt.

[wilf0manion]

It was a crappy movie overall. The main actors labored through their turgid lines, and this dance scene didn't add much despite the dour, tut-tutting tone of the narrator. Bojangles was in plenty of other films with much better dancing than this.

[twentythreeskidoo]

beautiful.

[msnyder540]

yeah they probably cut it because bill was wearing a tuxedo, which was a status symbol. to show an african-american wear a tux is a HUGE deal and the director probably didn't want to risk any controversy.

[hoofer1]

Sadly, I think you're correct. It's sort of like how the Nicholas Brothers couldn't get much movie work once they grew up. The more racist people at the time just couldn't stand that an African-American man could indeed be a class act and dress sharp. It's a deep shame.

[rometschmeister]

I don't know why they even bother putting dialoge and plot in musicals. I could watch stuff like this for hours. Of course, they probably cut this to make more room for dialogue and plot.

Another thing: Mr. Robinson has so much CLASS! I wish today's black youths would take pride in being classy. He was amazing!

[districtline]

What a blessing we can see this performance now. SMOOOOTH is the only way to describe his movements!

[hoofer1]

Oh, wow. Thank you! Bless you for posting this. His feet are impeccable here.

[byland3]

Brilliant!!!

[user192021]

Oh man, I'm sure this director had no idea the history he was cutting from his movie.

[ManuelaFumiga]

Cutting this is deleting a master piece!

[Missmjf87]

it's a damn shame that this was cut off from the movie!