Stage Door Canteen (1943)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writer:

Delmer Daves (original screenplay)

Release Date:

31 March 1944 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | War

Plot:

"Dakota," a young soldier on a pass in New York City, visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous...

Plot Keywords:

Stage Door Canteen | Soldier | New York City | Hostess | Star

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Judith Anderson	...	Herself
Kenny Baker	...	Himself
Tallulah Bankhead	...	Herself
Ralph Bellamy	...	Himself
Edgar Bergen	...	Himself
Charlie McCarthy	...	Himself
Ray Bolger	...	Himself
Ina Claire	...	Herself
Katharine Cornell	...	Herself
Gracie Fields	...	Herself
Lynn Fontanne	...	Herself
Helen Hayes	...	Herself
Katharine Hepburn	...	Herself
Hugh Herbert	...	Himself
Jean Hersholt	...	Himself

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #9216) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Sol Lesser Productions

Trivia:

Producer Sol Lesser paid the Stage Door Canteen $50,000 for the use of its name; they and Allied Charities received the net profits from the film. Because it was too difficult to film at the actual Stage Door Canteen on 44th Street in New York City, it was duplicated at both filming locations (Fox News NY Studios and RKO-Pathé Studios, Culver City).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Broadway: The American Musical: Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin': 1943-1960 (#1.4)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

We Musn't Say Goodbye

Another great WW2 B&W

I was lucky enough to stumble upon this during a week of WW2 B&W's run on TMC. Read all the other posts for a description. I'd just like to add my admiration for my dad's generation. What a fabulous film! I so envy their patriotism. Sure there were plenty of scumbags exploiting and dodging the war but this film makes me think of all those young men going of to an almost certain death. Our losses were bad, but I was surprised at the tribute paid to the Russian and Chinese servicemen (and women) whose losses were each in the multi-millions. I appreciated the performers for their skill and professionalism. The violinist seemed out of place until you see the crowd, enthralled, quiet, and admiring, politely keeping quiet, and then the applause. It made me think of how my dad's generation, without our over-bearing music industry, appreciated real classic music. Now, classic music is largely unappreciated by the masses. The comments of others on Hepburn are not deserved. As usual, people often try to judge films, attitudes, and events based on present-day ideals. Yeah, patriotism may be embarrassing and corny now, but in 1942 after some of your relatives are killed trying to stop Hitler I don't think it was out of place. Hepburns performance was one of the few of hers that I liked. I hoped she didn't have to be coaxed.