Review: Yankee Doodle Dandy

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Written by: Robert Buckner & Edmund Joseph

Starring: James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, Irene Manning 

Rating: [3/5]

In general, a film wants the audience to walk away with something after watching it. Whether it’s the performances, the message, the cinematography, and the music among others and when we enter the realm of Yankee Doodle Dandy as a musical we hope to walk away appreciating the singing and dancing occurring. While struggling with several narrative elements, this film lands on its most important elements. 

Coming out of retirement, famous performer George M. Cohan (James Cagney) receives an invitation from President Roosevelt (Captain Jack Young) to receive a Congressional honor. Overjoyed with the opportunity to meet the president he decides to recount his life experience to the commander in chief going back to his early days. 

Watching any musical from the 1940s or 1950s comes with the fear of eventually watching some horrific blackface randomly appear. Like a jump scare, it has nothing to do with the narrative but something deemed appropriate to have in films at the time. Yankee Doodle Dandy does not escape this particular criticism by having a scene where James Cagney performs in it that makes you want to throw something at the screen. Fortunately, this horrific display does not have some larger bearing on the overall plot and if one can manage to selectively forget about it, one can appreciate the other musical sequences that give the film lasting power seeing as they work not only effectively moving the plot along but telling the larger story of Cohan’s life. 

Stepping up the plate of this biopic of George M. Cohan we have James Cagney taking the mantle as the lead character and certainly carries many of the attributes one could want from someone in this role. While not necessarily having the same goods as Gene Kelly or even Fred Astaire, Cagney represents Cohan well and makes each of these musical sequences stand out and certainly makes a case for himself. It demands plenty of him and he makes it all work for the best not only in each of the musical sequences but also in the general presentation of George M. Cohan. He has the necessary razzle dazzle to uplift the film as a whole and truly drive the entertainment factor to its height considering the material received. 

Working with a title as this film does, it comes as no surprise the movie has some strong patriotic ideology propelling it forward. The amount of patriotism in this film would make even the most brazen flag-wielder blush. Considering when this film saw its release, it provides the necessary context, especially when profiling the life of someone like George Cohan. Taking place in the early days of World War II along with the release occurring around the same time displayed a necessity of displaying the very best facets of the American dream and the ideals this country stood for. Heck, even his having Franklin Roosevelt in the film as a somewhat prominent character says all you need to know. This strong belief in the best this country had to offer could make you shed a tear for the true potential of what this country stands for but we all know the complicated history that comes with everything about this nation. Yankee Doodle Dandy displays it through the lens of one man and his particular journey and it mostly works out positively. 

Having a biopic told through the protagonist sharing their life story with a United States President certainly stands out as an interesting approach in a storytelling style. It shows the life of a man who had undeniable talent but had plenty to learn regarding collaborating with others and we get to see this evolution as he tells the Commander in Chief. Setting aside the terrible blackface this film has some terrific musical sequences that give James Cagney the ability to stand out and deliver some showstopping scenes that demonstrate why he deserves to be in the same conversation among the greats of leading musical men.