I am 83 years old. I remember my dad singing 'Over There' He returned without a leg but he was always proud of his service. When I see all the men marching , who were not actors, I wonder if my dad was in that group? I still very proud of what he accomplished 'OVER THERE'
i worked at a VA hospital where there was this man who had no legs. he would sing this song, and i would sing it with him. he would laugh, and when ever i worked his floor before i got to his room i'd be singing coming up the hallway (Over There) he heard me singing , letting me know he heard me, then i could here him singing this song right back. it was his favorite ... i will always remember him..
Cagney wasn't supposed to dance down the staircase like that in the script. He did it all on his own in one take and nailed it. The director told him, " you could have broken your neck"! To which Cagney replied, "I don't do stunt work".
My great great grandfather fought in WW1 and used to tell me stories one of them was about the yanks "back in 1917 I was sitting there tired and afraid all I heard at first was machine guns and mortars but then as if god showed pity one us I heard those yanks laughing, smiling, and singing and that song would be the most powerful thing I've heard since King George declared war in 1914"
My GRANDFATHER (no "greats") fought in WW1. My Great Grandfather fought in the 2nd Afghan War for Queen Victoria. My gt gt grandfathers would have been born around 1830...
@@christopherdean1326 same here, my grandfather fought in WWI, part of the US AEF. Amazing now 100+ years after the war to end all wars was fought to see people writing things like great-great grandfather. That's what I would hear growing up about the American Civil War. When I was a kid, my grandmother talked to me about what she remembered about the Spanish American War. That big clock on the wall just keeps ticking.
The soldier that encourages Cagney to sing is none other than the wonderful character actor Frank Faylen, best known as Ernie the cab driver in "It's A Wonderful Life" and as Dobie Gillis father in the Dobie Gillis TV series.
@@billzardus95 I'm just an old movie fan, and I've seen Frank Faylen in so many movies of the 1940s and 1950s, that I recognized him right off. He was a good journeyman character actor to plug into a movie when you need an everyman face as a neighbor, a soldier, cab driver, handyman, etc. Never handsome enough to be a leading man but never intimidating enough to be the heavy. He could be the bartender but never the bouncer in a nightclub. Now the guy who played Nick the bartender in Wonderful Life "Out you two pixies go, tru da window or out da door!" Sheldon Leonard, was a hood or gangster in many movies. I love catching those old character actors who never got lead roles. Faylen was a very busy actor. I looked him up online in Imdb and found that in 1942 he appeared in 20 movies, including "Yankee Doodle Dandy". In 1943, he appeared in 24! He must've had a great, hardworking agent!
@@JenniferMannette Cagney thought of it but the director said no, it was too dangerous. But Cagney, being the consumate professional that he was, did it anyway and the director left it in because he did it flawlessly, in one take.
So prepare, Say a Prayer Send the word, Send the word to beware We'll be over, we're coming over. And we won't be back till it's over over there! Rest In Peace James Cagney, you are always in our hearts.
Lafayette, we are here! I know our boys said that in world war I but it seemed just as appropriate once we landed in France I would think in world war II.
Im a 71 year old retired army sergeant and I watched this and many other patriotic movies as a kid . I am convinced it is the reason I became a soldier and love my country so much.
Over here in the old country eire, thank God for America and all the great Irish Americans ,and all ,,,,Cohen's gang from Ireland and Cagney gang from Ireland the good auld Paddy put his stamp over There,,,happy holiday s fokes over there from all over Here👍👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂🌏🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Sorry, but with all due respect, I believe that much of our involvement in WW1 was unnecessary. Nevertheless, "Over There" is one of the most thrilling and successfully patriotic songs ever made. It grabs you, takes you back in time, puts a Doughboy helmet on your head, and makes you want to charge a machine gun nest. I know a little of some of the history of "The Great War" and it's causes. One of the best and most heroic decisions ever made by an American military leader was by General Pershing. Reportedly, when the American troops arrived; British and French military and political leaders demanded that Pershing place our people under their command. The same idiots who had been losing the war for the previous four years and killing tens of millions of their own countrymen. Pershing not only refused; but he insisted that the men get proper training and fight under the American flag.
Was Jimmy Cagney crying with that scene...while singing....Damn he was such a wonderful actor....too bad no one today can touch these kind of entertainers...Jimmy was more than an actor - he was an entertainer - singing, dancing and acting - he had it all.
I like that it was the Brits that gave us the name "yank" as an insult in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to mock us. We turned it into something good and made the song a patriotic one. That's American spirit. We are Yanks and we're proud of it.
