Super Jazzy Production Number from 1934

[Musicmellow]

The smiling black actor is not Nicodemus.. It's Sam Mcdaniel, brother of the great Hattie McDaniel first black to receive a oscar for Gone with the wind.

[SuperHartline]

the smiling black actor attending Eddie Cantor putting on blackface, was Nicodemus. He later played Lightnin' on Amos and Andy when it went to TV. The little minstrel kid was of course Harold Nickolas of the famed brothers. Superhartline

[preciousbash]

Cute number. Bring back the show girls of old. Love me some huuge production numbers and amazing costuming. That kid is the bees f'ing knees! Awesomeness.

So cute and what a little entertainer.

[loveroflegos2]

2:25 looks like my gramma when she was young. =D

[gatesxsa]

The orchestra at 2:42 to conclusion is stupendous.

[gatesxsa]

"We've always loved a minstrel man; he thrills us like nobody can; the way he dances sure is dandy; and sing a song about his sugar candy (wink from Lucille Ball). No wonder they couldn't use an adult African-American male-especially a good looking one. The audience would have thought all the white ladies were singing about sleeping with him. This was not going to happen in 1930s American!

[brit1955]

Amazing to think Harold Nicholson was only 13 years of age. What a talent.

[hebneh]

I remember getting up at some ungodly hour to watch this on late-night TV in the late 1960s, like 1 am.

Not a bad little amateur show that's being presented for the passengers of the SS Luxor cruise ship, eh?

The abbreviated tuxedo outfits with the down-to-the-waist cleavage on the gorgeous Goldwyn Girls ain't bad either.

[Sargenet]

A very blond Lucille Ball at 1:34 (far right). Great stuff!!

[TheCrimsonsCult]

We need to bring back the Minstrel today.

[mr1940s]

Minstralisim One thing i'm so glad we don't have anymore. Anyway back then a Black man dating a white girl was considered a horror Movie in the 30s. Stil this was the norm back then and it is a good song. Still thank god minstralisim is dead

[sayward12]

Put the song Mandy up with Eddie in blackface, but the Nicholas Brothers litteraly steal the show from him, and then he concedes to let them dance.

[babygirl6462]

I think that's Lucille Ball at 1:36 on the far right.

[1noblegent]

@babygirl6462 I believe you are right. She is known to have been a Goldwyn Girl at this time.

[PhotonDrive]

Man it was the DEPRESSION! Escape was the PRIME IMPERATIVE! FORCED SMILES ? I should think so: probably got paid about $15 in the chorus line & $10 for each musician - and this was a BIG GIG!

[xshortybabyx3]

this is amazing....what is this performance from? I definitely want to get it

[Gumlegs]

"Kid Millions," starring Eddie Cantor.  With Ann Southern, Ethel Merman, and George Murphy.

[christLive21]

The kid is Just sooooooo cute, I can't stop watching

[e22378]

damn!!! black face?

[moonlightorchid99]

whoa! that kid CAN SING! and that song is amazing!

[DYNODRUM]

Is'nt, He one of" THE NICHOLAS BROS...."

[babygirl6462]

Yes that's Harold Nicholas.

[hufasa]

:31-:50 Wow. That was a good reflection of the racist times. Note the forced smile from the black actor. Awesome song, better than the Astaire version.

[perfectjazz78]

And, I guess the forced smiles of the Chorus Girls, Eddie Cantor, George Murphy, Ann Sothern, and Ethel Merman too !

[miamivicepastels83]

@hufasa isn't that crazy lol

[CarlDuke]

Some years later this song surfaced with different lyrics with Fred Astaire singing it in Royal Wedding as You're All the World to Me.

[odietarceo]

does that little kid thinks he's cab calloway?

[minniethemoocher1932]

how is like cab

[babyycat]

Oh Lordie black face> Can you believe it and it wasnt not long ago either. Oh well it was all innocent then i guess. Bu this movie is wonderful if you can find it......

[jagib2]

can you believe america in the 18th to 19th centuries. menstrals with blackface started in the 1840's and was the primary center of entertainment for the entire country from sea to shining sea. they were whitemen who entertained the nation with blackface- which is a form of blatant racist hatred. america has come a long way.... but it had a long way to go, to get up from a foundation of racism.

