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Cast

James Cagney
as George M. Cohan

Joan Leslie
as Mary

Walter Huston
as Jerry Cohan

Rosemary DeCamp
as Nellie Cohan

Richard Whorf
as Sam Harris

George Tobias
as Dietz

Irene Manning
as Fay Templeton

Jeanne Cagney
as Josie Cohan

S.Z. Sakall
as Schwab

George Barbier
as Erlanger

Walter Catlett
as Manager

Frances Langford
as Nora Bayes

Minor Watson
as Ed Albee

Eddie Foy Jr.
as Eddie Foy

Chester Clute
as Harold Goff

Douglas Croft
as George (age 13)

Patsy Lee Parsons
as Josie (age 12)

Jack Young
as Franklin D. Roosevelt

Audrey Long
as Receptionist

Odette Myrtil
as Mme. Bartholdi

Michael Curtiz

Clinton Rosemond
as White House butler

Spencer Charters
as Stage Manager in Providence

Dorothy Kelly
as Sister act

Marijo James
as Sister Act

Henry Blair
as George (age 7)

Jo Ann Marlowe
as Josie (age 6)

Phyllis Kennedy
as Fanny

Pat Flaherty
as White House guard

Leon Belasco
as Magician

Syd Saylor
as Star Boarder

William B. Davidson
as New York Stage Manager

Harry Hayden
as Dr. Lewellyn

Francis Pierlot
as Dr. Anderson

Ann Doran
as Receptionist

Joyce Reynolds
as Teenager

Dick Chandlee
as Teenager

Joyce Horne
as Teenager

Frank Faylen
as Sergeant

Wallis Clark
as Theodore Roosevelt

John Hamilton
as Recruiting officer

Georgia Carroll
as Betsy Ross

Joan Winfield
as Sally

Dick Wessel
as Union Army veteran

James Flavin
as Union Army Veteran

Thomas E. Jackson
as Stage manager

Sailor Vincent
as Schultz in 'Peck's Bad Boy'

Fred Kelsey
as Irish Cop in 'Peck's Bad Boy'

Tom Dugan
as Actor at Railway Station

Garry Owen
as Army clerk

Murray Alper
as Wise Guy

Creighton Hale
as Telegraph operator

Frank Mayo
as Hotel clerk

Ruth Robinson
as Nurse

George Meeker
as Hotel Clerk

Eddie Acuff
as Reporter

Walter Brooke
as Reporter

Bill Edwards
as Reporter

Lee Murray
as Jockey

William Hopper
as Reporter

William Forrest
as Critic

Edward Keane
as Critic

Dolores Moran
as Girl

Poppy Wilde
as Chorus Girl in 'Little Johnny Jones' Number

Charles Smith
as Teenager

Leslie Brooks
as Chorus Girl in 'Little Johnny Jones' Number

Jerrie Lynne
as Singer

Vivian Austin
as Pianist

Lon McCallister

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Critic Reviews for Yankee Doodle Dandy

Audience Reviews for Yankee Doodle Dandy

• Jun 02, 2014

  This is one of those musicals that most people will find delightful but I think it's a waste of Cagney's talent. it is a little ironic that it is one of his most noted roles. Reach deeper for better Cagney reward.
  

  John B Super Reviewer
• Apr 21, 2013

  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.
  Josh M Super Reviewer
• Mar 31, 2011

  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.
  Jon L Super Reviewer
• Nov 03, 2010

  The music was the only thing good about this film.
  erika b Super Reviewer

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