James Cagney Dancing Down Staircase

One of the Greatest Scenes in Film. "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
I love this film and have seen it dozens of times

Near the very end of the film Cagney's character (George M. Cohan) bids farewell to the President and leaves the room. There is a long, open staircase he starts walking down. As he walks you sense a bit of a bounce beginning to take over his step.....one that quickly gives way to an awesome dance as he navigates the stairway. Many will not note, but this dance was a fantastic achievement,it was done in one "take"...that is, the camera never stopped; the scene never "cut." The camera stays with him in one shot all the way through. Second, Mr. Cagney improvised "ad-libbed" the whole tap dancing down the stairs. The script called for him to simply, walk down the steps.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• James Cagney
• Dance
• Film

[agatematt]

The dance steps down the stairs at "The White House" set was total improvisation by Cagney and the director kept it in the scene --- adding the music post production --- and it became not only the most memorable moment in a truly great film but one of the most memorable scenes in motion picture history.

[riitade644]

What a talent Cagney was! I could watch this millions of times and still get a thrill.

[guitarkidsteve]

how the fuck did he do that?

[kifliter1]

The man was a talented, original,gifted,likeable,etc,e­tc,etc,............. genius !

[candr]

The man was a trooper from the word go.

[andmaketherain]

Great dancer. Very, very hard to pull off that without falling down. Took great skill and balance.

[thegallerian]

Thanks

[isukaman]

Visual entertainment at its best.

[lindsayexculpated]

best scene ever!!! thanx! :D

[Pumarisi124]

@BullshitsJohn Same here. I thought I was the only cry baby for this movie.

[MrLightling]

there's only one Cagney and this is him at his best...

[lovesmusic36]

Thank you so much for posting 20 seconds of some of the best of Cagney! Just watched Yankee Doodle Dandy last night for the umpteenth time.  I've been a Cagney fan for longer than I care to admit! The greatest ever! My absolute favourite actor. We'll never see the likes of him again...