Cagney was a fighter in his youth; a boxer. He was also a master tap dancer. Both skills have similar movements; quick stepping, fast movements, extreme alertness, counting the beats, fast turns and jumps backward and forward.In this film, Jimmy starts to get into a fight. I was waiting for the classic boxing stances, but I didn't see any.Spoiler. Early in the film, Jimmy is fighting his sergeant, but near the end Jimmy ends up giving his life for ol' sarge.Jimmy starts out the film as cocky, smart-alecky and a know-it-all who really doesn't know much of anything.He is a raw recruit, a hayseed from the city, actually. He has no patriotic feeling; perhaps he is there just for the paycheck. The recruits are all gung ho and happy go lucky, and so are the soldiers already in uniform.We don't see the backstory, that after several years of President Woodrow Wilson not wanting to get the U.S. into The Great War, all of a sudden men are joining up. Was there a draft? There was a HUGE publicity campaign trying the convince the American public to go into the war, previously only a European interest. There were cartoon posters depicting the enemy as a huge, ugly monster or even the devil.Was this group a national guard? Where was the real army? Was the U.S. not prepared, or were the smallish group of regulars already overseas? Maybe Jimmy and his hayseeds only wanted to go and see French mademoiselles who Parlez-Vous'd Francaise and offered them snails for lunch. Ugh. Inky-dinky parley voo, indeed.Jimmy is a troublemaker and overly sure of himself. Spoilers ahead. He becomes a coward, but later saves some other people by ending up being a target of the enemy.I am female.I have studied several war courses as part of my history degree at university. It is interesting that this film was made right before the U.S. entered World War Two.I also love Jimmy Cagney, as well as tap dancing. You know that, from reading my other reviews. I love song and dance films very much, except that in this film the only singing is done at a church service.Not exactly my cup of tea, and even the black and white hurts my eyes, as you also well know. Anyway, give me Jimmy tap dancing any old day. Yankee Doodle Dandy was Jimmy's favorite film that he ever made. It is also one of my favorites that I have ever seen; black and white, but I have never seen a colorized version of Yankee Doodle Dandy.

ONCE ONE REMEMBERS that this story, based on the career of Army Chaplain, Father Duffy, is very Hollywood, it can be properly evaluated and absorbed into the intellect. Although the story is highly fabricated and fictionalized, it nonetheless brings us in contact with a proud old Regiment and its tough, but saintly Catholic Priest Chaplain.THE STORY PRESENTS a stark contrast in characterization by pitting the "lost sheep", draftee/PFC Jerry Plunkett (James Cagney) against Father Duffy (Pat O'Brien), the Officers and the entire U.S. Army. Various characters are depicted in between the two extremes. The best character of this classification is "Crepe Hanger" Burke* (Frank McHugh); who also is a sort agent of comic relief.COURAGE UNDER FIRE is a central theme of the story. The behaviour of ordinary 'Citizen Soldiers', called "Doughboys" in World War I, is dramatized throughout the picture. The very action of taking a bunch of raw recruits from their lives in the 5 Bourroughs of NYC's Irish neighborhoods and transforming them post-haste into soldiers is an interesting subject in itself and one that provides so much of the interaction of the film.ONE VERY INTERESTING aspect of the film is the inclusion of the story of well known poet, Alfred Joyce Kilmer (18861918), who was portrayed by Warner Brothers' star, Jeffrey Lynn. Corporal Joyce Kilmer was killed in action with the NY 69th on July 30, 1918.AS A SORT of historical footnote to this story, those who visit NYC's Times Square should stop and take a look at the memorial to the Priest.ALONG WITH THE two other pictures of this period, Warner Brothers gave us a sort of World War I Trilogy. THE FIGHTING 69th is joined by SERGEANT YORK and THE ROARING 20's in giving us a cinematic picture of WWI and its effect on our way of life in the USA and the whole World.NOTE * The term "Crepe Hanger" is one of those vanishing terms that is largely unknown today. The meaning is one who is always a downer and displays a chronic pessimistic attitude toward everything. The origin of this comes from the old custom of draping the home of the recently deceased with Black Crepe Paper as a symbol of mourning.

It's 1917 and the United States is entering the Great War in Europe with guns blazing. Many young men (and, this being Hollywood, several decades from draft age) are recruited. Our boy from Brooklyn, wise-guy James Cagney (as Jerry Plunkett), looks like trouble from the beginning. He joins the mostly Irish Catholic "Fighting 49th" regiment. When the going gets tough, Mr. Cagney gets going – literally. As the fighting starts, Cagney realizes a man could get killed. He is no help on the battlefield, but kindly soldier priest Pat O'Brien (as Francis Duffy) provides cover for Cagney. Eventually, the cowardly Cagney's luck runs out and he must either find Christ and fight, lest he lose his spot in Heaven or on Earth...This is an entertaining war story, with real characters giving he fictionalized Cagney story some substance. It promotes unity in the war effort and includes more realism than many propaganda films – specifically, the instances of US soldiers dying during battle is not minimized. Cagney is engaging in the lead. His main support comes from Mr. O'Brien, who effectively manages the unholy wedding of Christianity and War. Of the many others in the cast, only a few get much script action. The best supporting part goes to Alan Hale (as "Big Mike" Wynn), who shows Cagney how to handle a mortar in a pinch. Apparently, Cagney was excused on mortar day, during training, but he's fortunately a quick study. Also getting a fair amount of screen time are stalwart George Brent (as "Wild Bill"' Donovan) and assimilated Sammy Cohan (as "Mike Murphy"). Good hokum from Warner Bros.****** The Fighting 69th (1/26/40) William Keighley ~ James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Alan Hale, George Brent

This is a fine movie for what it is-flag-waving, Irish-centered recruiting patriotic stuff. Cagney is a Brooklyn thug, cocky big-talker who makes life miserable for everyone around him in the unit, turns into a coward as soon's the shell's start falling around them in the trenches, is almost court-martialed (shot most likely), saves the day at the front but loses his life in the process of redemption.That's about it, really. You will see familiar faces all around-Dick Foran, Alan Hale Sr., Frank MacHugh, George Brent, etc. I was surprised at the inclusion of Joyce Kilmer-the Trees poet, never knew he was a WWI casualty etc.Some of the combat scenes are typically stage-bound, the players are too fat and old (Hale and MacHugh esp.), or walk where they should be kissing the ground etc under fire-but in other places-the constant shelling, machine gun fire, etc--the chaos and violent death of WWI France is displayed fairly well. Esp. for 1940 Hollywood before we had yet gone to war for real.Cagney's good, rest are okay, as some have said it's 'Angels w/ Dirty Faces' re-hased yet again, O'Brien esp. makes you roll your eyes somewhat.*** outta **** if you are a Cagney fan.