Rating: 
Summary: Cagney Like You Never Thought You'd See Him
Review: James Cagney IS this film. Yes, the songs are entertaining and the story is well told (which is surprising to hear from someone like me who does not like musicals). But from the moment he comes on camera, he takes control of the film. The word dynamic is usually used to describe this performance, and that's because it's the perfect word. Cagney sings, he dances, he jokes, and he delivers dramatically, too. Surprisingly, he was a great dancer, with a sort of stiff legged kind of style I've never seen before, but it works. The movie is very patriotic, and sometimes it seems to be too much, but you don't really pay attention to that because Cagney fills the screen. What a star performance!
Rating:
Summary: james cagney is electric
Review: JAMES CAGNEY'S performance as George M. Cohan is a singular achievment in motion picture history. He combines his formidable acting skill with a quirky song-and-dance style to deliver an unashamedly exuberant performance so full of joy and swagger that forgotten in the euphoria is how briddled the movie is by its unfortunate adherence to the standard bio-pic format of the time--overindulgent sentimentality, laborious plot turns, "corny" dialogue, shallow interpretation of characters, etc...--however, this is Cagney's movie. His dynamic performance is beyond reproach and obscures any criticism made about the film as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite musical
Review: My mother bought me a copy of this fantastic movie when I was nine. I watched it over and over for a solid week! Filled with the patriotic songs of George M. Cohan, the lengendary song and dance man, this is American film making at its best. Cagney's exuberant puppety dancing style is a joy to behold. A classic!
Rating:
Summary: The most "American" movie ever made? Quite possibly!
Review: Oh what an out-and-out joy is this film!
As you know by now, the amazing James Cagney sings, dances and acts his way through this rousing biopic of George M. Cohan. He's directed by Michael Curtiz, a director who apparently could work in any genre of movie, and produce masterpieces. Pull up his name on imdb and you'll see what I mean.
Anyways, the film traces his life from his infant vaudevillian beginnings to his conquering of Broadway. After seeing this, you'll know why there's a statue of Cohan in Times Square.
The acting, as expected, is top-notch, with the sweet Joan Leslie as his love interest Mary, Walter Huston as his dad; Cagney's sister plays Cagney's sister...but what will bring you to see this movie again and again are the musical interludes.
Cagney is simply spectacular. He is a comet, bouncing around the Broadway stage. His dancing often flirts with straight-out levitation. I swear there are times when his feet fly across the screen...
Then consider the songs..."Yankee Doodle Dandy", "Mary", "Give My Regards to Broadway" and the most patriotic song I've ever heard, "Over There."
That song was written for the troops of WW I, and this film was being made when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The way this one song is used in this film, I guarantee, will stay with you forever. And knowing that this movie was made during that time only enhances your experience...but I didn't know it until afterwards, and it made no difference.
And that leads to the one thing I feel is overlooked in most reviews of this film: the script. It's has a strong story, great lines, terrific set-pieces and delightful twists. It's funny as all-get-out, and heart-wrenching when you least expect it.
The movie is as American as can be...the rags-to-riches rise of the central figure in Broadway history (the Broadway musical being essentially an American creation), the way his family travels to all the new states as they are incorporated...the evolution of New York City...WW I...WW II...it's all here!
And from beginning to end, Cohan (and the filmmakers) wear their "Grand Old Flag" on their proverbial sleeves, proudly and unabashedly. Patriotism is a definite theme througout the film, rising to dizzying heights right before the credits. Patriotism portrayed simply and honestly, without any hard political bent or satirical edge.
The DVD, one of those sweet Warner 2-disc sets, is exemplary...great transfer, nice extras...bravo Warner, again, for treating your classics with respect.
It's inarguable: this is one of the great films of all time. I envy those of you about to see it for the first time, and I assure you it won't be your last!
Rating: 
Summary: Give My Regards To Cagney
Review: Only 1942 Hollywood could show an aging songwriter stepping in with a parade and being challenged to sing a patriotic song which he wrote. And George M. Cohan wrote quite a few.James Cagney's Best Actor performance takes place in flashback in the White House as he is summoned to receive a Medal of Honor for his body of work. He tells his bio to President Franklin Roosevelt, whom he is portraying in his show, "I'd Rather Be Right." Cohan describes his early life in Vaudeville, travelling America with his parents and sister, and how he matures and partners with producer Sam Harris. His ups, downs and true loves weave the well-explained circumstances of many of his 80 plays and 500 hit songs. In particular, "I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Give My Regards To Broadway," "Mary," "You're A Grand Old Flag," and of course, the rousing WWI anthem, "Over There." Although Cagney's character is a bit glib and constantly wisecracking, his relationships with family, business associates and competitors are well-defined. And of course, his superb dancing and physical movement may come as a surprise to gangster-movie purists. This is particularly evident in a scene he admittedly ad-libbed near the film's end. Perhaps with America again at war, a classic film like "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is just what we need to enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: James Cagney delights as Broadway's George M. Cohan
Review: Perfectly cast in the lead, James Cagney is a delight as the legendary Broadway composer George M. Cohan. The film spans most of Cohan's adult life, giving a truthful account of everything from career to love interests. The climax is the title number itself, giving us a singing and dancing Cagney like we never saw in any of his gangster flicks. This film is wonderful to watch...see it on the 4th of July!
