Yankee
Doodle Dandy (1942)
Starring
James Cagney
Director
Michael Curtiz
Awards
Academy Awards
Best Actor - James Cagney
Best Score - Ray Heindorf and Heinz
Roemheld
Academy Award Nominations
Best Director - Michael Curtiz
Best Picture
Best Original Story
Best Sound Recording
A Reader Writes in...
Every so often, we get some more
information from our readers. On January 13, 2003 the following arrived by
email.
While performing a literature search regarding the Medal of Honor I
accidentally came across several negative references to "Hollywood's awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor to George M.
Cohan".
The reason for considerable confusion about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor is because the terminology is indiscriminately interchanged; they're the same decoration.
The award of the Medal of Honor is reserved exclusively for members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Now to Mr. Cohan. George M. Cohan was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor on June 29, 1936. Very legitimate!
The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is awarded to both military and civilians, American citizens and foreigners. It's issuance is wholly dependent upon obtaining a significant number of members of the House and Senate approval. For additional information, see
http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Congressional_History/goldMedal.php
Thought this might be of interest.
Regards, Bill Wendel |
And we did find it interesting...
thanks, Mr. Wendel!
Plot Synopsis
This much-loved and much-acclaimed musical biography salutes the
life and career of American composer and performer George M. Cohan. James Cagney
brilliantly essays the role of Cohan, a song-and-dance man who made his mark on the
vaudeville stage at the young age of 13. Thereafter, he continued to rack up triumph after
triumph, until he became the first performer of the popular theater to win a Congressional
Medal of Honor. Along the way, he penned countless memorable tunes, including Over
There, It's a Grand Old Flag, Give My Regards to Broadway and the
film's rousing title number.
Film Notes
"James Cagney thrills in a rare (and limber) song-and-dance
performance as composer-entertainer George M. Cohan. This nostalgic biography is told in
flashbacks, covering Cohan's formative years becoming Broadway's brightest star and
touching upon his loves, musicals, and artistic triumphs. Director Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of
Robin Hood) offers Cagney ample opportunities to invent an utterly charming
performance in what is practically a one-man show. If you've never seen Cagney as a
hoofer, you're in for a treat: his dancing is as dynamic as anything else he's ever done
on screen." (Tom Keogh, Amazon.com)
According to Inside Oscar, the film received a huge
premiere, in which the best seats went for a whopping $25,000. Yankee Doodle Dandy
continued to do well for Warner Bros., becoming the studio's top-grossing film. This was
James Cagney's final film as a Warner Bros. contract player. Additional choreographer:
John Boyle.
Rated: NR