jsk32870 ....but the film, not so much. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is one of those rare instances where a superlative individual performance does not automatically translate into an exceptional movie.Plot in a nutshell: the show-business career of George M. Cohan, "the man who owned Broadway," is dramatized in this exorbitantly fictitious biography. James Cagney won his only Oscar for his portrayal of Cohan. Quick quiz...and be honest with yourself...who reading this had ever heard of Cohan's musical "Little Johnny Jones" before seeing this film? How about "George Washington Jr.?" Anyone? I'm guessing 'no.' I certainly had not. Let that sink in for a moment. Cohan is lauded in this film, and indeed portrayed as the man who owned Broadway...and maybe that was true 100 years ago. But fame can be fleeting, and that is very much the case here. Several reviewers revealingly stated they had never heard of Cohan before. Certainly the musicals he wrote (like the ones mentioned above) have not aged well and do not have staying power. Even many of his songs, so popular at the time, are extremely dated today. Think of "Over There," arguably Cohan's most famous tune. It's a song about Americans marching off to Europe to fight in World War I. What resonance does that have in today's world? Virtually none. To put it bluntly, Cohan is a dated figure who has been relegated to the dustbin of early 20th century history. He's just not a very compelling subject in this day and age. Likely no one under the age of 40, surely 30, has ever heard of him....and there's a good reason for that.Cohan was still alive in 1942 when this film was produced AND the United States had just been drawn into World War II...making "Yankee" relevant for the time. Indeed, they even recycled Cohan's WWI hit "Over There" for this film's finale, having soldiers pass by FDR's White House singing the tune as they marched off to fight another war. Good luck finding a modern-day soldier who knows the words to "Over There" today.As for Cagney, he puts his 'all' into this role and surely deserved winning for Best Actor. He sings, dances, and shuffles his way through the highs of Cohan's life (no lows are shown, like his first wife divorcing him for adultery). It's a virtuoso performance that certainly became one of the highlights of Cagney's career. Roger Ebert, in his 1998 review of "Yankee," wrote - 'the greatness of the film resides entirely in the Cagney performance.' He's right about that. Cagney was great. But that's also a telling comment which sort of alludes to what I mentioned earlier - 'the greatness of the film resides entirely....' In other words, CAGNEY was great, but the film isn't.Why isn't it great? Here's why. It tells the story of a boy, then man, who grows up in a show business family; first performing in vaudeville-type shows, then writing, producing and starring in them. Eventually he gets his big break on Broadway and pens a few famous patriotic songs, like "Over There" and "You're a Grand Old Flag." Then he gets old and retires to his farm. Then he comes out of retirement to do another show and is given a Congressional Medal for his life's work. The end.There's nothing great or amazing about this. It's a musical with several patriotic songs sprinkled throughout. That's nice. But why is that great? As I watch older films and read reviews, there is sometimes a robotic, non-thinking response from people. They are told by someone that a film is great and they just rubber-stamp their approval without thinking critically. The fact that "Yankee Doodle Dandy" has several flag-waving numbers decidedly adds to that feeling. It's almost like you're being unpatriotic if you don't love a film with those elements in it. Well, I'm not going to fall into that trap."Yankee Doodle" is a fine little fictionalized biography about a minor figure in Americana. And James Cagney gave the role his all for sure. But that's about as far as I can go on this one. It's certainly not essential viewing by any stretch. The fact that as of this writing, "Yankee Doodle" has about 12,000 votes and "Casablanca" (which came out just a few months later in 1942, and is a certifiable classic by almost anyone's standards) has over 450,000 votes on this website, speaks volumes. Only one of these should be regarded as essential.6/10. Cagney's song-and-dance routine, while noteworthy, cannot save this from being anything more than a passable two hours. Would I watch again? (Y/N): Not likely.

thejcowboy22 July 4th 2018. These UNITED States are currently in a state of dissension. Not since the civil war has our nation been so divided politically. One Party pushing against another on issues of Pro life vs Abortion. The handling of immigration. Open boarders vs stricter boarder policies. Overwrought Party allegiances, the liberal left against the conservative right. Even the media is split in their politics. Real news vs Fake news. Way back in the 1970's my Best friend Dave was telling me about a movie entitled Yankee Doodle Dandy, the biographic story of the great Broadway Showman George M. Cohan played by Hollywood tough guy James Cagney in his second non-Mobster role. Our film starts with our star an elder George M. Cohan meeting with President Franklin Roosevelt in his oval office. Oblivious as to why he was summoned there for a one on one meeting with the commander-in-chief. Our movie flashes back in time to where it all began for the song and dance man. Versatile and imaginative George M. Cohan who was actually born on the Third of July in the late 1800's grew up literally in the back stages of every vaudeville house in the country. His Parents and sister had an act with little feisty fourth, George which was billed The Four Cohan's. Basically a song and dance act. In between acts George would want to improvise, shake up the act with contemporary songs much to the consternation of the stage managers. Fine acting by the precocious Douglas Croft as a young George M.. George never had a formal education. His schooling came from the inner belly of backstage life learning about contracts and bookings and improvising acts studying the audience's reactions to certain aspects of the act. George learned about writing lyrics, music and choreography. By his early adulthood learned the art of manipulating producers to open shows . What attracted me to the movie was the patriotic narrative and energy James Cagney displayed and that signature stiff legged strut which in fact is not James Cagney's dancing style but the actual dancing steps used by the master George M. Cohan. Dancing coach Johnny Boyle was instrumental in getting Cagney as close to the real George M. style of dancing as physically possible. Moreover, Cagney studied Cohan while watching an actual George M. Cohan performance. Again with movies and biographies there are numerous in-inaccuracies or falsehoods in the story. The real George M. was married twice but out of convenience he had one wife in this story. In truth the real George M. Cohan saw this movie prior to his death and stated." This isn't anything close to my life's story but I truly enjoyed it anyway." The part of Mary was played by Joan Leslie. Leslie did have some singing numbers which stood out in the picture. The actual events with song connections were fictionalized but I personally didn't care. I was truly entertained from start to finish. When I first saw this picture I thought it was the real President Franklin Roosevelt, but actually it was a masterful impressionist's job by Jack Young. Kudos to the makeup and set design departments in the production of this picture. I enjoyed the stages of aging as you see Cagney change from a young spry energetic Cohan to an elderly man . The supporting cast of Walter Huston as Jerry Cohan and Rosemary DeCamp as Mrs. Cohan . Jimmy Cagney always tried to include his family in his business, most notably he had his brother William as his agent/manager for most of his career . James recommended using his sister Jeanne to play the part of Josie Cohan in this film. Familiar character actors were scattered throughout the film. George Tobias, S.Z. Sakall, Minor Watson and Richard Wharf as the straight forward business partner Sam Harris. Irene Manning plays a self centered actress and has some nice singing numbers in this flick of patriotism. Just a feel good movie to watch on the 4th of July and remember "Don't print it- it's strictly off the record!' One of my favorite numbers in the movie.

