Stage Door Canteen (1943)

"Dakota," a young soldier on a pass in New York City, visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theatre and films appear and host a recreational center for servicemen ... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writer:

Delmer Daves (original screenplay)

Stars:

Judith Anderson, Kenny Baker, Cheryl Walker

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judith Anderson	...	Judith Anderson
Kenny Baker	...	Kenny Baker
Tallulah Bankhead	...	Tallulah BAnkhead
Ralph Bellamy	...	Ralph Bellamy
Edgar Bergen	...	Edgar Berger
Charlie McCarthy	...	Wooden Dummy
Ray Bolger	...	Ray Bolger
Ina Claire	...	Ina Claire
Katharine Cornell	...	Katherine Cornell
Gracie Fields	...	Gracie Fields
Lynn Fontanne	...	Lynn Fontaine
Helen Hayes	...	Helen Hayes
Katharine Hepburn	...	Katharine Hepburn
Hugh Herbert	...	Hugh Herbert
Jean Hersholt	...	Jean Hersholt

Storyline

"Dakota," a young soldier on a pass in New York City, visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theatre and films appear and host a recreational center for servicemen during the war. Dakota meets a pretty young hostess, Eileen, and they enjoy the many entertainers and a growing romance.

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Plot Keywords:

stage door canteen | hostess | soldier | new york city | star | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian Spanish

Release Date:

22 January 1944 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Chuva de Estrelas

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sol Lesser Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

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).

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Crazy Credits

All rights granted by the American Theater Wing which gratefully acknowledges and credits the producers, stars and members of all the theatrical unions, guilds, crafts and associations for their participation in the creation and continuance of the original Stage Door Canteen.

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Connections

Spoofed in Stage Door Cartoon (1944)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Worry Island"
(1943)
Music by James V. Monaco
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Played by the Freddy Martin Orchestra
Sung by an unidentified trio and chorus (uncredited)

User Reviews

mixed bag of period performance and quick cameos

In wartime, a group of soldiers stop off at a canteen before they are posted to heaven knows where. In this canteen they are entertained and served by luminaries from stage and screen (so much fun for the viewer spotting big names in little roles). The soldiers (California, Dakota, and Tex) are the lynchpins who carry the paper-thin story around delightful performances from the likes of Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Gracie Fields, Benny Goodman with Peggy Lee, Kay Kyser, Xavier Cugat, and Count Basie.

Blink and you might miss (a few names for a taster) Tallulah Bankhead, Ina Claire, Judith Anderson, Aline MacMahon, Katherine Cornell, the Lunts, George Jessel, Ed Wynn, Ralph Bellamy, George Raft, May Whitty, Harpo Marx, Ned Sparks, and Dorothy Fields. You'll remember Katharine Hepburn as she goes all patriotic at the end of the movie.

Is it a good film? Probably not, but it is certainly historically interesting and probably has the most big names in one movie. The three soldier boys stand for all their compatriots who went to war'during both that conflict and the ones which followed. They aren't glorified, but are simply depicted as young lads who like dancing with girls and being treated with courtesy. We may never know what happens to California, Dakota, and Tex (and millions like them) but 'Stage Door Canteen' gives you a bit of their lives, and a snapshot of the wartime canteen.