History Film / YankeeDoodleDandy

* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: The film did not adhere too closely to the truth. After seeing the finished product, Cohan's daughter Georgette observed "That's the kind of life Daddy would have liked to have lived."

* CallBack: We see Cohan composing the melody to "Over There", followed by the song being performed at a rally as America enters UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. 25 years later, as America enters UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, the song is sung again.

* TheOner: There's a long shot late in the movie panning over various Times Square advertisements of Cohan's musicals.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: The version of Cohan's life presented in the film is mostly fictional. Among many other historical liberties, the song "Mary Is a Grand Old Name" was a tribute to his ''daughter'' Mary (although his second wife was named Agnes Mary ), the last of the Four Cohans to pre-decease George was his mother rather than his father, the failure of ''Popularity'' happened nine years before the sinking of the ''Lusitania'' rather than concurrently with it, and Cohan's run as FDR in ''I'd Rather Be Right'' happened three years after he received the Congressional Gold Medal.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: The version of Cohan's life presented in the film is mostly fictional. Among many other historical liberties, the song "Mary Is a Grand Old Name" was a tribute to his ''daughter'' Mary (neither of his wives were named Mary), the last of the Four Cohans to pre-decease George was his mother rather than his father, the failure of ''Popularity'' happened nine years before the sinking of the ''Lusitania'' rather than concurrently with it, and Cohan's run as FDR in ''I'd Rather Be Right'' happened three years after he received the Congressional Gold Medal.

* TheCameo: Eddie Foy, Jr., appears in one scene as his own father, Eddie Foy, Sr.

''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 {{Musical}} {{Biopic}} film directed by Creator/MichaelCurtiz, starring Creator/JamesCagney and Creator/WalterHuston. It tells the life story of Broadway song-and-dance man George M. Cohan, the composer of such classic songs as "Over There", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and "Give My Regards to Broadway". Cohan's life is depicted from his beginnings with his family's vaudeville act, to fame and fortune as a Broadway composer and American patriot.

The film actually starts after Cohan has come out of retirement to play [[UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt President Roosevelt]] in his best friend's new musical ''I'd Rather Be Right''. After the show, he's summoned to meet the real President. Cohan chats with Roosevelt, recalling his early days on the stage. The story then flashes back to his youth, starting with his birth.

The Four Cohans perform successfully. Later, in partnership with another struggling writer, Sam Harris, they finally interest a producer and they are on the road to success. George also marries Mary, a young singer and dancer. As his star ascends, he persuades his now-struggling parents to join his act, eventually vesting some of his valuable theatrical properties in their name.

* JukeboxMusical

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: The version of Cohan's life presented in the film is mostly fictional.

Cagney would briefly reprise the Cohan role for a cameo in the 1955 film ''The Seven Little Foys'', in which he performs a tabletop challenge dance with Creator/BobHope as Cohan's friend and rival Eddie Foy.

* BioPic

* InvisiblePresident / TheFaceless: FDR's face is never shown.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: The version of Cohan's life presented in the film is mostly fictional.

The film actually starts after Cohan has come out of retirement to play [[FranklinDRoosevelt President Roosevelt]] in his best friend's new musical ''I'd Rather Be Right''. After the show, he's summoned to meet the real President. Cohan chats with Roosevelt, recalling his early days on the stage. The story then flashes back to his youth, starting with his birth.

''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 {{Musical}} {{Biopic}} film directed by Creator/MichaelCurtiz, starring Creator/JamesCagney and Creator/WalterHuston. It tells the life story of Broadway song-and-dance man George M. Cohan, the composer of songs such as "Over There", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and "Give My Regards To Broadway". Cohan's life is depicted from his beginnings with his family's vaudeville act, to fame and fortune as a Broadway composer and American patriot.

The Four Cohans perform successfully. Later, in partnership with another struggling writer, Sam Harris, they finally interest a producer and they are on the road to success. He also marries Mary, a young singer and dancer.

As his star ascends, he persuades his now struggling parents to join his act, eventually vesting some of his valuable theatrical properties in their name.

''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 film starring Creator/JamesCagney and Creator/WalterHuston. It tells the life story of Broadway song-and-dance man George M. Cohan, the composer of songs such as "Over There", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and "Give My Regards To Broadway". Cohan's life is depicted from his beginnings with his family's vaudeville act, to fame and fortune as a Broadway composer and American patriot.

''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' was directed by Creator/MichaelCurtiz. It won three [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscars]], including Best Actor for Cagney. It was inducted into the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry in 1993. The most famous scene in the movie, Cagney's tap dance down a White House staircase, was done without any rehearsal.

* CallBack: We see Cohan composing the melody to "Over There", followed by the song being performed at a rally as America enters UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. 25 years later, as America enters WorldWarII, the song is sung again.

* CastingGag / TheCameo: Eddie Foy, Jr., appears in one scene as his own father, Eddie Foy, Sr.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Production on this film started just a few days before the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII attack on Pearl Harbor]]. After the attack, Warner Brothers then decided to make the most over-the-top patriotic film ever, and they did.

* CallBack: We see Cohan composing the melody to "Over There", followed by the song being performed at a rally as America enters WorldWarI. 25 years later, as America enters WorldWarII, the song is sung again.

'''''Yankee Doodle Dandy''''' is a 1942 film starring Creator/JamesCagney and Creator/WalterHuston. It tells the life story of Broadway song-and-dance man George M. Cohan, the composer of songs such as "Over There", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and "Give My Regards To Broadway". Cohan's life is depicted from his beginnings with his family's vaudeville act, to fame and fortune as a Broadway composer and American patriot.