“He doesn't dance so much as strut; he doesn't act so much as sell you his desire to entertain.”
- Roger Ebert on James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1998)
The song “You’re a Grand Old Flag” brings me back to elementary school music class where we read song lyrics and notes out of a hard cover book. I never questioned this song in particular, “Rockin’ Robin” maybe, but a song about our American flag seemed like a typical, patriotic toon that a child would be taught. Watching “Yankee Doodle Dandy” made me rethink what I thought I knew about this song.
Take a listen to this episode of Watchlist where we cover everything from the plot of the movie, to how it was made, and even facts about its history. If you want to hear the story about a very important actor and musician in American history or just have some part of you that wants to feel some positive and genuine patriotism, then this is the podcast for you.
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