Stage Door Canteen (1943)

"Dakota" Smith (William Terry), a young soldier on a pass in New York City, visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theatre and movies appear and host a recreational ... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writer:

Delmer Daves (original screenplay)

Stars:

Cheryl Walker, William Terry, Judith Anderson

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	...	Charlie McCarthy
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" Smith (William Terry), a young soldier on a pass in New York City, visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theatre and movies appear and host a recreational center for servicemen during the war. Dakota meets a pretty young hostess, Eileen Burke (Cheryl Walker), and they enjoy the many entertainers and a growing romance.

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Plot Keywords:

charlie mccarthy character | ventriloquist | ventriloquist dummy | ventriloquism | stage door canteen | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Screen Actors Guild prohibited free appearances by actors and actresses before this movie was made, to prevent their generosity from being exploited.

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Quotes

Dakota Smith: As they say in Madison Square Gardens, this is a return engagement.
Judith Anderson: I'll bet 2 to 1 on the soldier. Knockout in the second round.

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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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Alternate Versions

In many public domain prints, the scene involving Sam Jaffe and some of our Russian allies is missing (victim of Cold War re-editing of historical fact), as is the scene with Johnny Roventini (no longer "politically correct" in this cancer-conscious age).

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Connections

Featured in American Masters: John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen (1990)

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Soundtracks

Sleep Baby Sleep (in Your Jeep)
(1943)
Music by James V. Monaco
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Played by the Kay Kyser Band as dance music with the title sung by Harry Babbitt (uncredited)
Played by the Guy Lombardo Orchestra and sung by Guy's sister, Rosemarie Lombardo (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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian Spanish

Release Date:

22 November 1943 (UK)

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