Rating:
Summary: Good movie....stupid reviewer
Review: Sally turtlepage, its time the U.S was on the offensive since 9/11? What, like blowing up countries that had nothing to do with 9/11? You wont step in France again? Why, cause their opinions differ from yours? Thats anti-american? Why is it that anything said against Bush is anti-american? 19 Arabs fly a plane into some of your buildinds and rather then get those responsible(Bin laden!) you want to invade countries on false claims of WMD's kill thousands of innocent people(oh their just innocent Iraqi's, sorry) and slaughter a couple thousand young american soldiers. Is that what it means to be american nowadays? Good movie though
Rating:
Summary: Invigorating
Review: The American Film Institute put out its' list of the top 100 American movies several years ago. Guess what movie sneaked in at the 100 spot? You got it; "Yankee Doodle Dandy". Personally, I would have ranked it higher but I was glad to see it on the list because I was afraid it might have gradually become forgotten. That would be a shame because this is a well-made movie that's a lot of fun. It's a real rah rah, rally-round-the-flag movie and it came out at just the right time; 1942. It tells the story of Gearge M. Cohan who was a real rah rah, rally-round-the-flag kind of a guy. It fits into the classification of a musical although it is much deeper than that. The greatness of this movie is measured by its' cast with the primary focus going to James Cagney. Cagney is better known for his tough-guy ganster movies but he was an all around entertainer in this movie. His singing is adequate for the job and his dancing is very very good. He's a bit stiff legged at times but the choreography seems to play to that aspect. It's his acting that raises this movie above the level of the standard musical of that era. Cagney is a fast-talking, wheeler-dealer who thrives on the spotlight. He seems to be a better Cohan than George M. himself. This was Cagney's Oscar-winning performance and a well-deserved award it was. If the movie has a short-coming, it's in the portrayal of his marriage. Joan Leslie plays his wife in the movie and does a good job in that role. However, the screenwriters left out any scenes that embellish their relationship beyond that of stage partners. The absence of children and their formal manner of communication left some wondering why they tied the knot. However, the pace of this movie leaves little time to ponder such things. Watch this movie and you'll feel like marching in a parade. It's a real feel-good movie made back in the days when Hollywood knew how to make them.
Rating:
Summary: Invigorating
Review: The American Film Institute put out its' list of the top 100 American movies several years ago. Guess what movie sneaked in at the 100 spot? You got it; "Yankee Doodle Dandy". Personally, I would have ranked it higher but I was glad to see it on the list because I was afraid it might have gradually become forgotten. That would be a shame because this is a well-made movie that's a lot of fun. It's a real rah rah, rally-round-the-flag movie and it came out at just the right time; 1942. It tells the story of Gearge M. Cohan who was a real rah rah, rally-round-the-flag kind of a guy. It fits into the classification of a musical although it is much deeper than that. The greatness of this movie is measured by its' cast with the primary focus going to James Cagney. Cagney is better known for his tough-guy ganster movies but he was an all around entertainer in this movie. His singing is adequate for the job and his dancing is very very good. He's a bit stiff legged at times but the choreography seems to play to that aspect. It's his acting that raises this movie above the level of the standard musical of that era. Cagney is a fast-talking, wheeler-dealer who thrives on the spotlight. He seems to be a better Cohan than George M. himself. This was Cagney's Oscar-winning performance and a well-deserved award it was. If the movie has a short-coming, it's in the portrayal of his marriage. Joan Leslie plays his wife in the movie and does a good job in that role. However, the screenwriters left out any scenes that embellish their relationship beyond that of stage partners. The absence of children and their formal manner of communication left some wondering why they tied the knot. However, the pace of this movie leaves little time to ponder such things. Watch this movie and you'll feel like marching in a parade. It's a real feel-good movie made back in the days when Hollywood knew how to make them.
Rating:
Summary: yankee doodle dandy is the best!!!!!!!
Review: THE MOVIE YANKEE DOODLE DANDY IS THE BESR MUSICAL EVER MADE.THE GENIUS OF GEORGE M.COHAN(1878-1942) IS BEAUTIFULLY BROUGHT OUT IN THE PEFORMANCE.I OWN THE VHS,CD AND ON SEPTEMBER 30,2003 I SHALL PURCHASE THE DVD.I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL ALSO!!!!!!!
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