Starts off a little slow but once it gets going it becomes a truly wonderful film. I am sure the modern liberal will be offended by it interminably but I found it refreshingly patriotic in a lot of ways. Cagney is magnificent. He has an easy charm in his role, is a unique and great dancer, and owns every scene. The production values are very high and it is filled with memorable songs. 94/100
shareIt's a great film. Everyone should know about the great Cagney's politics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cagney#Political_views
I think anyone who likes Donald will be boohooing badly. And before you say he supported Reagan, this film was in 1942 when he was a strong FDR supporter. Bravo James, top of the world!
Cagney is one of my favourite actors ever but I really found this a chore to sit through... all that Americana and flag-waving... his performance is boundless in its energy but I much prefer him in many other roles. 4/10
shareSpeaking as an old liberal... am very fond of this film. I think some critics have overrated it, I would give it 7 or 8/10, when a lot of critics give it 9 or 10/10, it's very pleasant and full of wonderful musical numbers, but it lacks whatever puts the best movies over the top - something to really grab the viewer and give a tug on the heartstrings.
And speaking as an old liberal, I LOVE my country, and the principles and ideals which form the basis of the constitution and government. I just want my country to actually live up to its ideals and principles.
I was in no way intending to denigrate old liberals. I used to be one myself. Only the modern liberal.
shareThere's a lot of damn foolery on both sides, that's all I'll say away from the politics board.
Anyway! I never understood why some critics and fans give "YDD" a 10/10, it's lovely but IMHO it never climbs the heights of greatness that the best musicals do. It's lovely and soothing, but the story does suffer from seeing Cohan go from strength to strength to strength with little conflict or drama... and while all of the musical numbers are good and Cagney is a wonderful dancer, none are quite great. As I said there's nothing in this lovely movie that puts it over the top, there's no insanely grandiose Busby Berkeley number, none of the soaring grace you get from Fred Astaire or Cyd Charisse, no moment of crackling fun or laugh-out-loud hilarity, nothing that grabs the gut or the heart. I value this movie for being sweet and genuinely uplifting, but that's not the same thing as being a great movie.
I think there are many moments of greatness. The first 'Over There', the last scene where he walks with the soldiers and starts to sing along, the little dance he does going down the stairs in the White House made me laugh, the touching moment when his father reads aloud the letter George wrote him for his birthday and then when his father dies, the George Washington Jr play was sensational, the quiet scene when his sister tells him she is going to get married and break up the act, when he is trying to enlist and is told he is too old and he does a wonderful dance number, all throughout Cagney is wonderful. By the end of this film I was genuinely moved there were so many scenes I loved.
I'll have to check out more Fred Astaire movies. I think the only one I've seen so far is Daddy Long Legs a few months back. I am making an effort to watch more of the classics.
And I know the only film I've seen with Charisse is my favorite dance scene in Singin' in the Rain and she was spectacular.
Yeah, entertaining the troops by headlights was awesome, and so was tap dancing down the stairs in the white house, and if you were dazzled by a good many scenes when I wasn't, well, personal tastes do vary. What dazzles one person merely makes another smile, and can make a 3rd person groan.
Cagney really was terrific, he didn't have a lot of range as an actor or a dancer, but he was fantastic at what he did. Anyway, I've been a musical-movie geek for a very long time, and if you liked "YDD" do get on youtube or whatever and watch all the best movie musicals! Have a look at the Fred-and-Ginger movies (except for "Vernon and Irene Castle") and the Busby Berkeley extravavaganzas of the 1930s, check out Eleanor Powell, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly in the 1940s, and the big dazzlers of the 1950s like "The Band Wagon" and "On the Town", and the dance numbers from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", etc. There's a whole world of wonderfulness out there, just waiting to take your mind off of 2020!
I appreciate the recommendations!
share Cagney knew it was a part of a lifetime and his --main--career achievement. Yes he had other good roles but this a sensation and Cagney just killed it.
I don't 'remember the exact details of the story but reportedly Cohan either turned FDR down completely or delayed his picking up the award during the war.
I just watched it for the first time, and it is a brilliant film.
I honestly despise musicals, but for some reason I had to watch this.
This was released during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and if ever there was a film to represent that time, then this is it. The acting is top notch, the sets and costumes were great.
I never knew this, but George M. Cohan's statue is in Times Square. Next time, I am there I will get a photo of him. He had a truly remarkable life. I love going to the theater and this was a real treat.
What a wonderful way to spend two hours.