The master dances - Rare clip from 1932

The great American song composer and stage star, George M. Cohan, starred in this picture in 1932, at the age of 54. His stage career began in 1904 and ended in the 1940's. He was a 1914 charter member of ASCAP and is called "the father of American musical comedy" When this film was made he was near the end of his career, but we are fortunate to have this only surviving sound film appearance. " WAVE THE FLAG".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Patriotic
• old broadway
• 1930's

[loverosesbabyv]

This clip should be preserved. George M Cohan is an American classics.

[NAWWMANNN]

WOW, holy black face!!!! it's a wonder how far we've come with racial equality. Couldn't even hire a black guy to play a black guy. incredibly racist HAHA

[Blackjesus3]

wow Jimmy Durante looks so different when he was younger

[acent2112]

this film is too much talent in one moment and time -i am freaking out my God the footage and the gags!

[albanybeardguy]

@pebble976 Durante grew into a fine performer but in the early 1930's he could come off as rather overbearing. He had a loud manner and the studios just let him go on and on, sometimes riding over the lead players. Eventually he learned the effectiveness of holding back and being quiet.

[krmartin9]

@Dirkdebruyne .....there are always a few like that ...

you can't deny that he made such a great contribution to musical theater and the country !

[faeryquene]

Wow-he was awesome! Thank you for sharing this rare clip!! I thought James Cagney was great (he was of course!) but this is the original-and he was great too!! :)

[jazz1929]

This clip is actually from "The Phantom President", one of only 2 talkies, along with "Gambling", that Cohan filmed. I wish TCM would put it on as I haven't seen it in years.

[dplomin1954]

I've seem several films like this from the early 30's. It's like an Operetta with rhyming songs AND dialogue. It takes a talent to do it well. Did anyone recognize the man in the white hate and glasses as Sidney Toler, the movie's Charlie Chan just a few years later? BTW: I can see why Cohan was a big stage star. His aura even comes through from this bit of B&W ancient clip!

[joeparkson]

Cohan was in his 50s when he made this movie. Pretty spry for an old fellow.