John C I asked my father “why were the Yanks so unpopular?” “They weren’t really...they were great guys, but they had the best of every fucking thing! and we had shit!” came the reply😊. As a Welshman, he was much fonder of the Yanks, than he was of the English😂😂😂lol...
I've read that George M. Cohan, (shortly before his death in 1942); got to see the movie, Yankee Doodle Dandy. He is said to have commented that, "He's glad he didn't have to follow Cagney onstage after that performance."
This clip and entire movie is the true spirit of the United States, it is from a simpler time where America was celebrated by most of its citizens and proudly acknowledged. Today we are a ghost of a country compared to what this movie portrayed. Cohan and the Americans of WWI and WWII would be embarrassed with what we have become. I have tears in my eyes watching this and I truly hope America one day will return to this old time spirit. However I feel this won't ever be possible again the more time goes on....This movie wouldn't be made today...
James Cagney was truely a GREAT entertainer, and a wonderful man in life. They don't make movies like this anymore,mores the pity, these so called actors today should study the older actors like Mr Cagney and a good many others. I still miss James Cagney today, and many others from his generation.
Look up the film ONE, TWO, THREE, directed by Billy Wilder, 1961. There was so much talent in that film, and everybody was playing off Cagney. It was Cagney's last film before the hiatus he broke when he appeared in RAGTIME, a dozen years later. If Cagney wasn't the greatest entertainer of the twentieth century, it would be hard to name who was.
I've never seen this film before. I couldn't even walk down those stairs without getting dizzy and falling down them! Great song, it's just been on the 100th anniversary service of the Battle of Amiens.
It wasn't part of the original script, but Cagney felt he wanted to jazz up the scene a bit so he did it on his own and nailed it in one take. The director asked him, "Are you nuts, you could have broken your neck!" To which Cagney replied, " I don't do stunt work".
Yes! There are few James Cagney types anymore, much to the world's loss, extremely talented. He was an extraordinary guitar player also. I don't think the studios would let an actor do that today in film.
I'm an Englishman and proud of what the British forces did in the second world war, my dad was in the royal navy during this time and always said what a great nation the United States of America was. A proud fighting nation when called upon to uphold liberty.this tune says it all.GOD BLESS YOU YANKS.
This film came out the same week as The Battle of Midway, a resounding victory for the US. When Cagney tells the crowd, "Everybody sing!" People in the theatres did! @@TheMan05555
This is my favorite movie, it wouldn't be 4'th of July without it. Both of my grandfathers fought in WWI, and my father was a medic in Patton's 3'rd. He was part of the Battle of Bastogne. Remember how blessed we are to enjoy the freedoms all those brave men and women fought to preserve. Freedom is never free!!!
My great great grandpa went to the US after Canada joined the war, in 1917 when the US joined the war he went back to Canada to enlist with his old friends, he died at Vimy Ridge...
TheWorldWarAnimators Of Canada1914 Very moving, thank you for sharing this personal and tragic emotional struggle. I thank him, your family and all his peer's for their services.
My dad who passed in 2017 at age 92 saw Frances Langford live along with Jack Carson when he was on the heavy cruiser USS Louisville CA 28 from 1943-46 in WW2. The Louisville was in Pearl Harbor getting repaired in June 1945 after being hit by the 3 rd kamikaze. Thanks for posting.
One of the BEST movies ever made! Jimmy Cagney is OUTSTANDING!! What an incredible dancer and singer. I get goose bumps every time I hear this song, and see him in this movie.
Sadly there's far too much division in this country. You have people who disrespect the National Anthem which is meant to be the ultimate patriotic song for any country. I don't even thing something like 9/11 could bring this country back together for more than a few weeks.
@@sslocke even when the nation was ripped in half by civil war, patriotism still existed. A culture shift is never more than an election cycle or two away.
@@sslocke As an Englishman, I am a great admirer of your (USA) National Anthem. It pains me to watch it disrespected. America is a great country, do not let idiots attempt to make it less. God Bless America
Passion, grace, dignity, the flower of humanity. This was America (U.S) at its best within its greatest heyday. Remarkable, stunning & One can watch & participate without end.... Marching for life, hope & truth--'The American Way.' RMA; Bakersfield, Ca...Hallelujah!!!.
Immortality is realizing that you have done something that will be remembered forever. The look on his face hearing people in another war singing a song he wrote tells it all.
I drove a taxi cab based out of Falmouth-Woods Hole, Ma. in the late 1960's. Marthas Vinyard and Nantucket Steamship boat terminal. James Cagney often took a cab to Boston. I took him several times....he wrinkled up the Boston Globe newspaper onto the floor...generally he was civil and respectful...good tipper!
