Main Cast: Cheryl Walker, William Terry, Marjorie Riordan, Lon McCallister, Margaret Early
Release Year: 1943
Country: US
Run Time: 135 minutes
Plot
This star-studded musical drama was largely financed by Theatre Guild, with all proceeds going to various wartime fundraising concerns. Most of the story takes place at the Stage Door Canteen, a Manhattan-based home away from home for soldiers, sailors and marines (the real-life Canteen on 44th street was too busy to lend itself to filming, thus the interiors were recreated in Hollywood). Within the walls of this non-profit establishment, servicemen are entertained by top musical, comedy and dramatic acts, and waited on by such Broadway luminaries as Lunt and Fontanne, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Cowl, Katherine Cornell, Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Sam Jaffe and Paul Muni. Though the plotline-one of the Canteen servers, a girl named Eileen (Cheryl Walker) falls in love with one of the visiting soldiers (William Terry), despite the establishment's strict "no dating" rules-is merely an excuse to link together a series of specialty acts, it is superbly and touchingly directed by Frank Borzage. Not all of the film has weathered the years too well: particularly hard to take is Gracie Fields' cheery ditty about "killing Japs!" For the most part, however, the film works, and the guest performers-including comedians Ray Bolger, Harpo Marx, George Jessel and Ed Wynn, and singers Ethel Waters and Kenny Baker-are in fine fettle. If nothing else, Stage Door Canteen offers the only appearance on film of the great Katherine Cornell, who offers a vignette of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Incidentally, the actor playing "Texas", Michael Harrison, later gained fame as cowboy star Sunset Carson. Originally released at 132 minutes, Stage Door Canteen is now generally available in the 93-minute TV version. The six big bands that appear and perform in the film are those of Kay Kyser, Count Basie, Xavier Cugat, Guy Lombardo, Benny Goodman and Freddie Martin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Hans Peters - Art Director, Albert Dano - Costume Designer, Frank Borzage - Director, Hal Kern - Editor, James V. Monaco - Composer (Music Score), Freddie Rich - Composer (Music Score), Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Musical Direction/Supervision, Harry Horner - Production Designer, Clem Beauchamp - Production Designer, Harry J. Wild - Cinematographer, Sol Lesser - Producer, Victor A. Gangelin - Set Designer, Delmer Daves - Screenwriter
Stage Door Canteen (New York). This cabaret and dining room was established during World War II to entertain soldiers free of charge. It was founded by the American Theatre Wing and the USO (United Service Organization). The first and principal one was established in the basement of the 44th Street Theatre. Broadway performers and others passing through New York offered their services gratis, not merely entertaining but often serving as waiters and dishwashers. Irving Berlin saluted it in his all‐soldier show, This Is the Army (1942), with the song “I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen.” Similar, smaller establishments were opened in other major theatrical centers, and Los Angeles copied the idea with the popular Hollywood Canteen.
Stage Door Canteen (1943) is a musical film produced by Sol Lesser Productions and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by Frank Borzage and features many cameo appearances by celebrities, and the majority of the film is essentially a filmed concert although there is also a storyline to the film.
Stage Door Canteen is presently in the public domain in North America and for this reason is widely available in many DVD and VHS releases of varying quality.
The film, made in wartime, celebrates the work of the "Stage Door Canteen", created in New York City as a recreational center for servicemen on leave to socialize with, be entertained or served by theatrical celebrities.
The real Stage Door Canteen on 44th Street could not be used for the filming as it was too busy receiving real servicemen. It was recreated in New York and at the RKO Radio Pictures studio in Culver City. There also was a Stage Door Canteen in the Academy of Music Building in Philadelphia.
Plot
The storyline of the film follows several women who volunteer for the Canteen and who must adhere to strict rules of conduct, the most important of which is that while their job is to provide friendly companionship to and be dance partners for the (often nervous) men who are soon to be sent into combat, no romantic fraternization is allowed. One volunteer who confesses to only becoming involved in the Canteen in order to be discovered by one of the Hollywood stars in attendance, ultimately finds herself falling in love with one of the soldiers.
Star appearances range from momentary cameos, such as Johnny Weissmuller, seen working in the canteen's kitchen, to more substantial roles such as Katharine Hepburn, who helps advance the plot.
Most of the cameos were filmed at the studio, but a number of spots -- Benny Goodman's, for example -- were filmed in New York City.
Cameos (alphabetical order)
(featured performer) means either they performed a number or had extended dialog in the plot)
The Pride and the Man •Dollars of Dross •Land o' Lizards •Immediate Lee •Flying Colors •Until They Get Me •The Gun Woman •The Curse of Iku •The Shoes That Danced •Innocent's Progress •Society for Sale •An Honest Man •Who Is to Blame? •The Ghost Flower •The Atom •Toton the Apache •Whom the Gods Would Destroy •Prudence on Broadway
1920s
Humoresque •The Duke of Chimney Butte •Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford •Back Pay •Billy Jim •The Good Provider •The Valley of Silent Men •The Pride of Palomar •The Nth Commandment •Children of the Dust •The Age of Desire •Secrets •The Lady •Daddy's Gone A-Hunting •The Circle •Lazybones •Wages for Wives •The First Year •The Dixie Merchant •Early to Wed •Marriage License? •Seventh Heaven •Street Angel •Lucky Star •They Had to See Paris •The River
Strange Cargo •The Mortal Storm •Flight Command •Smilin' Through •The Vanishing Virginian •Seven Sweethearts •Stage Door Canteen •His Butler's Sister •Till We Meet Again •The Spanish Main •Magnificent Doll •I've Always Loved You •That's My Man •Moonrise
