The magnitude of talent on display in STORMY WEATHER (1943, directed by Andrew L. Stone) is such that it might be possible to overlook—for the 78-minute running time of the film—the cringe-making hoops Hollywood put black stars through during its so-called “Golden Age.” (See Spike Lee’s explosive satire Bamboozled, from 2000.)

Ostensibly a breezy, fictionalized biopic of dancing great Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (starring Bojangles himself), the film features signature performances by Lena Horne and the Nicholas Brothers. (Fred Astaire called their “Jumpin’ Jive” number the greatest thing he had ever seen). Fats Waller, Cab Calloway and his orchestra, Katherine Dunham and her troupe, and Ada Brown are also on the bill.

STORMY WEATHER, Tuesday, September 12, at 1 pm.

BING THEATER, LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.

lacma.org/event/stormy-weather

Black and white photographs, from top:

Lena Horne and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson; Horne singing the title song; Robinson, Horne, and Cab Calloway.