James Cagney Dancing Down Staircase

[raicrunem]

Getting down the stairs LIKE A BOSS

[ZeroLiche]

The music reminds me of tom and jerry. XD

[BBoyNicKnack]

every day im shufflin'

[DeepThroatYogurt]

Obviously just got laid.

[TinnInches]

@DeepThroatYogurt funny you say that, because I did find this video very easy to masturbate to.

[fernand0fr]

@DeepThroatYogurt Haha 

[tezropunkel]

They see me shuffling. They hating.

[3bood93]

Back then Actors knew how to sing and dance now all these have become 3 separate things.

[sdflksdfkfh]

What a faggot.

[MegaPlebian]

@sdflksdfkfh Takes one to know one. Great Job Mr. Cagney, you will never be forgotten.

[fmsnook]

like a boss!

[jester0075]

my head just exploded

[RyogaVee]

Everyday I'm Shufflin'

[shortinos]

HATERS GONNA HATE

[darthsane]

I think that is somewhat we are missing out of todays cinema... peformance! And not so much 3D in your face action

[Goddomot]

@darthsane dear god i hate 3D... i actually completely skip on seeing a movie in theaters if it isn't available in 2D

[bluegibby7]

We will see his likes again great talent, as they say" great things come in small packages ""

[bluegibby7]

One of Hollywoods greatest!

[tudssquadbuisness]

Geez loiuse. Knowing me I'd trip and fall down the stairs.

[canajaneh]

And Yankee Doodle Dandy was on TCM on Monday night and I missed it! Wah!

[meggrs1]

They say he ab-libbed this scene,I certainly could not do this !

[durhambellydancer]

I do it every morning, just before I wake up lol

[turnoutjim]

any idea if that was an ad lib? it seem so natural....

[earlady66]

I remember this...it was a great scene in the movie!

[joeparkson]

I doubt it was improvised. There is after all, music playing which is matched to the dancing. Either way, it's a great scene in a movie filled with great scenes.

One of the few biographical movies where the actor is more charismatic than the famous person being portrayed. According to a bio of Cohan, Cohan himself viewed the movie with his daughter and said "what an act to follow!' after the movie was over.

Just before his death, Cohan stepped into a movie theater and watched this very scene.

[canajaneh]

@joeparkson

They added the music afterwards, of course. 

[Hadeydeppio]

most epic movie scene.

[61mrmusicman]

It was improvised and the director had the good sense to keep it in the film. That's why that scene looks so fresh and new every time you see it. Cohan is best remembered for his patriotic songs, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Grand Ol' Flag and others. He also wrote ballads such as "Mary" for his Broadway shows. "Over There," however is in a class of its own, almost beyond category, up there with Sousa's "Stars and Strips Forever."

[spinmonkey4401]

That's nothing! I can do it going backwards, while checking on my stock portfolio, with one leg tied behind my back!

[MikeMeldan]

@spinmonkey4401 Take a video of you doing it.. I can use a good laugh right now!!

[spinmonkey4401]

@MikeMeldan Haha! OK, I may have exaggerated just a tad.

[TheShantamGoyal]

That seems to be improv.

[TheStanbabe]

This is a great way to help lead to the happy ending of a Cagney movie musical.

[Ceaaa22]

I wonder how he'd go doing that scene while firing a .45 Thompson from the hip ?

[thebttfchannel]

I love this crowd 80 years later even teenagers argue Cagney Great levels of talent

[CelebrationsbyRose]

I could watch this a million times and never get tired of it!

[a07002]

He made it look so easy, didn't he? Take my word for it -- IT ISN'T! When I tried this on stage in HS, well, let's just say he cast didn't come off my leg for almost two months.

[6437431]

WHAT CLASS, I TIP MY HAT TO YOU JAMES

[rmd99]

I tried that once and almost killed myself lol!

[Modelcit]

i don't know bout you guys, but i walk down the stairs like that everyday.

[Setebos]

Even in my younger days I wasn't nearly as limber as that! What a hoofer!

[oldpangloss]

He looks straight ahead.

[robotabob]

wow wow. buck and wings on stairs. too wonderful!

