Yankee Doodle Dandy

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Yankee Doodle Dandy is a 1942 American biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway". It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, George Tobias, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney, and Vera Lewis. Joan Leslie's singing voice was partially dubbed by Sally Sweetland. The film was written by Robert Buckner and Edmund Joseph, and directed by Michael Curtiz. According to the special edition DVD, significant and uncredited improvements were made to the script by the famous "script doctors", twin brothers Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. In 1993, Yankee Doodle Dandy was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Production: MGM Home Entertainment
  Won 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
92%
NOT RATED
Year:
1942
126
1,737 Views
The Yankee Doodle Dandiest Entertainment of 'em all!
Based on the story of GEORGE M. COHAN with the Greatest of all his Great Music.
Get ready to Laugh, to Sing, to Shout! ...For here comes Uncle Sam's Star Spangled Yankee Doodle Dandy!

George M. Cohan:
And then came your wire. I was really worried. Well, here I am goin' on like Tennyson's Brook giving you the story of my life. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. You should have stopped me.

President:
Why, I wanted to hear the story of your life. It has a direct bearing on my sending for you. Do you know what this is?

George M. Cohan:
The Congressional Medal of Honor.

President:
Let's see what the inscription says: 'To George M. Cohan, for his contribution to the American spirit. Over There and Grand Old Flag Presented by Act of Congress.' I congratulate you, Mr. Cohan. [He hands the medal to George] I understand you're the first person of your profession to receive this honor. You should be very proud.

George M. Cohan:
Oh, I am proud. In fact, I'm flabbergasted. First time in my life, I'm speechless. Are you sure there isn't some mistake?

President:
Quite sure.

George M. Cohan:
[modestly] But this medal is for people who've given their lives to their country or done something big. I'm just a song and dance man. Everybody knows that.

President:
A man may give his life to his country in many different ways, Mr. Cohan. And quite often he isn't the best judge of how much he has given. Your songs were a symbol of the American spirit. Over There was just as powerful a weapon as any cannon, as any battleship we had in the First World War. Today, we're all soldiers, we're all on the front. We need more songs to express America. I know you and your comrades will give them to us.

George M. Cohan:
Mr. President, I've just begun to earn this medal. It's quite a thing.

President:
Well, it's the best material we could find, what with priorities and all -

George M. Cohan:
Goodbye, sir. [They shake hands] And I want you to know that I'm not the only one that's grateful. My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I assure you, I thank you. And, uh, I wouldn't worry about this country if I were you. We've got this thing licked. Where else in the world today could a plain guy like me come in and talk things over with the head man?

President:
Well, that's about as good a definition of America as any I've ever heard. Good-bye, Mr. Cohan, and good luck.

George M. Cohan:
Good-bye sir, and good luck to you.


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