"Stage Door Canteen" was made in 1943 to tell the story of an effort to entertain and celebrate the American servicemen during World War II. It's a showcase of the first canteen for enlisted members of the Armed Forces that was established and opened in New York City. The canteen was a project of the American Theatre Wing. Hundreds of entertainers from Broadway volunteered their time to entertain GIs and gobs, and to serve free food, coffee and cigarettes, and wait on and clean tables. Different name bands played music, and comedians and other entertainers performed. While actresses and starlets danced with the GIs, the male actors mostly waited on tables, cleaned, cooked and performed.
This film has a thin plot about out of the hostesses and a soldier falling for each other. But it's mostly just a thread to tie together numerous song and dance numbers, comedy routines and other scenes. The Stage Door Canteen opened on March 2, 1942, and closed at the end of the war in September, 1945. The main characters in this film would be little known outside of the live theater followers of that time. Although some were actors also in films, most of the cast of this film were people from the Broadway stages. Some had lengthy careers also on the silver screen and/or television, or were known for radio or traveling stage performances. The best known in this film, in various short roles are Helen Hayes, Gracie Fields, Ralph Bellamy, Edgar Bergen with Charlie McCarthy, Tallulah Bankhead, Ray Bolger, George Jessel, and frequent supporting actors Allen Jenkins and Hugh Herbert. Many more came cameo appearances, the most recognized being Katherine Hepburn, Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, George Raft, Ed Wynn, Jane Darwell, Roscoe Karns, Alan Mowbray, and Ned Sparks.
Among the bands that appear are Xavier Cugat, Count Basie Kay Kyser and Guy Lombardo. Many other bands and entertainers worked the canteen during the war. The canteen led to a CBS radio series that broadcast from there, and then this film that was made in Hollywood. While servicemen and women learned about the canteen, and those going overseas from New York ports were guests at the canteen, the radio series and film informed people across the country about it.
Meanwhile, across the country, people in the film industry were organizing a similar project, and the Hollywood Canteen opened its doors on October 3, 1942 It would become even more famous, well known and visited by more service men and women. And, the number of actors, producers, musicians, dancers, comedians, and others in the entertainment field was much greater. It too would spawn a movie about it, and Warner Brothers released "Hollywood Canteen" in 1944. It also had a thin plot with lesser known actors for the story line, but it showcased hundreds of performers that were well known to the public from the silver screen, radio and night club performances.
These films are a nice look at the efforts by many in the entertainment industry to support the men and women serving their country in wartime. They are a little piece of history, about a slice of history during WW II. They are not great films in their own right, but provide a look at the people who volunteered to entertain the troops at home before they go off to war. Several other canteens, much smaller, opened in other areas of the country, with more locally known entertainers performing and serving.
Here are a couple funny lines from this film. One is an exchange between an Australian solider and a hostess, and the other is in the performance by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
Aussie soldier, "Any of our guys tell you what Australian beer is made of?" Canteen hostess "No." Solider, "Made of, us, kangaroo hops."
Edgar Bergen, "Now, shall I read or past first?" Charlie McCarthy, "Do you think you can?" Edgar, "I don't think - I know." Charlie, "I don't think you know either."
This film has a thin plot about out of the hostesses and a soldier falling for each other. But it's mostly just a thread to tie together numerous song and dance numbers, comedy routines and other scenes. The Stage Door Canteen opened on March 2, 1942, and closed at the end of the war in September, 1945. The main characters in this film would be little known outside of the live theater followers of that time. Although some were actors also in films, most of the cast of this film were people from the Broadway stages. Some had lengthy careers also on the silver screen and/or television, or were known for radio or traveling stage performances. The best known in this film, in various short roles are Helen Hayes, Gracie Fields, Ralph Bellamy, Edgar Bergen with Charlie McCarthy, Tallulah Bankhead, Ray Bolger, George Jessel, and frequent supporting actors Allen Jenkins and Hugh Herbert. Many more came cameo appearances, the most recognized being Katherine Hepburn, Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, George Raft, Ed Wynn, Jane Darwell, Roscoe Karns, Alan Mowbray, and Ned Sparks.
Among the bands that appear are Xavier Cugat, Count Basie Kay Kyser and Guy Lombardo. Many other bands and entertainers worked the canteen during the war. The canteen led to a CBS radio series that broadcast from there, and then this film that was made in Hollywood. While servicemen and women learned about the canteen, and those going overseas from New York ports were guests at the canteen, the radio series and film informed people across the country about it.
Meanwhile, across the country, people in the film industry were organizing a similar project, and the Hollywood Canteen opened its doors on October 3, 1942 It would become even more famous, well known and visited by more service men and women. And, the number of actors, producers, musicians, dancers, comedians, and others in the entertainment field was much greater. It too would spawn a movie about it, and Warner Brothers released "Hollywood Canteen" in 1944. It also had a thin plot with lesser known actors for the story line, but it showcased hundreds of performers that were well known to the public from the silver screen, radio and night club performances.
These films are a nice look at the efforts by many in the entertainment industry to support the men and women serving their country in wartime. They are a little piece of history, about a slice of history during WW II. They are not great films in their own right, but provide a look at the people who volunteered to entertain the troops at home before they go off to war. Several other canteens, much smaller, opened in other areas of the country, with more locally known entertainers performing and serving.
Here are a couple funny lines from this film. One is an exchange between an Australian solider and a hostess, and the other is in the performance by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
Aussie soldier, "Any of our guys tell you what Australian beer is made of?" Canteen hostess "No." Solider, "Made of, us, kangaroo hops."
Edgar Bergen, "Now, shall I read or past first?" Charlie McCarthy, "Do you think you can?" Edgar, "I don't think - I know." Charlie, "I don't think you know either."