What 1942 musical starring James Cagney depicts the life of George M. Cohan?

The 1942 musical starring James Cagney that depicts the life of George M. Cohan is Yankee Doodle Dandy. Cagney plays Cohan, the vaudeville performer, songwriter, actor, producer, and Broadway impresario known as “The Man Who Owned Broadway.”

Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film follows Cohan from his childhood in the Four Cohans family act through his rise as a major figure in American musical theater. Its story is highly dramatized and patriotic, blending real events with invented or rearranged details, including the claim that Cohan was born on the Fourth of July. He was actually born on July 3, 1878.

Cagney’s energetic singing and dancing made the role one of his signature performances. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor, while the film also received Oscars for musical scoring and sound recording. George M. Cohan served as a consultant and reportedly praised Cagney’s performance after seeing the completed film.

A common mix-up is confusing the film with George M!, the later Broadway musical about Cohan, or with “The Yankee Doodle Boy,” a song featured in the movie.