utgard14
Another of the WW2 star rally movies where a bunch of movie stars get together in a single film to support the troops, each having minor parts and sometimes doing musical numbers or comedy skits. The main plot in these films usually features a romance involving one or two lesser known actors. Several of the studios did one of these during the war. The best, for my money, is Hollywood Canteen from Warner Bros. This one is one of the lesser efforts, but still enjoyable for classic film fans.Directed by Frank Borzage and released by United Artists, it tells the story of the title recreation center for servicemen in New York City and a romance between an aspiring actress (Cheryl Walker) and a soldier (William Terry). The bigger names giving support or doing cameos include Katharine Hepburn, Ethel Merman, Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, Johnny Weissmuller, Tallulah Bankhead, Ralph Bellamy, George Raft, Ray Bolger, Gypsy Rose Lee, Judith Anderson, Ed Wynn, Sam Jaffe, Franklin Pangborn, Alan Mowbray, and Edgar Bergen, among others. The stars vary in screen time and what they do. Some do bits, others just play themselves saying a line or two (usually a corny joke). The musical numbers are so-so and mostly feature popular bandleaders like Count Basie, Xavier Cougat, Kay Kyser, Benny Goodman and their respective bands. It's definitely worth a look for movie buffs but it goes on way too long for such a thin story and the music is nothing to get worked up over.
Lechuguilla
Well-known performers and film stars entertain, serve food and drink to, and socialize with, young WWII soldiers and sailors, before these guys go off to war. The fictional plot follows three or four young servicemen in particular, and their encounters with attractive young females whose work at the canteen involves being the guys' romantic dates for a couple of hours.Most of the plot takes place at the canteen, a New York City nightclub with dance floor and stage. The atmosphere is intentionally lively and upbeat. For servicemen, it's a momentary escape both from the demands of military duty and the prospect of overseas battle. Yet there's an undercurrent of loneliness and separation, knowing that in war not everyone returns safely to friends and family. Owing to these melancholy and sad themes, I find the token plot more interesting than the appearance of celebrities.Some of the entertainers do nothing more than chitchat for a minute or so with the servicemen. Other entertainers perform on stage. And it is the selection of performers and their musical numbers that I found quite disappointing. Almost all of the selected songs and comedy routines were downright boring. Of course it was a different era then, so judgment needs to be tempered with a sense of historical perspective.B&W lighting is acceptable, but it would have been interesting to see this film in color. The sounds of the performing bands seemed tinny or thin to me; maybe it's just the era technology. Casting and acting are acceptable. The appearance of the celebrities could have been enhanced if they had been wearing name tags, or in some way could have been identified by name."Stage Door Canteen" is a lengthy film, which could have been rendered higher quality with less dialogue and far better stage entertainment. Yet, it's worth watching as a useful window into an era that is long gone, an era of some interesting performers, almost none of whom are with us anymore.
jjnxn-1
The main story is mile high corn about being swept away by emotion during wartime but the cast roll is amazing as are some of the performances. In particular Peggy Lee, saucy and sexy, Ethel Waters who's full of snap and Kay Kyser's band who swing the place. There are some personalities who don't perform but swoop in an add a touch of spice then saunter back out, Tallulah Bankhead being the best example. Some of the stars are a bit stiff but that's natural considering most of them where stars of the stage not screen. This does provide a document for some, Helen Menken for one, of their only on screen appearance for others, The Lunts, etc. a very rare one. The film offers a window into the diversity of popular entertainment during the war years-from jitterbugging to classical music. Some stars appearances are mere bits, Dame May Witty and Aline MacMahon. While others show some of their famed act that could never make it past the censors otherwise, Gypsy Rose Lee's performance is the best example of this. Then there are a few performers who became better known to the general public when they were older, Helen Hayes among them, who it is fascinating to see in their younger years. Mixed in with all the marvelous array of talent and entertainment are heavy doses of patriotic speeches which of course was the whole point of the film. Some are low-key and some like Merle Oberon's call to arms more heavy handed. The picture holds its big gun at least as far as star wattage goes, Kate Hepburn, until almost the conclusion of the film. She delivers a flag waving speech which even though it's a tad awkward she saves by the look she delivers at the end of it. At times a trifle graceless and ham-fisted this is still a very enjoyable movie with an utterly charming scene between Katharine Cornell and Lon McCallister where they perform an impromptu scene from Romeo and Juliet, the best of many highlights.
jayraskin
I was quite disappointed with this. I had seen Hollywood Canteen and enjoyed it. This East Coast version had more stars, but used them to less advantage. Besides giving us more stars, this movie tries to add a love story, but it is more pathetic than uplifting.Most of the stars are given about one minute to do a joke or two, these are okay, but the stars who are given three or four minutes, like Georgie Jezzel, Ray Bolger, and Edgar Bergen are only mildly amusing at best. The only musical number that I enjoyed was Benny Goodman. His swing song with a young and beautiful Peggy Lee rocked. The only other bit I really enjoyed was Gypsy Rose Lee. She tried to do a strip tease that could get past the censors and ended up only taking off her girdle and her gloves. Yet her obvious sexuality turned all the soldiers on. This was just around the time she had come out with a novel "The G String Murders" and a play "The Naked Genius" and was starting to break out of burlesque.The problem is the film is devoted too much too lame war propaganda, as if the producers felt they had to justify the free food, dancing girls and entertainment at the Canteen by reminding us that it was for our gallant boys every few minutes. They also took pains to assure us that no sexual activity was going on between the girls who worked in the canteen and the soldiers. It makes me suspect that just the opposite was the case.See "Hollywood Canteen" which has fewer stars, but is a lot more fun.
AD
