Although he will always be well known for his gangster roles, James Cagney's only Academy Award for Best Actor came for his role as George M. Cohan, the hoofer, singer, dancer, actor and playwright portrayed in `Yankee Doodle Dandy'. One might suspect that Cagney only won the Oscar because the Academy would never have given it to one of his gangster roles. Or maybe, it was because this film was just what the country needed in the early days of World War II. Or maybe, the academy actually was recognizing Cagney's abilities as an actor. Whatever the reason, Jimmy deserved the award. Who ever knew he could do that kind of footwork and even sing!
Now, let's get to George Cohan, who's `A good friend of my Uncle Sam' and was `Born on the Fourth of July'. Because of this, Cohan was immensely patriotic and wrote many flag waving tunes. Many of you are still stumped about his name, but you would probably know his songs if you heard them: `Mary', `Give My Regards to Broadway', `Harrigan', `45 Minutes from Broadway', `Over There' and, of course, `Yankee Doodle Dandy'.
The music numbers, since they are stage productions, lack the Hollywoodized touch that's in `Singin' in the Rain'. Nevertheless, they are still exciting enough. A great supporting cast assists Cagney, including Walter Huston, Joan Leslie, Richard Whorf, Irene Manning, George Tobias, Rosemary De Camp, Eddie Foy Jr. and Jeanne Cagney (His own sister!). The film's direction was helmed by Michael Curtiz, responsible for such classics as `Casablanca', `The Adventures of Robin Hood' and Cagney in `Angels With Dirty Faces'. Curtiz puts into the movie his traditional blend of thrills and fast pace. The screenplay is full of memorable scenes and dialogue, particularly `My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you and I thank you'. About the only problems with it are moments of melodrama and how it might trivialize some of the events in Cohan's life. I also did not like how the script skips in telling us how Cohan's mother and sister died. But, with all the virtues of the movie, these problems are minor. It also shows to never learn your history from movies.
So, if you happen to see this available for rent or sale at your local video store, don't hesitate. Unlike many movies today, this is one you can watch problem free with the whole family.
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