My favorite video clip that jazz historian Mark Cantor showed at the Jewish Community Center of SF last Saturday was this this outstanding performance from the movie "Carolina Blues" (1944) featuring Harold Nicholas, one half of the legendary Nicholas Brothers.
According to Mark, older brother Fayard Nicholas was drafted during the war at the time of filming, so Harold had to perform without him. Harold certainly commands center stage just fine without his brother. It looks like to replace Fayard, a small army of hoofers are put on stage, including The Four Step Brothers, Marie Bryant, June Richmond and the Layson Brothers.
This snippet is just incredible to watch. Harold has style, showmanship and acrobatic prowess only matched by his brother Fayard. But there's about 2-3 more minutes of dancing before this clip that I wish was online somewhere. Perhaps Mark Cantor could post it when he gets a chance?