Speaking of actors, my grandfather in 1964, Went to the movie, Mary Poppins with his two sons and wife, James and Joseph. (My dad.) Half way through the movie, he fell asleep after all the work at the dockyards. Just thought it would be a nice comment. =D
When people believed in causes. Whem FREEDOM meant life. The word PATROIT was honorable. James Cagney was a great actor. These movies belong in all schools. GOD COUNTRY, DUTY, HONOR, & FAMILY. Today its considered corny.
Yeah, now they wear the Flag as a dew rag, bathing suit bottoms wrapped around their ass, waving next to a confederate flag, on throw away napkins, as a cape at rock concerts, as a Halloween costume, on motorcycle seats sitting their ass on it, on cut off sweat shirts, folded up on and thrown on stadium floors.
I love this song so much. Volunteered into the U.S army few months ago. About to head off to my first duty station. It anit all that glamours but I wanted to do something different from the rest of school that mostly made musicians, scientists and mathematicians. You have to have someone defending the country from tyranny within and abroad. A good motto for the U.S military could be the motto that the Spartan Rangers use in the Metro series. "If not us then who."
I'm a 53 yr old trucker , long for the classics , sat in Grand Prairie TX about 10 days before the 4th of July , watching this timeless classic , and 10 to 12 other truckers had weird looks, I can't help them ....
James Cagney received the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for this role. A lot of people thought he was a bit nuts for doing this movie, but not a lot of people know that before he "made it big" in movies - Cagney was a "song and dance man" on stage. This is my favorite Cagney film, with the possible exception of his performance in "Ragtime", which was one of his last movies.
Well, I am British and also white so I do fit the bill. Tell you what, if Donald Trump gets in as president and clears out all the Muslims, I`ll certainly consider bringing myself and family over there. CAHiredGun
This is what Americans should be doing today! Sticking together to make this country great again, like this!! Even though there was a war, America stuck together and helped each other...I miss George M. Cohans America!
Frances Langford and James Cagney 2 great humanitarians. Before he died Jimmy living in Stanfordville, NY had a beautiful restaurant built in that town for his long time secretary Billie. Frances remembered her community in Stuart Fl and donated a wing at the Martin Memorial Hospital for heart patients.
World War 2 and the immediate post war era was an outlier when it comes to patriotic spirit. Most of American history was marked by intense political and social division going back to the election of 1800. What some people regard as a lack of pride in America is more likely frustration that everybody isn't of one mind on the great issues of the day the way we were about winning WW2.
I don't recall Michael Jackson ever trying the move Cagney put on those stairs. Come to think of it now , I don't recall anyone ever trying to repeat that move. Jimmy defied gravity with his 104mph feet.
Every time I hear "that the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming," a chill goes down my spine and a tear comes to my eye. I'm black (b. 1957), my father-not my "dad," my _father_ -fought in WWII, and I don't care about the past discrimination against blacks, for most of the twentieth century this country was the greatest in the world, meaning that when the great moral tests came, truth and justice and sanity and reason prevailed! We need to become once more a country where men are men, women are women, science is free of ideology, where we _make_ things, where evildoers are punished whatever their race or sexuality, where there are no degenerates of whatever race or sexuality pantomiming sex acts in videos or on the streets, where our teachers teach what they're supposed to teach and adults return to speaking like adults. The world is not a suburban backyard-honor your mother and father by calling them your mother and father!
I agree! I wish it was still the way it was. Your words are like a poem and are inspiring. They bring flood of happy memories and tears to my eyes. They make a perdon feel very proud to be an American. We were a very fortunate lot, weren't we.
.....στην Ελλάδα αυτές της ταινίες της έβλεπα μικρός στην Ελληνική τηλεόραση....δεν έχει σημασία εάν είναι Αμερικανικής η Σοβιετικής προέλευσης....έχουν το πατριωτικό πνεύμα....σήμερα της έχουν απαγορεύσει δια ροπάλου στην Ελληνική τηλεόραση.....λένε ότι είναι φασιστικές ταινίες.....
I feel proud of all the men that were in WW1 and WWII that fought so hard for our country. What is so sad is that our country did nothing for the Vietnam war Veterans. They couldn’t tell the enemy. A little boy would come in to camp with a bomb and blow it up right in their faces. All veterans should be praised for protecting us and our country. God bless America
@@YemadeTaylorfamous As Clinton, they could deflected to Canada. Sad, people don't think their country's worth fighting for. But they'll reap her rewards.
James Cagney playing George M. Cohen, author of WW 1 patriotic music was the best Music Man Hollywood ever had. Gis dance down those stairs was excellent example. Most people remember him for later life dramatic acting tho. He did a dance on a wharf that dazzled.
