The "transition" between Silents and Talkies began in 1929 with THE JAZZ SINGER and by 1930-'31...were completely TRANSITIONED! And FYI...THE HAYS ACT, followed by the HAYES CODE of 1934, did NOT completely "clean up" ALL films; that really took close to 10 years to solidify.
And just WHAT do you consider to be a "BREAKOUT" movie? FOOTLIGHT PARADE was a HUGE hit and Cagney singing and dancing ( he was a Broadway actor/singer and especially dancer ) prior to being in films! ) was a BIG DEAL!
If memory serves, before and after Yankee Doodle Dandy, he only sang and danced in: TAXI, FOOTLIGHT PARADE, AND THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS. I may have missed one, but that's what I've seen him do so in.
And I'd hardly call HERE COMES THE NAVY all THAT much of a "big deal", battleship or not, that was bombed in the attack of Pearl Harbor!
You're just trying to wiggle out of the gaff you made, by changing the subject...but it's NOT working!
Look, we both enjoy old movies; however, I'm a stickler for facts and so I corrected what you posted. Lets just leave it at that. :-)
I meant break out of the stereotype.
-PJ
Litmus test: Did manned Apollo ships land on the moon?