Review of Stage Door (1937) by Monsieur R — 18 Apr 2010

Stage Door, what a great title as its so appropriate. Too bad the film is dreadfully one liners. Unless you like snappy comebacks constantly, forget this idea of a movie.

Concerns the struggles of young actresses in their trenches, where they live. Truely astounding movie for its time. Essentially the unglamourous side of the theatre and realistic as well.

Although a handicap to have so many fast talking dames in the first few minutes, it will amuse only the deaf.

You will get to see a very young Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rodgers, Eve Arden and Ann Miller. The snappy patter of the tongue wagging gals gets really tiresome in no time at all.

The male dominance in the entertainment industry is immediately apparent. So many gals, so much unemployment. And Adolphe Menjou? Give me a break. Today he would have been a predatory sex fiend.

Lucille Ball fans will be pleased to see many lines given to the young starlet.

Kate Hepburn is the same person she always portrays. Ginger Rodgers is quite different. There must have been a transition ... Before Fred Astaire and after. She carries the beginning of the film almost entirely by herself.

Eve Arden, later television's Our Miss Brooks, the ever comedic Arden we remember. Not much change there either.

4 Oscars including nominee for best picture. A morality play suggesting some things matter more than reaching the top. Rewritten so many times, writer George Kaufman playwriter commented it should have been titled Screen Door.

Better use the subtitles, the dialog is so fast you'll need the help.

I had to stop this film and intend to update this review on completion.

Update:

On further review, it continued to suck.