STAGE DOOR CANTEEN [IMPORT]

Details

• Release Year: 1943
• Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance, War
• Plot: American was probably never so unified both at home and among the troops overseas than during World War Two. While fighting the first World War, the newly-minted movie star was a much-sought after commodity in the drive to sell War Bonds to fund the struggle. But by 1941, talking pictures, combined with radio, had produced a group of the most well-known personalities the world had ever known. And while many, such as Jimmy Stewart, Gene Autry, and Clark Gable, enlisted and served gallantly overseas, all those at home wanted to do their part as well. Whether making V-Discs, waiving their fees to allow the distribution of radio transcriptions, or simply sending autographed pictures overseas, Hollywood and Broadway stars made great sacrifices of their time, name, and talent to raise money for the war effort.; Two of the most tangible results of their patriotism were the Hollywood Canteen on the West Coast, and the famed STAGE DOOR CANTEEN in New York. Located near the two giant embarcation points, the last Stateside face many a soldier ever saw was one of these beloved stars. Jack Warner did his part, producing THIS IS THE ARMY and HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN, and donating all proceeds of the former picuter to Army relief. In 1943, producer Sol Lesser got the idea of doing the same thing in New York.; Lesser centered the action around the famous serviceman's club and shot performances featuring scores of stars. What was essentially a two-hour concert was held together by a moving storyline involvin three girls working as club hostesses and the soldiers on their way to Europe for D-Day with whom they fell in love. As the stars and the top bands moved through the Big Apple on tour, Lesser would write material for them, take them into his studio and include them in his picture. The result was the 1943 United Artists release STAGE DOOR CANTEEn, which memorialized the acts of our greatest generation of entertainers within its 135 minute running time. This pictorially briliant version of this great snapshot of American entertainment at its best was restored from the original 35mm nitrate camera negative.
• Cast: Judith Anderson, Kenny Baker, Tallulah Bankhead, Ralph Bellamy, Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Ray Bolger, Ina Claire, Katharine Cornell, Gracie Fields, Lynn Fontanne, Helen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Hugh Herbert, Jean Hersholt, George Jessel, Gypsy Rose Lee, Alfred Lunt, Harpo Marx, Elsa Maxwell, Yehudi Menuhin, Ethel Merman, Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, George Raft, Lanny Ross, Martha Scott, Ethel Waters, Johnny Weissmuller, Ed Wynn, Henry Armetta, Benny Baker, Helen Broderick, Lloyd Corrigan, Jane Darwell, William Demarest, Virginia Field, Vinton Freedley, Ann Gillis, Lucile Gleason, Vera Gordon, Virginia Grey, Sam Jaffe, Allen Jenkins, Roscoe Karns, Tom Kennedy, Otto Kruger, June Lang, Betty Lawford, Bert Lytell, Aline MacMahon, Horace McMahon, Helen Menken, Peggy Moran, Ralph Morgan, Alan Mowbray, Elliott Nugent, Patrick O'Moore, Franklin Pangborn, Helen Parrish, Brock Pemberton, Selena Royle, Marion Shockley, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Ned Sparks, Bill Stern, Arleen Whelan, Dame May Whitty, Count Basie, Xavier Cugat, Benny Goodman, Kay Kyser, Guy Lombardo, Freddy Martin, Cheryl Walker, William Terry, Marjorie Riordan, Lon McCallister, Margaret Early, Sunset Carson, Dorothea Kent, Fred Brady, Kay Kyser Band, Benny Goodman Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Freddy Martin Orchestra, Xavier Cugat Orchestra, Harry Babbitt, Dave Barbour, Julie Conway, Jane Cowl, Helen Dumas, Trudy Erwin, Dorothy Fields, Pat Flaherty, Arlene Francis, Mack Gray, George E. Green, Eddie Hall, Frank Borzage
• Director: Frank Borzage
• Runtime: 2:12
• Company: Image Entertainment
• Media Format: movie