7.8/10
6,278
75 user 39 critic

Stage Door (1937)

A chronicle of the ambitions, dreams, and disappointments of aspiring actresses who all live in the same boarding house.

Director:

(as Gregory LaCava)

Writers:

(screen play), (screen play) | 2 more credits »
Reviews
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Linda Shaw
...
Miss Luther
...
...
Henry Sims
...
Judith
...
Harcourt
William Corson ...
...
Carmichael
...
Butch
...
Stage Director
...
Mr. Milbanks
Phyllis Kennedy ...
Hattie

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Storyline

Terry Randall, rich society beauty, has decided to see if she can break into the Broadway theatre scene without her family connections. She goes to live in a theatrical boarding house and finds her life caught up with those of the other inmates and the ever-present disappointment that theatrical hopefuls must live with. Her smart-mouth roommate, Jean, is approached by a powerful producer for more than just a role. And Terry's father has decided to give her career the shove by backing a production for her to star in, in which she's sure to flop. But his machinations hurt more than just Terry. Written by Kathy Li

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

GREAT STARS! GREAT STORY! GREAT PICTURE! (original print ad - all caps) See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Certificate:

See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

8 October 1937 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Pension d'artistes  »

Box Office

Budget:

$952,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (TV)

Sound Mix:

(RCA Victor System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Katharine Hepburn was in discussions to star in the original Broadway stage production of "Stage Door", but Broadway producer Leland Hayward, reportedly jealous of her deepening friendship with noted film director John Ford, cast his then-girlfriend Margaret Sullavan in the leading role. Hayward and Sullavan married one month after the stage play opened. Margaret Sullavan was considered for the film version, but became pregnant with their first child, and the part went to Katharine Hepburn. See more »

Goofs

The band at Club Grotto, where Jean and Annie perform a dance number, includes a female vocalist who can be seen singing in the background, but no vocals are heard on the soundtrack. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Judy Canfield: Do you have to do that?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Big Top Pee-wee (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

Put Your Heart Into Your Feet and Dance
(uncredited)
Written by Hal Borne and Mort Greene
Danced by Ginger Rogers and Ann Miller
See more »

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User Reviews

Very Enjoyable, With a Fine Cast and Many Other Strengths
19 August 2004 | by (Ohio) – See all my reviews

With a fine cast and an interesting, worthwhile story, "Stage Door" is one of the best films of the late 1930's. It provides good comedy - at least if you can keep up with the fast-paced, many-sided dialogues - and some interesting drama in the lives of its characters. The characters are well-developed, even the minor ones, and this makes the dramatic developments that much more meaningful. The atmosphere is a convincing and very interesting look at life in the theater, neither overly glamourized nor overly sordid.

There is a great deal of talent in the cast, led by Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers, whose characters clash in interesting ways. Adolphe Menjou is an ideal choice to play this kind of genial cad. Gail Patrick also is perfect as an elegant but venomous young performer. Constance Collier is amusing as the would-be mentor for the younger actresses. Andrea Leeds is very sympathetic in her role. Most of the other characters in the boarding house get only small stretches of screen time, but they all make good use of it. It's also enjoyable just to see the likes of Ann Miller, Lucille Ball, and Eve Arden in some of their earlier roles.

The cast is the most obvious of its strengths, but the writing is also quite good, and Gregory La Cava's direction is very good, maintaining a good pace without rushing anything, and keeping a good balance between the amusing and the serious sides of the story. Everything works very well, making for an enjoyable and thoughtful picture.


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