How come we don't still have our troops march along the main roads of major cities like we used to? I know that part of the reason is that we know are military is powerful and we don't really need those marches to remind us. But still, that would be awesome even just once a year on Veteran's or Memorial Day. I see many people more against the military and I think this might restore a little of that national pride. I picture a mass line of troops marching along the main roads of all major cities and even some of the smaller towns in uniform with their rifles on their shoulders. I picture them singing songs like "Over there", "Yankee Doodle", "Grand Old Flag", etc. Some planes flying over head, maybe some military vehicles, tanks, etc. Just marching and having a good time. Different companies can show off banners from previous wars. It can be cheerful, patriotic, and just fun. Some troops might be able to march in their home towns. Imagine the thrill of their families and friends seeing their loved one in the parade. Even veterans could march in their old uniforms. It would be patriotic, celebrating our military might. Maybe it would make more Americans proud to be Americans. Maybe it would instill more pride in our military. Maybe it would even serve as a warning to our enemies not to mess with America. At the very least, it would be entertaining for people at home and service members marching in the parade. I know I'm kind of dreaming here, but wouldn't that be a sight to see.
todd krager All the more reason to do it. Show them that we don't care if we offend them. Show them the we are patriotic Americans that love our country and support our military men and women.
Something worth remembering, I think, is that in the past (WW1 in particular, when this song was making the rounds), the most connection anybody would have with the military usually is maybe a few photographs and the very rare moving picture. Under those circumstances, parades are the best way of showing everybody "Hey, we have a military, and this is what it looks like!" Nowadays, not only do we have full color photographs and movies about the military out the wazoo, we've got full-scale simulations of soldiers at war (albeit in a highly stylistic and not terribly realistic depiction). In a world where Call of Duty is a thing, parades are a bit superfluous (not to mention a bit pricey - clearing the streets and disrupting normal traffic is a bit of an expense.)
@@TomnPeng That was a conscript citizen's Army. Those soldiers were literally your friends and neighbors. It was the luck of the draft number that determined if you were in the Army or not. The current US military is a warrior caste separate from the larger civilian society. Many of its members are from military family's were voluntary service is passed down from father to son and brother to brother.
All he wanted to be, was a song and dance man😎 he was the greatest😢 He wanted this role so much, he didn’t want a fee for his part. It’s a very emotional clip this, still moves me to this day😳. They broke the mould after James Cagney: there’ll never be another.
I CAME TO America in 1951, as a War Orphan. Mother was a survivor of Nazi slave labor. She gave me up in 47. I became a citizen in1970, 1 year after my 3rd tour in Nam. This is my Country, now and always. God Help those who would descriate and demean it.
true entertainer, like ALL those from his time and generation..they all started on stage..learning the craft.......true triple threats acting ,dancing, singing.........amazing entertainers....a true joy to watch. Also, that is what it is like to be a patriot
Yes, an impressive scene. For me, the song is powerful. I, like many, served in the Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Think of this though, George M Cohan lived until 11/5/1942. He may have seen James Cagney portray him in this movie. The composer and lyricist hearing his song sung by hundreds, thousand, on the radio, in halls. A bit of motivation, notes and words given to him by God, that inspired men and women to serve their country selflessly for two world wars.
George M. Cohan was actually reportedly to have seen the movie weeks before his death. He was also reportedly to have said that he was glad he didn’t have to go up with James Cagney after the movie.
Reva Nelson nowadays every sentence on film has to say fuck. It’s annoying, and I agree with you 100%. Also people were way more compelling in these movies. I’d rather watch North Korean propaganda than modern film honestly.
@@drterminator Speaking of North Korea there is evidence from old Soviet that NJ started the Korean War. See book " Forgotten War Remembered" by Bill Shinn.
Just an old hoofer? My foot! I believe Cagney truly felt every emotion he ever portrayed on the screen and that's what made him America's favorite actor.
Such pride for the men in WW1 and in WW2 my great great grandfather US marines (sergeant major Micheal Campbell)(1886-1971)-my great grandfather master sergeant dale Campbell US marines born 1931 and still fighting strong have such pride for them both and love them so much♥️🇺🇸🦅 Over there over there send the word send the word over there that the yanks are coming the yanks are coming to send the word over there!!!!!!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
This was the first Cagney film I ever saw, one of two I viewed close to each other at Christmas time during college break. Probably viewed on Turner's channel 17. The second one I lucked upon was in the middle of a scene with Cagney portraying another vaudevillian performer- turned out to be "Man of a Thousand Faces", his turn as Lon Chaney Sr. , the silent era actor. That film and Cagney's portrayal started a long time admiration of Chaney's films and life story.
That's why we need to invest in anti-aging research instead of throwing money down the ratholes of those money making rackets of cancer and heart disease.