[ellandelachapelle]

Yey! He fell on the last steps?

[BearyHairy]

Over 40 years ago, when I first became aquainted with this film; a fellow asked in passing to me, a young buck: "What was your favorite scene in the movie?" We both loved the film and Cagney; so it took me a few minutes. It donned on me, so I said: "The part when Jimmy Cagney as Cohan tap dances down the Whitehouse steps, after meeting with FDR." So, do I love this clip?" It would be like asking a Choc-a-holic if they liked Hershey's? Outstanding beyond my wildest dreams! Thanks for posting

[collingsm]

Best bit of the film

[LBF522]

I doubt anyone could do that today.  All of the great dance stars are gone.

[tialeetull]

@LBF522 it also seems like men don't dance like men anymore - there is something truly masculine about the classic men of hollywood

[LBF522]

@tialeetull I agree. He came from a different time.

[Dusty754]

@LBF522 Micheal Flatley could do that.

[LBF522]

@Dusty754 Who is Michael Flatley?

[Dusty754]

@LBF522 He is lead dancer in Lord of the Dance. Enter his name in the you tube search box

[Dusty754]

@LBF522 He is lead dancer in Lord of the Dance. Enter his name in the you tube search box.

Still love Cagney and his dancing down the stairs.

[LBF522]

@Dusty754 Thank you.

[ShortySOM]

@Dusty754 The thing about Michael Flahtley is that he thinks his poop don't stink.

[Dusty754]

@ShortySOM And that means exactly what to me?

[hiyadroogs]

@Dusty754 No he couldn't, or somebody would have seen it by now. Nobody has.

[Dusty754]

@hiyadroogs No he couldn't do what? Flatley dance down a stair like Cagney? Why not? Do you think that tap dancing is a talent that only Cagney had? Cagney did this while playing a role as George M Cohan in a film titled Yankee Doodle Dandy. I am not sure Flatley was even born when Cagney did this role, but I have seen Flatley dance and dancing while decending a stairway would be something that Flatley and many other tap dancers could easily handle.

[Dusty754]

@hiyadroog Listen you are trying to debate with somone that doesn't give a damn. Maybe Flatley hasn't danced down a stair case and maybe hje has. I don't exaclty follow the boy all over the world to see if he does or dosen't and personally it makes no difference. The sun will still come up tomorrow.

[Dusty754]

@hiyadroogs Want to know the truth. I DON'T GIVE A RATS ASS WHETHER FLATLEY OR CAGNEY COULD DANCE UP OR DOWN STAIR OR FART THE STAR SPANLGED BANNER. CAGNEY IS LONG ROTTED IN THE GRAVE. GET THE HELL OVER YOURSELF. SO POST YOUR SORRY BUTTOCKS DANCING DOWN A STAIR CASE IF YOUR ARE THAT FRIGGIN GOOD. GEEZ DID YOU GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED? MAYBE YOU NEED A GIRLFRIEND OR IS THE SHOE FITS A BOYFRIEND.

[hiyadroogs]

@Dusty754 If you don't give a 'rats ass', why keep replying? I made a one sentence comment, & you kept the debate going. None of my responses were any reflection on you, so why get so upset about it? If insulting me makes you feel better, you go right ahead. I woke up happy, & will go to bed the same way. I'm sorry I upset you.

[Woodlander65]

Fantastic.

[MetroidNox]

I wish I could do that!

[1936frankie]

don't sit there redo it!

[rarobins17]

This IS a great scene... I just wished the whole scene was captured, like leaving the President's office to the end of the staircase!

[agatematt]

Beyond James Cagney's unrehearsed dance down the White House set stairs, much credit must be given to Director Michael Curtiz and studio chief Jack L. Warner who both realized they had a moment of film magic and incorporated the scene, adding music, and it became the most memorable moment in a truly great movie.

[DictionaryDylan]

@agatematt Fantastic comment there, mate :P. I was about to mention it myself, but i'll just say I agree that this scene, this entire movie is an absolute brilliant piece of work, and is officially one of my favorite films of all time.

