Yankee Doodle Dandy

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

17K

YOUR RATING

James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

The life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer, and singer George M. Cohan.

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Classic Musical Biography Drama Family Music Musical

The life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer, and singer George M. Cohan.The life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer, and singer George M. Cohan.The life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer, and singer George M. Cohan.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

17K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 3 Oscars
- 6 wins & 6 nominations total

Trivia
Many facts were changed or ignored to add to the feel of the movie. For example, the real George M. Cohan was married twice, and although his second wife's middle name was Mary, she went by her first name, Agnes. In fact, the movie deviated from the truth to such a degree that Cohan's daughter Georgette commented, "That's the kind of life Daddy would have liked to have lived."

Goofs
The "You're A Grand Old Flag" number, supposedly takes place in the 1906 production of "George Washington Jr.," and uses multiple period flags to represent times before 1906. The Civil War flag, as an example, is correct for the time in question. However, in the final sequence characters carry, and an soft screen projection is made of, multiple 48 star flags. The 48 star flag was not introduced until 1912. In 1906, it should have been a 45 star flag. (Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907, New Mexico and Arizona in 1912).

Quotes
George M. Cohan: My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you.

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Featured in The Voice That Thrilled the World (1943)

Soundtracks
The Yankee Doodle Boy
(1904) (uncredited)
from the Broadway Show "Little Johnny Jones"
Written by George M. Cohan
Played during the opening credits
Sung and Danced by James Cagney and Chorus

User reviews138

Review

Featured review

Focus on the dancing talent of James Cagney

There are many, many James Cagney films that show his enormous talent as an actor. He was equally at home in musicals, dramas and comedies. While I have always been a fan and appreciate his unusual scope, this movie in particular caught my eye and totally blew me away when the scene I'm about to describe unfolded.

Near the very end of the film Cagney's character (George M. Cohan) bids farewell to the President and leaves the room. There is a long, open staircase he starts walking down. As he walks you sense a bit of a bounce beginning to take over his step.....one that quickly gives way to an awesome dance as he navigates the stairway. Many will not note, but this dance was a fantastic achievement on two fronts. One, it was done in one "take"...that is, the camera never stopped; the scene never "cut." The camera stays with him in one shot all the way through. Second, Mr. Cagney never ONCE looks at his feet or down at the steps. It's almost impossible to WALK down a staircase without looking down or hanging on to a banister....this man DANCED down a staircase without benefit of seeing or touching anything.

Couple this feat with the brilliant display of "hoofing" he gives earlier in the film when he literally dances up the walls and you have a movie that deserves its "classic" rating. If you haven't seen it please make it a point to do so. Any movie that is awe inspiring 62 years later must be worth a peek, don't you agree?