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

Most of the cameo appearances in this movie were filmed at R.K.O. Radio Pictures studios in Culver City, California. But a few such as Benny Goodman's were filmed in New York City, the home of the real Stage Door Canteen, which was located on 44th Street.

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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

Many prints run at 93 minutes, cutting out many performances.

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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

Big stars, small cameos, good film...

STAGE DOOR CANTEEN, of course, is set during WWII, and its main locale is the canteen of the film's title that is run and staffed by stars of the cinema and stage. The New York version of the Hollywood Canteen set up on the West Coast by Bette Davis and others, the Stage Door Canteen welcomes the boys in uniform when they're on leave, giving them a little comfort, a little entertainment, a little taste of home. Although STAGE DOOR CANTEEN really is about the big-name entertainment involved (with cameos by top-billed stars like Katharine Hepburn, Harpo Marx and Ray Bolger among others), it tries also to tell a heartwarming tale of the bravery of the boys who must fight, if necessary to the death, so that the rest of their country might live in peace. The loyal and brave Dakota (William Terry) stumbles into love with the initially selfish, haughty Eileen (Cheryl Walker); young California (Lon McAllister) keeps missing out on his first kiss with Jean (Marjorie Riordan) and Tex (Sunset Carson) wants to go back west with Ella Sue (Margaret Early) when the fighting's done. It all revolves around the idea of the boys having something--someone--to fight for overseas, someone to write home to, someone to come home to.

In that sense, the film succeeds; I was actually rather moved by the final words each boy left for his girl at the end of the film. That doesn't mean the film isn't a little saccharine though; it *has* to be--it was meant to be a morale booster during the 1940s (including, as it does, songs about shooting down Japanese planes and marching into Berlin). It rides on the strong wave of American patriotism at the time, reflecting and hoping to add to it, and even hints at an internationalism unheard of these days (the crowd cheers for Russian soldiers and carries Chinese pilots on their shoulders in tribute to their bravery). If you strip it of these time-bound scenes, however, the message and the courage remains, which is what makes STAGE DOOR CANTEEN still a film that one can enjoyably sit through not just for the glamorous star cameos. It's sweet when California keeps trying to kiss Jean and missing out (including an incredibly frustrating final attempt when someone cuts in on them when they're dancing!), and you feel just as dejected as Eileen must when she realises that Dakota *isn't* coming back this time. (Let us, for now, leave aside the fact that I can't seem to find a redeeming quality in Eileen beyond the fact that she's willing to break the canteen rules to make it up to Dakota for being mean to him at first.)

The big-name entertainment in STAGE DOOR CANTEEN really can't be faulted: there are appearances by the orchestras of Benny Goodman, Xavier Cugat and Count Basie (to name just a few!); cameos by Merle Oberon, Katharine Cornell and Alan Mowbray; and a pretty literal striptease that ends way too soon for the boys' liking by Gypsy Rose Lee. My favourite numbers would be 'We Mustn't Say Goodbye' and 'Don't Worry Island', alongside Yehudi Menuhin's beautiful rendition of 'Ave Maria' (unfortunately given under some quite terrible lighting) and the very funny opening act with Edgar Bergen and Charlie. As, essentially, the final act, Hepburn gives her few words great weight and is as striking as ever with her five minutes (tops!) of screen time.

All in all, STAGE DOOR CANTEEN is great fun to watch. It'd be even better fun if one knew all of the people making cameos in it--I could only half-guess at most of them, and I'm sure I missed many many others. A sweet, patriotic film made with a very definite purpose, and if you make allowances for that purpose, it's easy to accept the overdoing of the message, and appreciate the film for what it is... good, clean entertainment!

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