[TheLukeMonster]

"I know this defies the law of gravity but, uh... you see, I never studied law," - Bugs Bunny

Ha, now we know who gave him that idea! Cagney, you dirty rat! What I wouldn't give to be able to dance like you!

[viritavil]

With so much ease and grace.....cannot even go down normally without tripping from my other foot....i wish i had seen his movies...love him!

[weikko79]

@Duke535 Did you grow another one in its place?

[TenderTrap86]

It's hard to believe the guy who was the silver screens first tough guy was such a smooth operator when it came to dancing. Thanks for posting. Awesome!

[TehHunSkelper]

fans of Rangers FC. Thats how you get down a staircase.

[schupy81]

Does anybody have the last scene from this movie when he goes outside during the parade and hears them playing his song "Over There"?

[DrWhiggs]

Cagney laughs at your puny "laws of physics"!

[hotdog2020]

Dammit Hollywood, WHERE DID YOU GO!!!!!

[srlinski]

Ladies and gentlemen, the one true way to go down a staircase.

[TheRomulan]

@srlinski The only trouble is if any of us modern clutzes tried that we'd fall and break a leg or a neck. lol. I wish he was alive and teaching dance. I'd be at his studio in a heartbeat

[S13AR10AFan]

Don't try this at home. I learned this the hard way. Ow.

[cabernetqueen]

I cannot believe you have James Cagney here! I am (was) a huge fan when I was very young-- I was so into all old movies but he was in my top fav's of all time!

[queenievenus]

I love it.

[zipper179]

He was one of the most agile performers I've ever seen..Only Bruce Lee, Gene Kelly, Burt Lancaster, and Roy Rogers, are among a few who move with such power and grace..Like the three mentioned, a real athlete..

[FriendofRamblinJack]

If any of you want to know who Mr. Cagney was, read his autobiography that came out in 1976 - CAGNEY BY CAGNEY. Not very big but about a very wonderful, humble, kind, hard working, classy, honest American - got it from his mom - hard life growing up in NY.  If you love Mr. Cagney and love old Vaudeville Hollywood, read his book. The man was a gift to us. So many of our classy Hollywood/NY people are gone now. But thank God we had them - it made our world a much better place.

[william76950]

Hard to believe that was actually an ad lib of Cagney's part and done in one take.

[blackelk7373]

stud

[girl43]

doesn't gravity affect the guy ? :D amazing!

[seventiesclassic]

You really have to watch your step while you're doing this.

[LBF522]

@seventiesclassic I have always been amazed by how he did that.

[Edam3000]

An absolute genius.

That's what Jimmy was :)

[Vicmarstar]

Cagney an all time great show biz legend.

[MissGreenDay7]

This is how I always walk down a flight of steps.

[anpige]

I tried to do that in my home one week ago, but I don't want to explain what happened.

[dumpingboy]

More than a dirty rat.

[KaraRulesAll]

That's really dangerous! Those stairs are really dangerous!

[KaraRulesAll]

I hope you are okay now.

[andeaver1937]

i don't live in a house with stairs, but there are steps at my school that I take every day where I've been practicing this move-so far, with no luck!

[thecopykidofthestarz]

the best tip I could GIve is to Take Gravity Into mind take the perfect time. check as to how fast you feet get to the next step. Keep good posture and have straight LEGS!

[MultiVinyljunkie]

I LOVE THIS FILM!!

[bobjg56]

Jimmy,Jimmy bless your heart.

[5678simon]

cagneys best

[kosmickat]

He was absolutely Oscar worthy in that movie, it also seemed that he had a great deal of fun dancing. One of my all time favorites old time Hollywood movies.

[rem2267]

Most impressive!

If I ever tried that, I'd wake up in the hospital with a fractured skull and also be in traction. Kudos, James!

[imsokewl27]

@rem2267 Only James Cagney could do that. there was no other

[gablefan01]

Love this!

[IntuitSpirit]

PinstripeShirt: Alas, you're right.

Dougalmac54: SO true! And he totally improvised this! One of these days, I'm gonna try this--with insurance, of course! :)

mush1955: Contrary to popular belief, Cagney NEVER said "You dirty rat."

