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

Loretta Young, Danny Kaye, and Morton Downey were announced to make cameo appearances in this movie, but eventually did not appear.

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Quotes

Katharine Hepburn: He knows what he's fighting for. He's fighting for the kind of world in which you and he can live together in happiness and peace and love. Don't ever think about quitting. Don't ever stop for a minute... working, fighting,praying until we've got that kind of a world. For you, for him, for your children... for the whole human race. Days without end. Amen.

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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 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing (2009)

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Soundtracks

Rumba Rumba
(uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Valencia Castro and José Pafumy
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra (as "The Xavier Cugat Orchestra")

User Reviews

A Slice of Life and History

The Stage Door Canteen really existed in New York. It was the east coast's answer to the Hollywood Canteen (there is a movie by that name too). If you want to get a good look at America in 1942 this is it. You can see the stars of the east and get to see some funny people and hear some great stars and some of the great bands of the era. All using their talents for those fighting for freedom. In WW2 Americans were into supporting their soldiers. This is a slice of American life that we don't often get to see.

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