Most-quoted character in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942): in 8 of its 11 quotes
A line from George M. CohanIt seems it always happens. Whenever we get too high-hat and too sophisticated for flag-waving, some thug nation decides we're a push-over all ready to be blackjacked. And it isn't long before we're looking up, mighty anxiously, to be sure the flag's still waving over us.
George M. Cohan I guess the first thing I ever had my fist on was the American flag. I hitched my wagon to thirty-eight stars. And thirteen stripes. You know, I was six or seven years old before I realized they weren't celebrating my birthday on the Fourth of July.
George M. Cohan My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you.
George M. Cohan Note: ranked #97 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.
George M. Cohan Mmmmm... ham or bacon?
Bacon.
George M. Cohan Good. Ham makes me self-conscious.
George M. Cohan Thanks, Sam. It'll be great as long as those critics don't start to eat off my leg.
Sam Harris Oh, don't worry about the critics! You got a smash hit! It's in the air, kid! It's in the air! You can't stop anything that's in the air!
George M. Cohan And then came your wire. I was really worried. Well, here I am goin' on like Tennyson's Brook giving you the story of my life. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. You should have stopped me.
Why, I wanted to hear the story of your life. It has a direct bearing on my sending for you. Do you know what this is?
George M. Cohan The Congressional Medal of Honor.
Let's see what the inscription says: 'To George M. Cohan, for his contribution to the American spirit. Over There and Grand Old Flag Presented by Act of Congress.' I congratulate you, Mr. Cohan. [He hands the medal to George] I understand you're the first person of your profession to receive this honor. You should be very proud.
George M. Cohan Oh, I am proud. In fact, I'm flabbergasted. First time in my life, I'm speechless. Are you sure there isn't some mistake?
Quite sure.
George M. Cohan But this medal is for people who've given their lives to their country or done something big. I'm just a song and dance man. Everybody knows that.
A man may give his life to his country in many different ways, Mr. Cohan. And quite often he isn't the best judge of how much he has given. Your songs were a symbol of the American spirit. Over There was just as powerful a weapon as any cannon, as any battleship we had in the First World War. Today, we're all soldiers, we're all on the front. We need more songs to express America. I know you and your comrades will give them to us.
George M. Cohan Mr. President, I've just begun to earn this medal. It's quite a thing.
Well, it's the best material we could find, what with priorities and all -
George M. Cohan Goodbye, sir. [They shake hands] And I want you to know that I'm not the only one that's grateful. My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I assure you, I thank you. And, uh, I wouldn't worry about this country if I were you. We've got this thing licked. Where else in the world today could a plain guy like me come in and talk things over with the head man?
Well, that's about as good a definition of America as any I've ever heard. Good-bye, Mr. Cohan, and good luck.
George M. Cohan Good-bye sir, and good luck to you.
Sergeant on parade What's the matter, old timer? Don't you remember this song?
George M. Cohan Seems to me I do.
Sergeant on parade Well, I don't hear anything.
[Cohan starts singing along, with tears coming into his eyes]