It was Marlon Brando in "Last Tango in Paris". In fact, at a party in his honor, Cagney set the record straight.

But you were right about Astaire: he said that Cagney was the best. What class he had to say so!

Cheers, everyone!

[dougalmac54]

The single greatest dance move ever put into a movie...

[horsechuckle]

Yes--this is my favorite ten seconds of dance in the history of film--his timing and his savoir faire are perfect. Posture, too

[thecopykidofthestarz]

Cagney Always Had the best posture

[IntuitSpirit]

If these so-called  "stars" had even an OUNCE of what this great talent had... Cagney spells C-H-A-R-I-S-M-A

[PinstripeShirt]

There'll never be another one like him.

[jnmklo9]

Tried it am in hospital though, tripped on the second step!!

[000266617]

If I tried that, or you tried that, we'd break our necks the first time.

We'd be in the hospital, where he does a happy dance.

Any one seeing this, don't try it.

[mush1955]

Ah ! the Memorys !.......a small boy comes home from Sunday school in the Rhondda Valley in Wales. and seez this on tv..........13 seconds that will stay with him ( me ! ) until the day he dies .......not just a " dirty rat " innit !

God bless yopu Jimmy ........even Fred could'nt compete with this !!!!!!!!!!!!

[71glasgow]

What a guy!

[snibslfc]

the greatest actor ever !!

[j0andc0]

Fantastic.

[andeaver1937]

The inside of the White House looks completely different from this today.

[OperaOfViolence]

Unbelievable!!!!

[noff27]

In-fucking-credible, that he could move his feet so fast, while moving downwards on each step!!!

Someone asked Fred Astaire, who was the best dancer in Hollywood, expecting him to say himself or Gene Kelly. Astaire answered "Jimmy Cagney"!!!

[hiyadroogs]

God Almighty! If Michael Jackson had attempted that he would have broken his neck!

[nyssatrakken]

This put a huge smile on my face! Amazing!! I need to watch more Cagney movies :D

[joeparkson]

Wow, wouldn't you just love to do this someday?

[philip230357]

I don't know how and I don't know where but don't tell me this great man doesn't continue to exist somewhere else.

One of a kind!

[hankuverymuch]

This was all improv if u can believe it. The Director, Michael Curtiz, loved it so much he kept it in the movie. And it is just so much greater b/c of it.

[DishyEnglishmanLuvr]

Fabulous but a definate do not try this at home kind of thing! :)

[LoveForMe]

About time somebody uploaded this! Awesome!

[zuzuspedals]

Some sources say that this scene was completely ad-libbed.

[jorge3122]

32 years old, and this still makes me say wow! I when I was a child and my father showed me this scene. Plus, this was added on at that moment my him. Wasn't in the script.

[RickNelsonLady]

My all time favorite movie scene. He has just been to visit FDR!

[j0andc0]

This is an absolute brilliant scene from Jimmy, pure class, i would put this scene up there with Astaire and Kelly no problem. *****

[leafyutube]

I think this is right after he met with FDR at the White House.

[gypsydancer830]

Yep it is!

[gypsydancer830]

Just brilliant!

[annedunlap]

Wonderful

[GarretMurtagh]

What's really amazing about this scene is that it was never rehearsed. James Cagney had a 'whim' to dance down those staircases. Completely surprised Curtiz, lol!!

Another piece of trivia: under those stairs is a surprise birthday party for Joan Leslie!! Her 17th b-day i think it was. LOLz, i <3 this movie!

[GozerJr]

How he could do that without killing himself amazes me!

[rndrc]

I'd forgotten why I loved these old movies-and how incredibly, absolutely fluid he was

[texhfl]

Great scene! Wish the clip didn't cut the last 2 seconds off...

[abfabjurisprudence]

That was just bad editing on my part. Maybe one of these days I'll redo it.

[photohunter87]

That'd be great... but see if you can put in the part where he meets FDR as well... it gives the whole tapdancing more significance. Such a great scene!

[Scorpu2]

Thanks for this. Always wanted to learn how to do this, but with my two left feet, I'd sure as hell kill myself.