NR | 2h 6m | Biography, Family, Drama | June 6, 1942
As I researched classic musicals, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” popped up. The rather odd thing was that I automatically knew the melody of the theme song and could hum it on a whim.
After finally watching the 1942 film directed by the great Michael Curtiz (“Casablanca,” “The Adventures of Robinhood”), I can see why, after 8 decades, its songs are so utterly interwoven into Americana. It’s as if many of them have been seared into the DNA of all red-blooded, patriotic Americans.
The film was produced in the middle of World War II. Indeed, while shooting it, the attack on Pearl Harbor happened (Dec. 7, 1941), so its release was perfect in terms of rousing the spirits and bolstering the morale of our military men fighting the good fight overseas….