Let Freedom Sing: The Story of Yankee Doodle Dandy (2003) is a fascinating look at how the life story of the legendary George M. Cohan was brought to the screen. Cohan himself played a vital role in the development of the film; so much so that at any point in the production he could have pulled the plug, leaving Warner Bros. and star James Cagney high and dry. The documentary goes into all that and much more including who Cohan wanted to play himself in the film and why Cagney wanted this role so bad. You'll also learn how persuasive Cagney could be and how he used his skills to convince actor Walter Huston to play his father.
The documentary features a multitude of film clips and rare photographs. There are also interviews with cast member Joan Leslie, film historians Bob Thomas and Rudy Behlmer, and two men who are great fans of the movie, Joel Grey and John Travolta.
BW & C-60m.
