classicsoncall The movie would have been a lot more entertaining if there was a consistent story line. The romance angle in particular between cadet Tom Fletcher (Gordon MacRae) and Jan Wilson (Doris Day) appeared to have an on/off/on again quality that had you questioning just how committed they could have been to each other. And why Cagney's character had to become a cadet himself was just the strangest stretch for a plot element to take that I had to wonder how this story was put together. But hey, Cagney is one of my favorite actors of any era, and it was a hoot catching him here with the strange gyrations wigging out over some poor dancer's inability to express themselves favorably with their feet. When he did get into the act himself, it was cool to see some of that old time Yankee Doodle Dandy exhibit itself in a handful of numbers. With the West Point backdrop, the story has it's share of patriotic gestures and tributes to the American spirit to offset some of the inconsistencies in the story. And when push came to shove, it was a genuine relief not to have to endure Alan Hale Junior as a Princess.

edwagreen Average musical where James Cagney goes to West Point to get graduating senior Gordon MacRae out of the military so that he can pursue a show business career.Virginia Mayo and Doris Day are 2 ladies or cohorts in this scheme and go know that Day falls for MacRae causing many complications.As always, the musical productions are nicely staged as Cagney dances away 8 years after his Oscar-winning turn in "Yankee Doodle Dandy."There is some uneven moments as Cagney is castigated for being out and then is promptly honored. In fact, he gets "honored" several times in the film and it can be annoying.The songs Military Polka and the ending Brooklyn are memorable.Mayo and Cagney proved that they could dance up a storm here. When Day gets excited with Cagney, would she ever think that 5 years later the two of them would be in probably the best picture of their respective careers-"Love Me or Leave Me."Due to the weak plot, some may have wanted to leave West Point prematurely.

slymusic Starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson, and Alan Hale, Jr., "The West Point Story" is a very enjoyable musical comedy, even if the plot is somewhat convoluted. It's about a Broadway song & dance man named Elwin "Bix" Bixby (Cagney), who lately has been down on his heels, if you'll forgive the pun. Bix and his tart-tongued but faithful assistant Eve Dillon (Mayo) make a trip out to the famous military academy at West Point in order to help cadets Tom Fletcher (MacRae) and Hal Courtland (Nelson) put on their spring musical known as the 100th Nite Show. Tom is a great singer and Hal is a marvelous dancer, but the show definitely needs some doctoring up. For one thing, there are to be no women in the show; all the female parts are to be played by the male cadets(!!). The crafty Bix solves that problem by finagling spots in the show for not only Eve but also a successful Hollywood star named Jan Wilson (Day).My favorite scenes from "The West Point Story" include the following (DO NOT read any further if you have not yet seen this film). Bix is quite amusing with all his kinetic energy as he jumps up & down to voice his displeasure at a dance routine, or when he decks a theatrical producer (Roland Winters) in order to close a deal. At the cadets' Saturday night hop, Jan thrills the dancing crowd with her lively, bouncy, head-bobbing rendition of "The Military Polka". Hal does an unbelievably fascinating dance (featuring a fine orchestral accompaniment) before getting pelted with straw hats. The West Point glee club sings "The Corps" as Tom solemnly recites a patriotic monologue about the history of West Point and of the heroic Americans who dreamed to make this outstanding military academy a reality. Bix and Eve are a singing/dancing sensation with "It Could Only Happen in Brooklyn", and they are equally wonderful with the quirky "By the Kissing Rock", of which Tom Fletcher & Bull Gilbert (Hale) only give an adequate performance moments earlier. And finally, upon Jan Wilson's first appearance in this movie, she sings the delightfully swinging novelty number "Ten Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Sheep".Featuring music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn, "The West Point Story" was apparently an attempt to recreate the success of James Cagney's Oscar-winning performance in the musical "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942), but at this I don't think the film succeeded. Nevertheless, despite the incomprehensible plot and the inappropriate romance between Jan Wilson & Tom Fletcher, I still find "The West Point Story" to be highly entertaining. I especially admire the delightful performances of James Cagney, who gives his role of Elwin Bixby every bit of the gusto it needed, and Alan Hale, Jr. as "Bull" Gilbert. (Who would have thought that a skipper would begin his seafaring career portraying a princess in the musical theatre?!)

rube2424 This one was a real disappointment. I mean with James Cagney, Doris Day, Virginia Mayo and Gene Nelson how could they go wrong! Somehow they did. Cursed with a dumb screenplay, clutzy direction, far too many stock shots of West Point and pretty sloppy rear screen projections, WEST POINT STORY just doesn't make it. Cagney is great as always, as is Doris Day, (and that the Academy has never seen fit to give her an honorary Oscar is a real crime!), but the songs they have, by Sammy Kahn and Julie Styne, no less are instantly forgettable. And to put the icing on the cake, the thing is filmed in not so glorious black and white!!! I can't believe that Jack Warner couldn't have sprung for color, but there you are! (Remember, this is the same man who passed on Julie Andrews for MY FAIR LADY!) Anyway, see it for Cagney and Doris, but otherwise give it a pass. A five..not horrible..not great...just "Bleh!"