Yankee Doodle Dandy

(Michael Curtiz, US 1942, 126 min., 35mm)

At the onset of World War II, George M. Cohan (James Cagney), known as “the man who invented Broadway,” comes out of retirement to star as President Roosevelt in the Rodgers and Hart musical, I’d Rather Be Right. On the first night, he is summoned to meet the president at the White House, who presents him with a Congressional Gold Medal. Cohan is overcome and chats with Roosevelt, recalling his early days on the stage through a series of flashbacks, including his supposed birth on July 4^th. Cohan then goes into detail, telling the story of his life, from vaudeville stage to stardom.

Post-screening discussion with Michael Lasser.