Yankee Doodle Dandy

James Cagney made a career out of playing tough guys and gangsters. His roles as Tom Powers and Cody Jarrett are classic cinematic portrayals. However the film James Cagney won his only competitive Academy Award for was a musical. Beginning his career on the Broadway stage Cagney was no stranger to song and dance, and while his legacy today is that of a tough guy, he was actually known throughout the 1930's for both types of roles, starring in frothy musicals such as "Footlight Parade" in tandem with the gangster films. Credited with kick starting the "biography" musical sub-genre of the 1940's, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is the story of George M. Cohan, the flag waving vaudeville and stage star who wrote some of America's most patriotic anthems, such as "Over There" and "You're a Grand Old Flag". From his early career touring the country in vaudeville acts with his family, through his own superstar solo career playing opposite his wife, the film celebrates the life of the man, played to dynamic perfection by Cagney. In perhaps an even more curious move, the film is directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Bros. jack of all trades, who in the years surrounding this backstage musical would also direct several war themed action films, a western, a period swashbuckler, a hybrid noir/"woman's picture" and a little film called "Casablanca". Never one to rest on his laurels, Curtiz was always eager to try new things, like his contemporaries Howard Hawks and William Wyler, and his range is truly incredible, especially compared with filmmakers of today. As solid as Curtiz' direction is (considering he had no musical background, the film has perfect pacing and staging), the film belongs to Cagney, whose magnetic performance illustrated the star's inherent charisma as well as any of his gangster roles. This feat did not go unnoticed at the time either, as Cangey was awarded Best Actor of 1942.

Told in flashback, the film's story is told by Cohan to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on a rainy night at the White House. FDR summons the star, at this time a longtime veteran just out of retirement and starring in a new show "I'd Rather Be Right", a comedy spoofing the country's politics of the time, and is instantly engaged by his energy, enthusiasm and compassion. Cohan tells "the head man" of his early days trooping with his family as "The Four Cohans" (and his apropos date of birth: July 4!), and his tough decision to leave the act when it became apparent George had the talent and ambition for bigger and better things (the scene where he talks his way into an early audition perfectly captures the smooth control Cangey had over the character, while demonstrating Cohan's drive and charismatic personality). A nice scene early on in his solo career shows his first meeting with Mary, his future wife; initially a star struck fan, eager to meet the old man who was captivating on stage, Mary is entirely unaware that the role was played by a 25 year old George. George tricks her for a little while, performing incredible gymnastic feats before revealing himself. Soon the two are married and George's career skyrockets, thanks to his passion for the country he calls home. Applying his talents towards the war effort, George writes several of his standards in the wake of World War I and becomes an American icon. However he quickly becomes disenchanted with showbusiness, int he waning days of vaudeville many acts found themselves being phased out, while few had acheived even a fraction of what Cohan had, and he simply retired, living a relaxed life in the country with his wife. A chance encounter with some young people who had never heard of him or his songs prompts Cohan out of retirement and in typical Cohan fashion, he writes, directs and stars in a new show, "I'd Rather Be Right", where he plays a bumbling president. Intending to spoof the political machines and not the man himself, Cohan is somewhat nervous when summoned into the Oval Office, but is humbled when he realizes he has been brought in to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his patriotic work during his illustrious career.

Touched deeply by the gesture by the president, Cohan literally dances down the steps of the White House, a remarkable feat considering the act is captured in one medium shot, with Cagney never once looking down. Cohan had never considered his songwriting anything more than doing his patriotic duty, he wrote songs that celebrated his country, inspired by tough times when he felt people needed to be cheered up. The overwhelming success of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" would inspire several other biographical musicals about songwriters, such as "Til The Clouds Roll By", "Three Little Words" and another Michael Curtiz effort, "Night and Day", about the great Cole Porter. None of these subsequent films could duplicate the success of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" for one obvious reason: they lacked a dynamic star presence like James Cagney, giving a tour de force performance. Great music is another thing the film has in its favor; Cohan's USA anthems are not the only famous songs the film utilizes, "Give My Regards to Broadway", "Forty Five Minutes From Broadway", "Mary" and the titular number all add to the film's longstanding appeal. The film ends perfectly, Cohan having received his medal, he thanks "the head man" the same way he famously thanked every audience he ever performed for with his family, saying "my father thanks you, my mother thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you". Winner of two additional Academy Awards in addition to Cagney's slam dunk, the film was nominated for five others, including Best Director and Best Picture (oddly enough, that team, Michael Curtiz and Hal B. Wallis, would win the following year for "Casablanca"). Somewhat forgotten today because of Cagney's beign synonymous with the gangster genre, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is a wonderful period musical well worth revisiting today.