Adapted from the Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman play, Stage Door is a comedic portrait of the theatrical community in New York. Katharine Hepburn stars as Terry Randall a young woman who comes from a wealthy, socially connected family. Aspiring for a career on the stage, Terry opts to see if she can make it on her own gumption and moves into a boarding house with several other wannabe Broadway starlets attempting to make a mark for themselves in show business. Terry's sassy roommate Jean (Ginger Rogers) just might get the opportunity to do that when she meets a lecherous producer, but at what cost? Unamused by Terry's attempts to pull herself up by her bootstraps, her father offers her an opportunity for a starring role in a show that's sure to fail. Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, and Ann Miller are among the other residents of the boarding house. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Review
Stage Door is notable for its predominantly female cast, predating George Cukor's The Women by two years. Adapted from the Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman stage hit, the sparkling dialogue comes at the audience rapid-fire as each stellar performer steps forward. The film shifts easily between comedy and drama, with Ginger Rogers in particular showcasing her versatility. Director Gregory La Cava successfully pulls together a strong-willed cast that includes Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, and Ann Miller. He puts the boarding house setting to good use, keeping the interplay brisk and the story lines moving quickly. Ironically, the film's only Oscar nomination for acting went to the lesser-known Andrea Leeds, who, unlike her character in the movie, would later marry a rich man and retire from the screen. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Carroll Clark - Art Director, Van Nest Polglase - Art Director, Muriel King - Costume Designer, James H. Anderson - First Assistant Director, Gregory La Cava - Director, Willaim Hamilton - Editor, Roy Webb - Composer (Music Score), Roy Webb - Musical Direction/Supervision, Hal Borne - Songwriter, Mort Greene - Songwriter, Mel Burns - Makeup, Robert de Grasse - Cinematographer, Pandro S. Berman - Producer, Darrell Silvera - Set Designer, John L. Cass - Sound/Sound Designer, Gregory La Cava - Screenwriter, Morris Ryskind - Screenwriter, Anthony Veiller - Screenwriter, George S. Kaufman - Play Author, Edna Ferber - Play Author
