The best !
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November, 11, 2008
From Little Caesar to George M. Cohan. Winning an Academy Award for Best Actor, Cagney is wonderful. One of the best American movies ever made. Great for family viewing, including young children. And for young children, don't forget to let them see Errol Flynn in Robin Hood.
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A Genuine Classic!
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October, 10, 2008
Wow! What a classic movie this is. It's from a different era and probably seems too schmaltzy and contrived. Still, it is a terrific movie in its own terms.
James Cagney is a credible song and dance man as he plays the great showman George M. Cohan. His dancing down the stairs of the White House still stuns me when I watch. I can see myself falling down the stairs after the first step!
There is a lot of emotional impact to the movie. The final scene where he is walking down the street with marching troops, readying themselves for leaving for Europe at the outset of America's involvement in World War II. With his own music being played as the troops march. . . . I still get misty-eyed with that scene.
The story itself is pretty standard. The portrait of Cohan, his family, and his friends as his talent propels him upward in the Broadway galaxy of stars and talents. There are the ups and downs and challenges that face him in the movie. However, as one might guess, he triumphs.
Cagney does a great job singing the songs and dancing while portraying Cohan. And those songs. . . . Among the ones that Cagney sings: "Over There," "Harrigan," "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Mary's a Grand Old Name," "You're a Grand Old Flag," and so on. And, of course, "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Just a great deal of fun.
The other actors provided great support for Cagney's bravura performance. Walter Huston, Joan Leslie, Richard Whorf, Jeanne Cagney (James' sister), Frances Langford. . . . All acquit themselves nicely.
There is a second DVD with all manner of supporting material, but I never get as interested in these add-ons as perhaps I should. I much prefer to attend to the "main event," in this case the movie itself.
Anyhow, treat yourself to a classic. . . . This is an all-time great "feel good" movie.
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