A young soldier arrives in NYC and, before heading overseas to WWII, visits Stage Door Canteen, where famous actresses and entertainers volunteer to entertain soldiers.A young soldier arrives in NYC and, before heading overseas to WWII, visits Stage Door Canteen, where famous actresses and entertainers volunteer to entertain soldiers.A young soldier arrives in NYC and, before heading overseas to WWII, visits Stage Door Canteen, where famous actresses and entertainers volunteer to entertain soldiers.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real Stage Door Canteen at 216 W. 44th St., Times Square, was unable to be used for filming, as it was still an operating nightclub during World War II. As such, for this movie, it was re-created at R.K.O. Radio Pictures studios in Culver City, California.
- 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 creditsAll 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 versionsThere are two versions of this film --- one that runs two hours and twelve minutes, and a shorter television version, which runs one hour and thirty-three minutes (93 minutes), which is the most common one available.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing (1982)
- SoundtracksThe 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
Blink and you might miss (a few names for a taster) Tallulah Bankhead, Ina Claire, Judith Anderson, Aline MacMahon, Katherine Cornell, the Lunts, George Jessel, Ed Wynn, Ralph Bellamy, George Raft, May Whitty, Harpo Marx, Ned Sparks, and Dorothy Fields. You'll remember Katharine Hepburn as she goes all patriotic at the end of the movie.
Is it a good film? Probably not, but it is certainly historically interesting and probably has the most big names in one movie. The three soldier boys stand for all their compatriots who went to war'during both that conflict and the ones which followed. They aren't glorified, but are simply depicted as young lads who like dancing with girls and being treated with courtesy. We may never know what happens to California, Dakota, and Tex (and millions like them) but 'Stage Door Canteen' gives you a bit of their lives, and a snapshot of the wartime canteen.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Den stora stjärnparaden
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours 12 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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![William Terry and Cheryl Walker in Stage Door Canteen (1943)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzhiYWYyNzQtODhjMC00N2IxLTk4YWEtZmM0YjNkYTZlOTAyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjc0MzMzNjA@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)