Yankee Doodle Dandy

Synopsis: A musical portrait of composer/singer/dancer George M. Cohan. From his early days as a child-star in his family's vaudeville show up to the time of his comeback at which he received a medal from the president for his special contributions to the US, this is the life- story of George M. Cohan, who produced, directed, wrote and starred in his own musical shows for which he composed his famous songs.
Director(s): Michael Curtiz
Production: MGM Home Entertainment
  Won 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
92%
NOT RATED
Year:
1942
126 min
822 Views


I call it a hit.

What'll your review say?

- I like it too, so I guess I'll pan it.

- That's logical.

My publisher resents Cohan

impersonating the president of the U.S.

Says our young readers dream

of being president.

"I'd rather be right than be president."

Cohan may find out he isn't either one.

- See how George does it at his age.

- I remember him when I was little.

Congratulations, George, old boy.

You did a great job.

- Thanks.

- Congratulations, Mr. Cohan.

- You had him down to a tee.

- But we're still on dangerous ground.

Imitating the president,

a lot of people won't like it.

It's good, clean fun.

Didn't they enjoy it in Boston?

Never could do anything wrong in Boston.

Greatest man in the U.S. Played by the

greatest actor. Nothing wrong with that.

Especially when the greatest actor

is my husband.

- This could be treason.

- A dollar-a-year man will take care of you.

A lot of them would like

to shoot actors.

Save these telegrams.

Government needs paper.

You've got a list with everybody

but Hirohito.

- We'll bring him in.

- Here's the one I sent.

- Will you read our cleverness?

- What makes you think I didn't?

I didn't know there was that much love left

in the entire Western Union codebook.

Hold that. Thank you. Thank you.

- Don't bother me.

- It's from the White House.

- Well, that bothers me.

- Here.

You read it.

These aren't my reading glasses.

"George M. Cohan,

The Alvin Theater, New York.

The president requests that you call

upon him at your earliest convenience...

...in regard to a personal matter.

Kindly reply for definite appointment

at White House.

Stephen T. Early,

secretary to the president."

There you are, Sam.

There you are. What did I tell you?

Coming at a time like this,

with everything on his mind...

...this is not just a casual invitation.

This is important.

- I think we're in trouble.

- Don't worry.

They don't telegraph you

to come and be shot at sunrise.

- He doesn't get up that early.

- I've got a run-of-the-play contract.

Fine time to make lame jokes.

I'm worried, Sam.

I'm really worried.

Halt!

- What can I do for you?

- I've got an appointment.

- The name, please?

- Cohan. George M. Cohan.

All right, sir. If you'll wait

just one moment, I'll call.

This is Sgt. Lewis

at the Pennsylvania Avenue gate...

- Good evening, Mr. Cohan.

- Good evening.

- We've been expecting you.

- Thank you.

Why, your coat's wet.

- Didn't you come in a car?

- No, I walked up from the station.

Washington's a great town to walk in.

Always get a kick out of it.

Yes, indeed.

Won't you come with me?

I was supposed to be off duty

this evening, Mr. Cohan...

...but when I heard you was coming, I

thought I'd like to see if you look the same.

- That depends on when you saw me last.

- It must have been 30-some years ago.

I was valet for Teddy Roosevelt.

He got me a seat up in the gallery.

The play was George Washington Jr...

...and you was just singing and dancing

all about the grand old flag.

Mr. Teddy used to sing it in his bathtub.

- It was a good old song in its day.

- It was.

And it's just as good today

as it ever was.

Come in.

Well, hello there.

How's my double?

Your double isn't too sure.

Give me time to work on that.

- I was told you knew all the answers.

- There was a time when I thought so.

- Right now, I wish I did.

- Yes, so do I.

- Sit down, Mr. Cohan.

- Thanks.

You know, I'm a little bit nervous.

- I'm sorry I missed the opening of your show.

- Maybe just as well.

Don't worry about it.

We understand each other perfectly.

I think so.

Herald Tribune says that you make a better

president in I'd Rather Be Right than I am.

Don't forget,

that's a Republican newspaper.

I can remember you and your family

very well. The Four Cohans.

Do you really?

That's a long time ago.

Yes. It was while I was

attending school near Boston.

I was a pretty cocky kid those days.

Pretty cocky kid.

A regular Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Always carrying a flag in a parade.

- I hope you haven't outgrown the habit.

- Not a chance.

That's one thing I always admired

about you Irish-Americans.

You carry your love of country like a flag,

right out in the open. A great quality.

I inherited that.

I got that from my father.

He ran away to the Civil War at 13. Proudest

kid in the whole state of Massachusetts.

So you've spent your life telling the

other 47 states what a great country it is.

I never thought of it that way before,

but that's about the size of it.

And I lost no time either.

It started with a very funny incident

about 60 years ago.

It was in Providence, Rhode Island,

on the 4th of July.

There weren't so many stars then,

in the flag or on the stage...

... but folks knew more were coming.

They were optimistic,

happy and expectant.

The beginning of the Horatio Alger age.

My father played in a variety theater,

breaking in a single.

No one was more expectant than he was,

unless it was Mother.

She was busy on a smaller production.

- Message come yet?

- No word, Jerry.

- Take a bow.

- I can't. I gotta get out.

- Watch that border!

- I gotta find out what's happening.

Oh, for heaven's sake, Jerry.

Take up number three.

You're on. Go ahead. Lights up.

- Bye, Sally.

- You can't run through the streets in that.

- They'll put you in jail.

- They'll have to catch me.

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Robert Buckner

Robert Buckner (May 28, 1906 – August, 1989) was an American film screenwriter, producer and short story writer. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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