sadrec1 Review of Yankee Doodle Dandy

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Purer Cagney than any of his thug roles combined.

[10/10 · 28 June 2006]

Jimmy Cagney is quickly becoming my favorite past actor. This relatively stocky Irishman, appearing in 60+ films, is an amazing well of talent. The world knows him best playing "dirty rats", vicious, (often insane) thugs epitomizing the brutality of Gangland in the 20s through post-depression, but his first love in show biz was the musical. Cagney was a song and dance man at heart, and it comes through brilliantly in "Yankee Doodle Dandy". He chronicles the life of George M. Cohan, a prolific vaudeville showman turned Broadway star/writer/composer/director/producer "born on the 4th of July" (though it was probably really the 3rd.) and not afraid to show it. For decades, he with his family dominated Vaudeville. On his own, he became the king of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley, making fantastic, patriotic songs still sung today, like "You're and Grand Old Flag", "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and the rousing Great War anthem "Over There". Cagney plays Cohan with respect and passion, dancing with such unbridled enthusiasm that Tom Powers, Cody Jarret and Rocky Sullivan might vanish from your mind entirely. He sings incredibly, as well, blending genuine singing with a Rex Harrison-style "Songspeak". Finally, he acts phenomenally. His final scene with his father was a tear-jerker on the set (it tugged on my heartstrings as well), setting the stage for the emotional energy he shows in the prison riot scene in "White Heat". Go out and see "Yankee Doodle Dandy". I'm sure Cagney would rather bury his gangster movies and have this recognized as his greatest achievement.