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Stage Door Canteen

  • 19431943
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
William Terry and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
  • Comedy
  • Musical
  • Romance
"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 c... Read all"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 (Ch... Read all"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.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Borzage
  • Writer
    • Delmer Daves(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Cheryl Walker
    • William Terry
    • Judith Anderson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Borzage
  • Writer
    • Delmer Daves(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Cheryl Walker
    • William Terry
    • Judith Anderson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos17

    William Terry and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Sunset Carson, Lon McCallister, Alan Mowbray, and William Terry in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Sunset Carson, Lon McCallister, and William Terry in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Leonard Harper, Edna Mae Harris, Ruby Richards, Bonita Purdue, Leah Benner, and Verna Richardson in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Lon McCallister in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Harpo Marx, William Terry, and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    William Terry and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Merle Oberon in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Edgar Bergen, Cheryl Walker, and Charlie McCarthy in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    William Terry and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Gracie Fields in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
    Sunset Carson, Margaret Early, Lon McCallister, Marjorie Riordan, William Terry, and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cheryl Walker
    Cheryl Walker
    • Eileen Burkeas Eileen Burke
    William Terry
    William Terry
    • Dakota Smithas Dakota Smith
    Judith Anderson
    Judith Anderson
    • Judith Andersonas Judith Anderson
    Kenny Baker
    Kenny Baker
    • Kenny Bakeras Kenny Baker
    Tallulah Bankhead
    Tallulah Bankhead
    • Tallulah Bankheadas Tallulah Bankhead
    Ralph Bellamy
    Ralph Bellamy
    • Ralph Bellamyas Ralph Bellamy
    Edgar Bergen
    Edgar Bergen
    • Edgar Bergeras Edgar Berger
    Charlie McCarthy
    Charlie McCarthy
    • Charlie McCarthyas Charlie McCarthy
    Ray Bolger
    Ray Bolger
    • Ray Bolgeras Ray Bolger
    Ina Claire
    Ina Claire
    • Ina Claireas Ina Claire
    Katharine Cornell
    • Katherine Cornellas Katherine Cornell
    Gracie Fields
    Gracie Fields
    • Gracie Fieldsas Gracie Fields
    Lynn Fontanne
    Lynn Fontanne
    • Lynn Fontaineas Lynn Fontaine
    Helen Hayes
    Helen Hayes
    • Helen Hayesas Helen Hayes
    Katharine Hepburn
    Katharine Hepburn
    • Katharine Hepburnas Katharine Hepburn
    Hugh Herbert
    Hugh Herbert
    • Hugh Herbertas Hugh Herbert
    Jean Hersholt
    Jean Hersholt
    • Jean Hersholtas Jean Hersholt
    George Jessel
    George Jessel
    • George Jesselas George Jessel
    • Director
      • Frank Borzage
    • Writer
      • Delmer Daves(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    "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. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • charlie mccarthy character
    • ventriloquist
    • ventriloquist dummy
    • ventriloquism
    • troop train
    • 53 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT! READ ABOUT IT! NOW *SEE* THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINMENT HIT! (print ad - Lubbock Avalanche Journal - Lindsey Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - October 17, 1943 - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Musical
      • Romance
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Features the only movie appearance of Katharine Cornell (Herself).
    • 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.

    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      Many prints run at 93 minutes, cutting out many performances.
    • Connections
      Featured in Showbiz Goes to War (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      The Girl I Love to Leave Behind
      (1943)

      Music by Richard Rodgers

      Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

      Sung and Danced by Ray Bolger (uncredited)

      Reprised as dance music near the end

    User reviews39

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Superstars entertain enlisted men.
    This movie has more stars in it than the firmament! Even more stars than its cousin Hollywood Canteen.

    I remember seeing it as a child in 1943 and have had it on tape for years and wonder why it has not been digitally remastered. The picture is scratchy and bumpy in parts, but nothing can spoil the innocence of our youth in uniform ready to go off to war.

    Cameo appearances of so many entertainers on one stage give you an idea of what vaudeville and the big band era were like. There is no plot line or even a semblance of continuity in the performances of these stars, but all are polished appearances as if the casts were on tour. Their time was donated and their patriotism shows through loud and clear.

    The story line involves a group of army enlistees who are given a mini furlough in New York City before they ship out. They are in awe of the big city at first but are told of a place where there is entertainment and free food. This, of course, is the canteen. Over the course of less than forty-eight hours, Dakota, Californa, Tex, Jersey, and others pair off with hostesses at the Stage Door Canteen. It is amazing how quickly love blooms in this setting. The hostesses have taken a vow not to get involved with the fellas, but how can they resist when they see the innocence, charm, and sincerity of the boys?

    If there are starring roles in the storyline, they belong to California and Eileen, though they are not paired as sweethearts. California (LonMcAllister)looks like a teenager and is so likable. He has never kissed a girl! Eileen (Cheryl Walker) is torn between her duty to the canteen and her love for Dakota.

    Some have said this movie is a morale booster or war-time propaganda. I like to think of it as the way things were during World War II.
    helpful•23
    0
    • wmoores
    • Aug 3, 2005

    FAQ18

    • Cheryl Walker---Was She "Secretly" Married?
    • "Lord's Prayer"----to be Censored?
    • Elsa Maxwell----Were Her Scenes Censored?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 22, 1943 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Den stora stjärnparaden
    • Filming locations
      • Fox News NY Studios - 48th Street & 6th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Sol Lesser Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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