Yankee Doodle Dandy [VHS] [1942]

James Cagney and all the cast are magnificent, it’s a great true story.

James Cagney is brilliant

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Cagney,Walther Houston is just wonderful. Cagneys dancing and the wellknown music is a Joy.

This is a review of the 2014 All Region Blu-ray from Warner Archive, in their SUPERB ‘Archive Collection’. As in this case, these are routinely shown as being Region A1 only, on the Amazon entry, but they play beautifully on our Region B2 equipment. Their edition of this 1942 film plays in 1080p HD, 1.37:1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The B&W picture is pristinely clean and sharp, although not as intensely B&W as some films. The sound, with it’s vibrant musical score, is also excellent.I was eager to see this film, given it’s heavyweight OSCAR-nominated history ~ 8 nominations including for Picture & Director. It won 3, including Best Actor for star James Cagney, Music and Sound Recording. And made between 3 December 1941 and 10 February 1942, its production literally spanned the entry of the USA into WW2: Pearl Harbour was attacked on 7 December. The film pivots on the fact that the subject of the film, entertainer George M Cohan, had been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, for the work he did to enhance morale during WW1, particularly his 2 memorable songs ‘Over There’ and ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag’. This was the first such award to someone in the Arts and entertainment, and a measure of the vital role his music played in the earlier conflict. That the film was made when Europe was already at war again, and the US was clearly on the brink of joining in, was certainly no coincidence. It has been said that Warner Brothers essentially fashioned a magnificent recruiting poster with this film: that is no exaggeration.Cohan was of Irish extraction (like Cagney himself), and from a theatrical family. The role had been offered to Fred Astaire, but Cohan had a very idiosyncratic style of dancing, a sort of stiff-legged prance, totally at variance with Astaire’s, who turned the role down. Cohan had an equally strange musical style, which is rhythmic declamation rather than singing; Cagney mimics him, apparently very effectively, and it is quite odd.The film provides a life-long biography of Cohan, from his teenaged roots with his family’s troupe, through to his return from retirement at the start of WW2. It is a fascinating story, providing also a history of America’s Vaudeville tradition. Much is highly entertaining, some rather shocking by today’s standards ~ as when the family foursome perform in ‘Blackface’. The film apparently glosses over some facts, such as Cohan’s divorce and remarriage ~ his screen wife, Mary, becomes an amalgam of the two! And some of the chronology was finessed.However, apparently, much of the look of the film was kept very carefully authentic. The stage productions, with the help of Cohan himself, who advised, are true to life, and Cagney gives a meticulous recreation of Cohan’s look and sound. He is magnificent, a TOTAL revelation, although he actually began in Vaudeville himself.Entertaining, evocative, a tad overlong, suffocatingly ~ but entirely understandably ~ patriotic, this is a film that MUST be seen in context, to appreciate it. 4 (and a half!) spangly Stars.

Back in the 50’s I had the pleasure of watching this movie ,it’s the history of a famous American showman,the music is excellent,James Cagney gave an excellent performance.

Fantastic film and really enjoyed watching it, it was so entertaining.

Delivery etc perfect. Film long and not really much drama in the story. Educational...

Great

James Cagney does a great job in his depiction of George M Cohan, who saw the film shortly before his death. Cohan highly approved of Cagney's performance. This is a great story that is beautifully told, and it shows how great a showman both men were. Cagney's song and dance routines are great, and it's a wonderful story. This has been a favored film of mine for over 50 years, and I am very glad to have it finally in my collection.

Soy fan de los clásicos del cine de la época de oro, y cuando supe que Warner Archive Collection había restaurado en formato Blu-Ray el clásico "Yankee Doodle Dandy" lo compré de inmediato. Se ve espectacular, mejor que nunca, con una calidad de imagen fuera de serie.Llegó en perfectas condiciones, el único inconveniente es que no trae subtitulos ni doblaje en Español.

Great move!!

James Cagney survolté et irréprochable, comme d'habitude. Un pan d'histoire du "vaudeville" américain (ce qu'on appelait en France le "music-hall"). Numéros musicaux impeccables et joliment mis en scène, à l'ancienne. Walter Huston (le père de John) formidable et montrant qu'un acteur de la grande période hollywoodienne des "films d'usine" (comme je les appelle) savaient TOUT faire : jouer, chanter, danser...

Es una película maravillosa y la edición está a la altura. Buena calidad de imagen y sonido; sólo se echan de menos subtítulos.