Yankee Doodle Dandy. (Published Screenplay with George M. Cohan Autograph)

The 1942 smash musical hit Yankee Doodle Dandy has long remained a favorite among audiences and film buffs. Ostensibly the story of "Mr. Broadway"—George M. Cohan— the movie evolved in its making into one of Warners' trademark "biopics" and a showcase for the singing and dancing talents of James Cagney. This book includes the complete screenplay.

McGilligan's account of the creation of the film is filled with intriguing anecdotes and little-known facts. One of his major contributions is the attempt to unravel and describe the contributions of various collaborators to the script, some of whom were uncredited. Although Buckner was largely responsible for the script, the talents of many others were involved in its development. McGillian details the contributions of all, giving us an enlightening view of the film and the screen-writing process in Hollywood's Golden Age.