A sure bet for a Hollywood star to win an Oscar is to have a strong star image then play against that image. James Cagney, famous for a decade of ruthless gangster roles, did just that in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (Michal Curtiz, 1942) and won the Oscar for Best Actor (his only Oscar) Ironically, he was nominated only once for his star-making gangster roles (ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES, 1938). Late in his career he received another Oscar nod for LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (1955).
Besides the acting here, showcasing Cagney's remarkable hoofing (dancing) talents, note the almost flawless use of camera angles and shot scale (distance) for each shot. The dance is filmed in long takes, insuring viewer belief in the dance (compared to editing in short shot sequences). Minor cuts are made to change the scale of the shot at moments when a closer look at the footwork is desirable. There's also a wonderful pan shot across a long line of spectators at the race near the end of the clip.
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