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"The direction of the Cagney walking up the stairs with the pictures of presidents in the background, the last one George Washington, established the greatness and unity of the United States.  Continual lineage of \"great men\" leading a \"great nation.\" Even the casting of someone playing the current sitting president must have been a little bit awe-inspiring.  Unlike today, even unlike the sixties, moving picture of a US president must have been rare.  \n \n\n\n\tFDR's mention of \"Irish Americans\" was telling in terms of the film's patriotism building.  All peoples (well, white peoples who emigrated during the last two or three generations) were now Americans. FDR also referenced the \"four Cohans,\" again building a lineage and legacy embedded with the nation. The Irish emigres from Scorcese's The Gangs of New York were never present in the America of Yankee Doodle Dandy.\n \n\n\n\tThe film is much better for having opened with the scene with FDR.  It provides an immediate grounding and let's the audience know the purpose of the film. The parade seems more open ended and cliched. There was something gratifying about watching Cagney interact the actors playing FDR.  The audience connects with that immediacy.  The parade in Providence does not have such an immediacy or urgency about it.  \n "
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