Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most "American" movie ever made? Quite possibly!, January 25, 2005
Oh what an out-and-out joy is this film!
As you know by now, the amazing James Cagney sings, dances and acts his way through this rousing biopic of George M. Cohan. He's directed by Michael Curtiz, a director who apparently could work in any genre of movie, and produce masterpieces. Pull up his name on imdb and you'll see what I mean.
Anyways, the film traces his life from his infant vaudevillian beginnings to his conquering of Broadway. After seeing this, you'll know why there's a statue of Cohan in Times Square.
The acting, as expected, is top-notch, with the sweet Joan Leslie as his love interest Mary, Walter Huston as his dad; Cagney's sister plays Cagney's sister...but what will bring you to see this movie again and again are the musical interludes.
Cagney is simply spectacular. He is a comet, bouncing around the Broadway stage. His dancing often flirts with straight-out levitation. I swear there are times when his feet fly across the screen...
Then consider the songs..."Yankee Doodle Dandy", "Mary", "Give My Regards to Broadway" and the most patriotic song I've ever heard, "Over There."
That song was written for the troops of WW I, and this film was being made when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The way this one song is used in this film, I guarantee, will stay with you forever. And knowing that this movie was made during that time only enhances your experience...but I didn't know it until afterwards, and it made no difference.
And that leads to the one thing I feel is overlooked in most reviews of this film: the script. It's has a strong story, great lines, terrific set-pieces and delightful twists. It's funny as all-get-out, and heart-wrenching when you least expect it.
The movie is as American as can be...the rags-to-riches rise of the central figure in Broadway history (the Broadway musical being essentially an American creation), the way his family travels to all the new states as they are incorporated...the evolution of New York City...WW I...WW II...it's all here!
And from beginning to end, Cohan (and the filmmakers) wear their "Grand Old Flag" on their proverbial sleeves, proudly and unabashedly. Patriotism is a definite theme througout the film, rising to dizzying heights right before the credits. Patriotism portrayed simply and honestly, without any hard political bent or satirical edge.
The DVD, one of those sweet Warner 2-disc sets, is exemplary...great transfer, nice extras...bravo Warner, again, for treating your classics with respect.
It's inarguable: this is one of the great films of all time. I envy those of you about to see it for the first time, and I assure you it won't be your last!
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT!, June 14, 2000
GREAT FILM! And making it to the top 100 (for the 100 best movies ever made), this musical starring James Cagney as George M. Cohan is about the life of Cohan and the 4 Cohan's. George Cohan, wrote songs such as "The Yankee Doodle Boy", "Give My Regards to Broadway", "Overthere", "You're a Grand Old Flag", "Mary", "Off The Record", "H.A.R.R.I.G.A.N." etc....In this movie playing his sister (Josie Cohan), is really his real sister (Jeanne Cagney). And on the set, Eddie Foy was played by a son of his (Eddie Foy Jr.). At the ending when James Cagney is walking down the stairs, then is tap dancing was not in the script. Originally Cagney was to just walk down, the rest he improvised. If you're interested in musicals with good stories to tell and song & dances numbers (that were first done by Cohan when the plays first came out and were a big hit.), this would be a good movie to get for your classic musical collection.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The fellow's got the golden touch, July 31, 2005
Jimmy Cagney does it all in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, the exuberant biography of patriotic song-and-dance man George M. Cohan. I don't know much about Cohan beyond what I've learned from the film and Rudy Behlmer's commentary and I don't trust that the movie was aiming at a wart's-and-all portrayal, or much cared about historical accuracy. According to Behlmer Cohan had been married twice and neither wife was named Mary, although sweet Joan Leslie plays Mary Cohan, the film Cohan's one and only wife. Hollywood's Golden Age bio-pics didn't often stop for the facts, so I guess you can't fault this one for twisting things to fit the story. Cohan wrote the hit `Mary's A Grand Old Name,' Behlmer tells us, for his daughter. It fit the movie that Cagney/Cohan wrote it for his then fiancée.
Cagney won an Oscar for his role in this movie and he pretty much owns the show. His pleasure is evident in every frame and it's hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm. For anyone (like me) who's used to Cagney as a gun-toting gangster YANKEE DOODLE DANDY will come as something of a revelation. Jimmy can sing (well, he sings no worse than Fred Astaire, anyway) and he can dance. The highlight of the movie for me were the vaudeville routines and the many production numbers, including `You're a Grand Old Flag,' `Give My Regards to Broadway,' the anthem of World War I `Over There,' and, of course, `The Yankee Doodle Boy.' YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was just beginning filming when Pearl Harbor was attacked, which may account for some of its strong-to-overpowering patriotism. Still, watching Cagney tap dance down the White House stairs is a treat not to be missed. Surprisingly, this one's in black-in-white, a format I usually prefer, but if ever a movie begged for a red, white, and blue presentation it's YANKEE DOODLE DANDY.
Behlmer's commentary is heavy on the history of the production of the movie, detouring now and then to add tidbits on Cohan's life and career. It's a pleasant enough approach most of the time, but there's a little too much information on what scene was shot on what day. The two documentaries on disk two - "James Cagney: Top of the World" and "Let Freedom Sing! The Story of Yankee Doodle Dandy" are satisfying introductions to the star and the movie (the Cagney documentary is hosted by actor Michael J. Fox). The disks have plenty of other extras, as well. An interesting 1943 short "You, John Jones" starring Cagney as a volunteer air raid warden over here, three classic Warner cartoons, newsreels, etc. As usual with the Warner Home Video release I found the extras pertinent to the feature and most welcome. A strong recommendation for this two-disk set.
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