Starring: James Cagney, Walter Huston, Joan Leslie
Director: Michael Curtiz
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Running Time: 126 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
Warner Archive has delivered their best Blu-ray to date with Michael Curtiz’s “Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)”. Curtiz directed this film just before he took helm on the classic “Casablanca”. James Cagney brought home the Academy Awards for this film, which is such a national treasure. It also won two additional Academy Awards including Best Musical Score and Best Sound Recording. “Yankee Doodle Dandy” is over 70 years old but it has never looked better. The 1080p transfer is flawless and doesn’t look a year over 50. I also have a two year old that loves musical and she had a blast with the music in this film, which is presented extremely well with its mono track. Warner Archive also includes some outstanding extras as well. If you are a fan of classic musicals, I wouldn’t miss this release
Official Premise: Legendary actor James Cagney stars in the role for which he won an Academy Award–the life of singer, dancer and songwriter George M. Cohan, a true Yankee Doodle Dandy. This non-stop musical tour de force sings, dances and celebrates the life and career of a music man who lifted a nation, the first entertainer awarded the United States Congressional Medal of Honor for his contribution to morale. From his early days as a vaudeville performer to his stardom on Broadway, George M. Cohan composed the songs that defined his generation. And now the film – and its music – may be enjoyed as never before thanks to this pristine high definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc presentation that’s as close to a first-run 35mm viewing as possible this side of a time machine.
The special features on this Blu-ray are quite spectacular like the film. There is “Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1942 with Casablanca trailer”. There is a 1942 newsreel included. There is a Warner Bros. short “Beyond the Call of Duty”, as well as James Cagney in wartime short “You, John Jones”. There is the Warner Bros. vintage cartoon “Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid” and “Yankee Doodle Daffy, which are great and presented in 1080p HD. There is a documentary called “Let Freedom Sing!: The Story of Yankee Doodle Dandy”. There is an audio commentary with Warner Bros. historian Rudy Behlmer, which is a little dry but very informative. There is a featurette called “John Travolta remembers James Cagney”. Lastly there is an audio-only extras radio show, pre-recording session outtakes/rehearsals and theatrical trailer included.
