Podcast Episode 27.5 - Yankee Doodle Dandy / Anvil: The Story of Anvil

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Albatross Applesauce: A Film Blog and Podcast

TV & Film


Welcome back, loyal listeners.The second half of this episode has a decidedly musical bent to it.  Although you probably couldn't find two more different kinds of music.  "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is a musical in the grand old tradition of vaudeville and tap dancing.  It has the distinction of being the 98th Greatest Movie of All Time, according to a 2007 poll by the American Film Institute.  This is truly a film like they just don't make any more, and at the center of it is none other than gangster hoodlum extraordinaire James Cagney.  This film will be a revelation to filmgoers who only know Cagney as the tough guy from movies like "The Public Enemy" and "White Heat."  Cagney is one helluva hoofer and he was hand picked to play the American patriot-songsmith George M. Cohan by Mr. Cohan himself.  It's one of the all time great performances.Cohan tries to convince investors to back one of his shows.You can download the podcast here by right-clicking on that link and choosing "save as", or you can use the convenient player located below:For the last portion of the show, Phil and Andrew review the heavy metal doc "Anvil: The Story of Anvil" about the eponymous Canadian band that influenced a score of prominent heavy metal groups, but never found the success that they ultimately deserved.  It's a feast of raw emotions, heartbreaks and disappointments and the power of rock.  While billed as being "Hilarious" Phil and Andrew both drew on the poignant aspects of the story in their review, bringing it all together to make a larger point about the dearth of warmth in most modern movies. This film goes up to 11.