MartinHafer I have seen this film several times--including just recently. However, somehow I forgot to review the movie--and I noticed this today.This is a difficult film to rate, as it's so unique. After all, seeing Jimmy Cagney in the lead is a bit surreal. You don't expect to see this tough-guy performing as a hoofer. You also don't expect to see his style of tap dancing. It is NOTHING like Fred Astaire--full of grace and style. Instead, it's pure energy and is, at times, a bit gangly. Now this isn't to say it's bad--it just isn't subtle as Cagney throws EVERYTHING into the dances. His tapping is a bit more like stomping---but, it is still a marvel to watch.The film is a VERY Hollywoodized version of the life of the writer/performer George M. Cohan. Much of the guy's life is in the film but also much of the film is pure fiction meant to entertain. This is VERY typical of a film of this era. However, despite the style of dance and liberties the film takes, it is also incredibly entertaining and fun--filled with unabashed patriotism and spirit. Well worth seeing.

gordonm888 Repeat after me: Yankee Doodle Dandy is NOT one of the Top 100 films of all time. Submitted for your consideration: 1. Filled with highly patriotic songs, this movie had the incredibly good fortune to hit the theaters shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked. 2. Despite the Pearl Harbor timing, the National Critics Review that year did not even rate Yankee Doodle Dandy in its Ten Best Movies of 1942. It was never mentioned by critics as one of the best movies of the year, until it received an Oscar Nomination for Best Picture. 3. 1942 has been ranked by a reviewer as the 71st best year, out of 82 years, for quality films. Even so, Yankee Doodle did not win the Best Picture Oscar, losing to Mrs. Miniver. 4. Yes, it has a string of great songs. Unfortunately, most of them are sung by James Cagney who is probably the worst lead singer in any major musical movie ever. EVER!! Cagney is a worse singer than Rex Harrison, he is even worse than Pierce Brosnan. Cagney is literally unable to sustain a note.Any note! How much better would those great songs have been if they had been performed by someone who could sing? Who could sustain a note?5. Yes, Cagney surprised everyone by showing a real ability to dance. But does that surprise make this a great movie? Or is it merely akin to discovering, after all these years, that Meryl Streep can sing - as in Mamma Mia ? or that Yoda can fight - in Star Wars 5? 6. We hear a song called "A Girl Named Mary" sung 4 or 5 times; it is important to the plot at one point and is repeatedly called a "great song" and "the best song ever written" by George M Cohan. However, no matter what the actors say, it is clearly a very ordinary song. Its just ridiculous -its jarring, its destroys the audience's suspension of disbelief, analogous to a movie scene in which Chris Farley or Danny Devito are hailed as one of the best looking hunks of all time. 7. Cagney is energetic and overbearingly cocky, but I did not find him likable. 8. The staging of many of the musical numbers was way below average. Repeatedly, there were too many dancers in too small of a space -no one could move. No competent stage director does that. And even if the women did move - you could hardly discern it in those butt-ugly dresses they wore in every number. This is world-class entertainment? I don't think so. 9. The acting? the dialog? A font of nuanced characterization? Of gradually realized humanity? Nope, indeed, every character is a one note stereotype. 10. Accuracy. in real life, George M. Cohan had two wives, neither was named Mary. In fact, virtually every aspect of the plot was made up by Hollywood.11. Overly long. 12. There is a long re-enactment of a scene from the theatrical production of Yankee Doodle Dandy. In this theater scene, our hero, Yankee Doodle (Cagney), has lost the horse race! and is in disgrace because he is accused of throwing the race. As the closing curtain is poised to come down, a lawyer-ly actor with a brief case runs up to Yankee Doodle and says something like "I'm trying to get a document that will clear you of throwing the race. The document will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you did not throw that race! I am getting on that boat and if I am then successful at obtaining the document,I'll signal you by setting off fireworks." Cagney, our Actor of the Year for 1942, nods dumbly without showing any apparent interest as to what this document could possibly be. (SPOILER ALERT) Of course, a few minutes later, fireworks go off and the show has a happy ending.So what exactly could those documents have been? What kind of content could a document possibly have so as to prove that Yankee Doodle did not throw a race? It defies comprehension. And who was this guy? And where did he have the fireworks hidden -in his pants? And what kind of moron sets off fireworks on a boat? (think fire safety.) Exactly how dumb, how completely stupid, does a movie need to be before you turn off the TV?Repeat after me: Yankee Doodle Dandy is NOT one of the TOP 100 Movies of All Time.