Movie Review – Yankee Doodle Dandy

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) – The fictionalized life story of one of the great American songwriters, George M. Cohan.  Starring James Cagney in the lead role the movie goes from Cohan’s early days as a cocky young star in a family act to the days of Cohan as a great American musical treasure.  Filled with great music and dancing.

For a lot people today the name George M. Cohan probably means next to nothing.  In his time (which runs from the late 1800s in Vaudeville to 1940 in films) Cohan was an entertainment icon.  He wrote, composed, produced and then appeared in dozens of Broadway shows.  Add to that the 300 some songs he wrote over the years.  Many of the titles are standards today including the title tune of the movie plus “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “Over There” and “You’re A Grand Old Flag” among many others.  But he was as well known and accomplished in front of the curtain as well as behind.  I’m not sure there is another figure in American entertainment that can compare.  Cohan is a classic American success story.  Talent, hard work, a little luck and good sized dose of confidence turns into fame and wealth.

Likewise this song and dance man routine of Cagney’s will come as a surprise to many.  When you think of him it’s inevitable to think of his classic gangster roles.  Here he gets to show off his dancing chops.  Cagney has a peculiar stiff legged style that is based on Cohan’s but he has the background.  His career, like Cohan’s, began on the vaudeville circuit doing song and dance.  Cohan chose Cagney to play him and it is a brilliant move.  It’s clear that Cagney is having a great time with this role.  That energy just leaps off the screen.  It gave Cagney his only Oscar (how is that possible?).  The dancing demands were high enough that he broke a rib during the filming.  Showing his roots as a trouper he finished the shot before telling the director.

You may come across a colorized version of this movie.  It was the first to use the specific technique.  This is an abomination before the Lord and you must reject it for the proper original in black and white.  You have been warned.

In the end this is a wonderful movie and worth every minute you’ll invest in watching Cagney romp across the screen.

Rating – **** Recommended