I always wondered why the producers chose the fahers' death for that wonderful death scene. Why didn't they show the mothers' death instead especially since she actually outlived Jerry by 11 years? A father/son death scene conversation is indeed rare in motion pictures. I can't think of any others.
shareIt's most likely because Walter Huston was a bigger commercial name than was Rosemary DeCamp (who played Cohan's mother). And as the father-son relationship was more developed in the film, it made more dramatic sense (and had more power) for Huston to play that scene with Cagney.
In fact, having watched it today for the first time in many years, I found that moment (and the movie overall) just as moving as I had remembered from about 30 years ago.
Most great films deserve a more appreciative audience than they get.
There was a father/son deathbed scene in Cagney's Man of a Thousand Faces, not nearly as moving as this one (and rather contrived, too).
I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!
Hewwo.
According to the soundtrack list,the film featured a song from "Little Nellie Kelly" titled "You Remind Me of My Mother". After numerous viewings, I still haven't caught this sing? Was it cut from the film?
share