The “Great American Service” of Yankee Doodle Dandy

Abstract Since its release in 1942, the musical biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy, starring James (“Jimmy”) Cagney, has become the primary vehicle for George M. Cohan’s legacy. Unlike the subjects of many biopics, Cohan was still living at the time of Yankee Doodle Dandy’s writing and premiere, and the film’s contract stipulated that he would be an active participant in its development and have final approval of the product. This chapter traces the film’s development, demonstrating how the film strategically elided three simultaneous histories—those of Cohan, the musical, and the nation—and how the theme of patriotism came to dominate the story. By depicting a rich theatrical history aligned with US history and Cohan’s personal story, Yankee Doodle Dandy helped not only to unify and glorify the nation during wartime but also to position the musical as the United States’ own homespun art form and solidify Cohan’s reputation as patriot extraordinaire.