[hajune]

To imitate blacks is not racism. Black people were honored at the time they were being imitated because it was done in a classy way.A little boy who tries to imitate Michael jordon when playing basketball does so because he ADMIRES him. Eleanor Powell did a wonderful dance in black face of Bill Robinson with his complete blessings. Elly's son was Bill's God son. That does not sound like racism to me rather great admiration for a gifted dancer whom she adorded and did this as a tribute to him.

[fancie323]

IF it was done in a classy way! And when has that been the case in the days of Eddie Cantor or Al Jolson? Sammy Davis has said blackface was an entertainment fashion of the times and even HE had appeared in blackface. What does that tell us? Given that Blacks couldn't get dignified jobs playing THEMSELVES, I think it is a bit much to talk about their being honored by imitators. Incidentally: Blacks in whiteface? IF applies here, too--now--but the rope would have applied then!

[hajune]

I am glad you mentioned Al Jolson. Al Jolson did more for blacks then anybody!! Louis Armstrong, Fats Walter, Cab Calloway, Ethel Waters etc were grateful to Jolson for paving the way. He not only was the first to celebrate his Jewishness but so loved black entertainment he dared to go public with it! It was a huge risk. But It worked and the above had glowing things to say and deep friendships with Al. He opened up doors for them that were closed far too long. Much more to say but no space.

[tommyrock69]

The Nicholas Brothers were American treasures that should have been allowed to do more.

[randomteen314]

Oh where has the talent gone nowadays?

[otaris2099]

The small head wobble and 1:11 at the exact time of the whistle made me cry it was so awesome

[dirtyfrenchie]

dutchfan33 you are incredible! bravo!

perfect jazz thanks for the video it gave me a great great happiness

[eightiesfan]

That sorta looks like her, but i'm not totally convinced.

[Dutchfan33]

The Goldwyn girls in this clip are:

Janice Jarrat [1.23]

Wanda Perry [1.25]

Helen Wood [1.27]

Charlotte Russel[Left]and Bonnie Bannon[right][1.31]

Left to right:Vivian Keefer,Marylou Dix,Ruth Moody and Lucille Ball [1.35]

[Dutchfan33]

Caryl Lincoln??? [left] and Irene Bentley 1.53

Barbara Pepper [Left] and Mary Lange 1.55

Janice Jarratt [left] and Shirley Lloyd???1.57

??? [left] and Mae Madison 1.58

Mary Jane Carey [left] and Charlotte Russell 2.01

[perfectjazz78]

Those gals had more sex appeal in one wink of the eye then Jessica Simpson and Brit. Spears combined.

[betteroffsingle]

lucille ball? where? can't see it well enuff to make her out clearly if it is. are u sure?

hey ...THANK YOU! great stuff. am lovin it!

[MissReige]

In the shot where the chorus girls first start to sing and they show 4 of the girls singing together, the girl on the right is Lucille Ball.

[Dutchfan33]

The other girls are [from left] Vivian Keefer ,Mary-Lou Dix ,Ruth Moody and Lucille....

[Dutchfan33]

*Vivian Keefer was a topmodel,who appaered as a showgirl in a couple of movies.

*Mary Lou Dix appaered in a couple of three stooges-shortsand played bit-parts in a couple of Frank Capra-movies,sadly she committed suicide in 1963.

*Ruth Moody was voted "most beautiful chorusgirl" during the filming of "the gold diggers of 1935",a year after this film.she maaried tennis-pro Lester Steofen in 1935,retired,and died in 1990.

[otaris2099]

wow dutchfan you are MAD old

[Starlet21]

Wow this is old!

[bambizzoozled]

eddie cantor

[davortho10]

I think I've died and gone to Heaven! I haven't seen this since a brief re-release of this movie in the '70's.

[perfectjazz78]

It is available on amazon dot com for under five dollars.

[davortho10]

Thank you, I hadn't even thought to check there.

[swallin19]

@perfectjazz78 but not outside the US market. they disregard the UK and other countries worldwide as usual,, the US imposing restrictive regional codes to confine sales to the US market. Some older films are region free, but it varies with the distributorships...... frustrating and insular marketing.

[songplugger]

Nilsbog - yes! :-)

At 1:36 - Lucille Ball is the chorus girl on the far right!

[NILBOGisBACK]

Awesome, isn't that the theme Fred Astaire dances to on the ceiling in ROYAL WEDDING?

[artistmac]

Yep, just different lyrics. Hope Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane got their cut.