It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) – Musical #34

Studio:
Warner Bros.

Director:
Michael Curtiz

Starring:
James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Rosemary DeCamp, Richard Whorf, Irene Manning, George Tobias, Jeanne Cagney, Frances Langford, George Barbier, S.Z. Sakall, Walter Catlett, Eddie Foy Jr., Douglas Croft, Minor Watson, Chester Clute, Odette Myrtil, Patsy Parsons, Jack Young (billed as Capt. Jack Young), Leslie Brooks (uncredited), Ann Doran (uncredited), Charles Drake (uncredited), Tom Dugan (uncredited), Frank Faylen (uncredited), William Hopper (uncredited), Lon McCallister (uncredited), Dolores Moran (uncredited), Joyce Reynolds (uncredited), Charles Smith (uncredited), Frank Sully (uncredited),

Plot:
A musical biographical film of composer and playwright George M. Cohan (Cagney). The film follows stage performers Jerry (Huston) and Nellie Cohan (Decamp) as their family grows into the Four Cohans with their son George and daughter, Josie (Jeanne Cageny). As the family grows, George becomes an outspoken performer, which makes producers reluctant to hire the Four Cohans. Eventually, he breaks out on his own, and with collaborator Sam Harris (Whorf), and becomes a success on Broadway with his plays and songs.

Trivia:
• Eddie Foy Jr. plays his father Eddie Foy
• One of five films that Jack Young appeared as President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Radio announcer Art Gilzmore was the voice of FDR, according to Michael Curtiz’s biographer.
• George M. Cohan wrote and produced more than thirty-five plays, many of them with his partner Sam H. Harris, and composed more than 500 songs.
• The film omits Cohan’s first wife, who sued Warner Bros. and Cohan when the film was released, according to Michael Curtiz’s biographer.
• First film appearance of Joyce Reynolds
• The first time Irene Manning was billed under her new stage name. She previously was billed as Hope Manning.
• Originally was planned to be a project at MGM on the Four Cohans with Mickey Rooney as young George M. Cohan, but the plan fizzled. It was then considered by Samuel Goldwyn as a vehicle for Fred Astaire, who said the role wasn’t right for him, according to an article by the American Film Institute.
• James Cagney reprised his role of George M. Cohan when he made a brief appearance in the musical biopic, SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (1955).

Highlights:
• James Cagney’s dancing
• The entire film

Notable Songs:
• “Yankee Doodle Boy” performed by James Cagney
• “Give My Regards to Broadway” performed by James Cageny
• “Over There” performed by James Cagney and Frances Langford
• “You’re a Grand Ole Flag” performed by James Cagney
• “Mary’s a Grand Ole Name” performed by James Cagney, Joan Leslie, reprised by Irene Manning
• “Harrigan” performed by James Cagney and Joan Leslie

My review:
There’s nothing better than revisiting a film that you love. For whatever reason, I hadn’t watched YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) in maybe 20 years, but much like an old friend, it feels like you just watched it.

YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) is not probably one of the all-time greatest musicals, but also an outstanding performance from James Cagney.

In this biographical musical, Cagney plays songwriter and producer, George M. Cohan. The film shows his upbringing, performing with his parents and sister as The Four Cohans, and how he butt heads with producers over creative differences. His ideas led Cohan to breakout on his own to write his own songs and stories. Along the way, he meets his wife, Mary (Joan Leslie), and writes songs important to the World War I effort.

Films like YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942) really exhibit just how versatile an actor James Cagney was. In his early films, he played a ruthless gangsters; like when he smashed a grapefruit into Mae Clarke’s face in PUBLIC ENEMY (1931) or a con artist popularizing grapefruit diets in BLONDE CRAZY (1931). He also played comedic roles in films like THE BRIDE CAME COD (1941) or THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (1941).

But YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was far from Cagney’s first musical. He had already shown off his vocal talents and unique dancing style in FOOTLIGHT PARADE (1933). Cagney brings all of these elements together in his role of George M. Cohan. A brash charisma he used in his con artist films, humor, song and dance, and also alot of heart. His line “My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you” is such a lovely touch to this film, and said at the perfect moments.

“I didn’t have to pretend to be a song and dance man,” Cagney said. “I was one.”

The film is also early in the career of one of my favorite actresses, Joan Leslie. Only 17 years old at the time, Leslie found herself starring alongside James Cagney, and playing a character that ages into a much older woman. Leslie is so wonderful and lovely in this film. I especially enjoy her duet of “Harrigan” with Cagney.

The rest of the cast is fabulous too. Walter Huston is always wonderful and Rosemary Decamp is always a pleasure to see in films. It’s a lovely touch that Cagney’s sister, Jeanne Cagney, plays his sister in the film. The film is further a family affair since their brother, William Cagney, was an associate producer.

Leslie said it was James Cagney who suggested and added many things to the film that made it special, according to Michael Curtiz’s biographer.

The film also illustrates the versatility of director Michael Curtiz. He could direct musicals like this or ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (1948), to the war romantic drama CASABLANCA (1942) to the gutwrenching film noir, THE BREAKING POINT (1950).

There are so many beautiful moments in the film, along with the famous thank you line, I love where the family is holding hands as they march in the “Grand Ole Flag” musical number.

Like most biographical films, the film may not be entirely true.

When the fictionalized biography was released, Cohan’s daughter Georgette said, “That’s the kind of life daddy would have liked to live,” according to Michael Curtiz’s biographer.

The film was released in May 1942 and George M. Cohan died on Nov. 5, 1942.

When it comes to the American songbook, it’s incredible to see just how many of the famous songs George M. Cohan wrote. What I find astounding is the shear magnitude of all of the songs Cohan wrote, and songs that are still well-known today, from “Over There” to “Grand Ole Flag” to “Yankee Doodle Boy.” It’s really incredible.

YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was began filming the day after the attacks on Pearl Harbor and was released during a time when news of World War II was difficult. It’s not accident that it’s an incredibly patriotic film. As Rosemary Decamp said, they weren’t certain if it would be their last message to put out to the free world.

It’s both a wonderful thing to revisit one of the greatest musicals of all time, but also daunting to review it. I have so much to say but my love of this film and understanding it’s importance almost stifles it. Even the notoriously grumpy New York Times critic Bosley Crowther loved YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942).

It’s truly just a heartwarming and beautiful film, with a top tier performance from one of Hollywood’s greatest actors: James Cagney.