Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Yankee Doodle Dandy Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as George M. Cohan
as Mary
as Jerry Cohan
as Nellie Cohan
as Sam Harris
as Dietz
as Fay Templeton
as Josie Cohan
as Schwab
as Erlanger
as Manager
as Nora Bayes
as Ed Albee
as Eddie Foy
as Harold Goff
as George (age 13)
as Josie (age 12)
as Franklin D. Roosevelt
as Receptionist
as Mme. Bartholdi
as White House butler
as Stage Manager in Providence
as Sister Act
as Sister act
as Sister Act
as George (age 7)
as Josie (age 6)
as Fanny
as White House guard
as Magician
as Star Boarder
as New York Stage Manager
as Dr. Lewellyn
as Dr. Anderson
as Receptionist
as Teenager
as Teenager
as Teenager
as Sergeant
as Recruiting officer
as Theodore Roosevelt
as Betsy Ross
as Sally
as Union Army veteran
as Union Army Veteran
as Stage manager
as Schultz in 'Peck's Bad Boy'
as Irish Cop in 'Peck's Bad Boy'
as Actor at Railway Station
as Army clerk
as Wise Guy
as Telegraph operator
as Hotel clerk
as Nurse
as Hotel Clerk
as Reporter
as Reporter
as Reporter
as Jockey
as Reporter
as Critic
as Critic
as Girl
as Chorus Girl in 'Little Johnny Jones' Number
as Teenager
as Chorus Girl in 'Little Johnny Jones' Number
as Singer
as Pianist
Critic Reviews for Yankee Doodle Dandy
All Critics (25) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (2) | DVD (6)
Raucous, vulgar, over long.
You will find as warm and delightful a musical picture as has hit the screen in years, a corking good entertainment and as affectionate, if not as accurate, a film biography as has ever -- yes, ever -- been made.
Yankee Doodle Dandy is rah-rah, no matter how you slice it.
The greatness of the film resides entirely in the Cagney performance.
Patriotic '40s classic charms, but some dated behaviors.
Maybe the best-case scenario for what happens when a film biopic does everything right.
Audience Reviews for Yankee Doodle Dandy
Yankee Doodle Dandy is a cliche packed, guilty pleasure, made sublime by the galvanic performance of James Cagney as song and dance man George M. Cohan. Directed by the capable Michael Curtiz, who could apparently direct anything, it also has gorgeous B & W cinematography from the great James Wong Howe and wonderful supporting performances by some great Warner Brothers contract players like Walter Huston, S.Z. Sakall (Carl from Casablanca) and Cagney's sister Jeanne playing his movie sister. The main reason to see this is for the joyful musical numbers, in particular, the title song, Give My Regards to Broadway, and It's a Grand Ol' Flag. Cagney doesn't even try to sing but spits out the lyrics with bravado and hoofs so engagingly that you can't take your eyes off him. He's no Fred Astaire, but he has such a wonderful fluid style and such a compact, lithe athleticism that he's just as watchable. The overblown chorus numbers are crackling entertainment, but be warned that they are not even half of the film's running length, so you'd have to skip through your DVD menu to avoid the schmaltzy and often maudlin scenes, like the elder Cohan's deathbed scene, which I ate up for dinner, but are for old movie fans only. Cohan comes off as arrogant and self-absorbed, but Cagney infuses him with humanity and warmth, so we can see why his family, friends and business associates might put up with him. I have no idea how accurate YDD is to reality, apparently Cohan was a nasty fellow who tried to bust the actor's union and had a savage cruel streak. Not here. The drama such as it is, has all the essential show biz bio flick scenes: the early struggling years, the hero's comeuppance, huge success straining the personal relationships, and the decline when the hero is considered a relic of the past, culminating in a big unexpected comeback. The film is book ended by a visit when Cohan is summoned to the White House by Roosevelt, where he related his life story to the President, who seems to have a lot of time to listen (the two hour length of the movie) especially during WWII, where you'd think the man might have more pressing concerns. This is not at the top level of the great old musical bio flicks, but it's lots of fun. It's really not much without Cagney, and fortunately this film offers a heaping helping of him.
Super Reviewer
This is a great musical. I love the old style musicals where the song and acting are separate. Sure, the song can tell a story, but this shows that the cast can dramatically act as well. It was a well done film all around with great music, acting, writing and inspiration. I had a lot of fun watching this one and if you like the old black and white films, this is one to watch.
Super Reviewer
The music was the only thing good about this film.
Super Reviewer
Yankee Doodle Dandy Quotes
| George M. Cohan: | My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you. |
| George M. Cohan: | It seems it always happens. Whenever we get too high-hat and too sophisticated for flag-waving, some thug nation decides we're a push-over all ready to be blackjacked. |
| George M. Cohan: | My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you. |
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