I always had pretty unique tastes as a kid when it came to film. I mostly blame my mom for that because she had me watching the classic Hollywood movies from a very early age. And the one I always see on Independence Day? Yankee Doodle Dandy. It’s really the one movie I have to watch on this holiday, and I absolutely love it. I still remember choosing to do a project in junior high on George M. Cohan. No one got why I was so excited to research some songwriter from a billion years ago (aka the 20’s).
How can you not love James Cagney in this role? Here’s an actor best known for playing jerks and pushing a grapefruit into some broad’s face, and yet the way he dances is inspired. I only wish he would have done more musicals … it was a talent he sorely underused on screen.
More than Cagney’s dancing, I love the film because it’s about a man who had some amazing highs and some truly awful lows. He was passionate and impulsive and often even foolish, but he was also incredibly hard-working, ambitious and tenacious. And he loved America and everything it stood for … and hopefully stands for. Whether you agree with his patriotism or not, you can’t help but admire his passion for his country. I can’t think of a better movie to watch today.
For those of you with Turner Classic Movies, Yankee Doodle Dandy will be on tonight at 8 PM EST. And if this is one of your favorites, go over to the “Favorite movie of 4th of July” poll and vote for it.
Clacked by Katie Schenkel 
on Jul 04, 2011 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
