Yankee Doodle Dandy is a first-rate black and white film. Curtiz uses a variety of elements to keep the viewer watching and understanding the events in the film. For example, the use of newspaper headlines flashing on to the screen is an effective way of showing how Cohan's career was progressing.

In addition, Curitz uses short scenes from many of Cohan's musicals to keep the film rolling and add song-and-dance sections. Unlike many musicals, the songs come from Cohan's work and are shown in the film as they would have been when Cohan first wrote them. For example, rather than having Cohan burst out into song at some point, Cohan's songs are all performed in the musicals or in his home or office as he wrote the songs. Showing the songs in this manner makes the film more realistic.

Although the film is patriotic...