07/04/06 Yankee Doodle Dandy

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), directed by Michael Curtiz

watched w/ Leslie (partially); VHS rental (North American Video) @ home

Today is our nation's birthday. Say whatever you will about what state it may be in these days, where we are headed, what past troubles we've had...I still think it's the greatest damn one on the planet. Yes, I'm biased and limited in my selection of such statements (having only ever really seen this one first hand), but I feel confident in it. For all its faults, and it could be worse, it's fun to celebrate the patriotic day that is our Independence Day. OK, I've been picked on enough about having a corny affinity to this holiday (coming from a rich military history in my family), but who doesn't love spending time with the family at a cookout, drinking beers with friends, and trying not to shoot your digits off with firecrackers?! Load me up another sparkler Miss America! Alright, it's not like I did any of those things today anyway...but we did have the day off from work & got to watch (er, rather listen to) fireworks off our back balcony in the warm night. So, not only did I enjoy this day, but I enjoyed my (that's right, I wanted this one to win the holiday poll) movie selection of a throwback patriotic film in "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Well, we must all remember the song from our childhood, and some may recall the dirty version sung on the playgrounds after class. However, I did not know much of the history of the composer George M. Cohan, who is famed for having created not only that classic ditty, but others like "You're A Grand Old Flag," and "Over There." The man (played deftly by icon James Cagney) was the patriotic poster-boy for America throughout the First World War, as it was his virtuoso performances on stage, composing, dancing, and singing that lead him to create such a patriotic and iconic figure of a war-riddled nation. the film follows his life, from his much-debated birth date of July 4th, to his family's famed Four Cohans stage troupe, and finally into his own as a big time promoter for inspiring routines to help soothe a country who had so much to be sad about. Cagney does a terrific job in what itself was a vaudevillian performance caught on film, keeping the nature of the movie light-hearted enough without losing the powerful messages Cohan's songs stirred. The story even comes full circle in a very touching way, when it's Cohan's song "Over There" that helped many through World War I, only to see him later in life as a forgotten old man who's president calls upon him to come out of retirement to inspire another generation of men serving in World War II...where the film trails off to the same overwhelming rendition of the song, as Cohan marches down D.C. with a platoon of soldiers about to embark to the warfront. I think it's important to recognize the time that this film was made, in the shadow of World War II, at what it's social impact was trying to have on the people, just as Cohan's true-life work had on those during World War I. I know it may sound a bit sappy, but it stirs up the emotions in me a lot...and it's a damn musical for crying out loud! I always think it is important to remember what others have sacrificed for us (and I'm not trying to make any stupid political statement here, forget that), and what this country can mean to all of us. I have a father who served for over 22 years in the U.S. Army, and a brother who is currently, having seen war in both Iraq & Afghanistan. Obviously that makes me a bit more sappy about the whole 4th of July, but it's sometimes nice to have the date remembered with fun & enjoyment for the simple things in life, and not to ever forget it.

3 out of 5 stars