Stage Door Canteen

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Stage Door Canteen
Image:9888.jpg Original Theatrical Poster
Directed by	Frank Borzage
Produced by	Frank Borzage Sol Lesser
Written by	Delmer Daves
Starring	Cheryl Walker William Terry Marjorie Riordan Lon McCallister Margaret Early
Music by	James Monaco Freddie Rich Richard Rodgers
Cinematography	Harry Wild
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date(s)	1943
Running time	132 min.
Language	English
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Stage Door Canteen is a 1943 musical film made 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.

1 Background and production
2 Plot
3 Cameos (In Alphabetical Order)
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Background and production

The film, made in wartime, celebrates the work of the "Stage Door Canteen", created in New York City as a recreational centre for servicemen on leave to socialise 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 Studios in Culver City.

[edit] 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.