I had a huge crush on James Cagney. I thought he was so cute. Before he made it big, he and his sister ran a dance studio. He was a joy to watch dancing, he was so light on his feet. I never get tired of watching this movie. The last scene gets me every time. ❤
Your not wrong! Today, Hollyweird wouldn't even let this movie get off the ground, what with too may caucasian actors, extras, etc. The lyrics would be censored so as not to refer to the "I love to hear the Dixie strain" as it would be considered racist and extremely and highly offensive?! Lacking diversity & inclusion - Hollyweird would look the other way!
@@steveb6290 I knew he was a dancer but was surprised when I first found that out. I’ve book marked a video with Buddy Essen, Dean Martin and Charles Nelson Reilly where they are doing a really simple step to a a catchy tune. Charles Nelson Reilly nails it. I don’t know why but I like watching that one.
@@steveb6290 He was brilliant. The original scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. Then switched to the tin man at last minute. Paint made him I'll and missed the film
So many people forget that he was a song and dance man and plating gangsters came later in his career. They need more like him today an all-around talent.
John Travolta and I spent every Fourth of July glued to the television set ALL DAY watching Yankee Doodle Dandy as it played over and over again on Multi Million Dollar Movie on WPIX. Separate houses of course. 🤣🤣 HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.!! RIP George M. Cohan and James Cagney 🙏🙏🙏
Fun Fact: My mom worked as a struggling actress at WB when this was filmed. She said the original cut had a different first minute where he is off stage ready to go on when he is told his sister has died in childbirth. Then he goes on and does this wonderful performance. Then it cuts to him offstage collapsing in tears after his curtain call. That showed much about the character of the man but Jack Warber had it cut because it took away from the fun of the song number. In the released version no mention of his sister is ever made again after this scene.
Cagney, One of the Greatest Actors of the 20th Century, And my absolute favorite. ❤ What a GEM. In White Heat, he scared the hell out of Dir. RAOL Walsh when he was told his Mother was dead. Walsh had no idea, he would freak out, like that & thought he was sick!! Amazing. I Love Man of a thousand faces...the story of Lon Chaney Sr. Stunning portrayal. 1933s Footlight Parade is another Stunner & he was just getting started ❤❤❤ Cohan would not allow anyone else to portray him, it was Cagney or no film!!!
More than 10 years ago over Christmas period the BBC showed a whole raft of Cagney movies; about 2 years later I discussed this event with a Film Critic on Radio 5 'film phone in'. He was surprised how much I knew about the YANKEE Doodle film!
I believe Mr Cohen ended his shows with these words, My Father thanks you, My Mother thanks you, My Sister thanks you and I thank you. Cagney was brilliant straight actor and dancer, my scene of him dancing with Bob Hope in the 7 Little Foys
I'd call this performance art, not really dancing. That's not to say it has no worth; it certainly does. It's heartwarming and expresses the character he's portraying.
He was deliberately doing it in the style of George M Cohan and magnificently too. For Cagney showing dancing at it's best watch him with Bob Hope in the Seven Little Foys.
@@rorymac7714 He did the same routine, facial expressions and all, in "Foys." It's sort of, for want of a better description, a quick paced stroll back and forth, chest out to show his endearing, feisty personality. Nothing wrong with it, just the opposite.
@@rorymac7714 There's no right or wrong about such abstract things. One could argue that Rex Harrison was singing in "My Fair Lady" and "Dr. Doolittle" and be right... or wrong, depending on one's personal concept of "singing." It's all very subjective.
Well...at least it makes one remember a time when most were taught about the idea of an America that was truly beautiful and that maybe really existed before 1913....
Not a singer. At least in the sense of Crosby. Not a dancer. At least in the sense of Astaire. But kinetic as heck. Fun. Spirited. Full of energy. And the allure of girls in gowns.
OMG, Mr. Cagney was so Great in portraying Mr. Cohan. There is some film that can be found of George M. dancing and Cagney duplicates his style perfectly!
We've loved it in black and white from day one. But YES, it should have been filmed in color. Especially when you consider the scene with all the marchers and their American flags.
Admittedly a little before the DEI era, but I've watched this about one hundred times and still get a thrill. Nobody danced like that then! That Cagney, can only think of one other talent like him. That was Sammy Davis Jr.
there is also a Great Dance Routine with Cagney and Bob Hope, from the film Seven Little Foys 1955 which is undoubtedly a classic, the timing and sight gags have their audience at the Friar's Club in stitches.
It is regrettable that the film was not originally filmed in color in 1942, sadly the colorization on display here is rather cheap looking and does no favor to the film.
"How he didn't win an Oscar, is a great mystery to me". This film was the one, that saw him take home "the best performance by a actor in a leading dramatic role",Academy Award.
What a grand and talented entainer, who really believes in being a true American. He is what the older entainers were really like. Some actors today are okay, but not like the older days
