Superb comedy/drama about a theatrical boarding house and its tenants (all women) focusing primarily on Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. A once in a lifetime cast, all of them in top form. The movie moves VERY quickly with non-stop wisecracks flying across the screen and a very depressing turn at the end. Also, there's no sappy romance subplot - very unusual for a 1930s film. The interplay between Rogers and Hepburn is incredible--they're both holding their own against each other. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress--Andrea Leeds). A must-see. "The calla lillies are in bloom..."

Katharine Hepburn gave two classic performances as young aspring actresses. The first was Morning Glory which netted her, her first Academy Award. The second is this film Stage Door.

But there is a world of difference between Eva Lovelace and Terry Randall. Eva's a naive young kid from the sticks with a burning desire for the stage. A whole lot of kindly strangers whom she charms with her naivete help her along until her debut.

Terry Randall of Stage Door is the daughter of a millionaire who's brimming with self confidence. She's never really had to worry about where her next meal is coming from. That sets her apart from the other tenants at the theatrical boardinghouse where she's come to reside, incognito of course.

Kate's father Samuel S. Hinds wants his daughter to give up this foolishness. He can't get anywhere talking to her, so he cooks up a plan to secretly back a show being cast by lothario producer Adolphe Menjou with the proviso that his untried daughter be cast in the lead. Kate doesn't know that's why she's been cast in this show.

Of course it breaks the heart of fellow boarder Andrea Leeds who was thirsting for a role she would have been great in. Leeds was the only one of the cast up for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. She gives the best performance in the film. Among other things Leeds is doing is starving herself because she can't afford the extra charge for boardinghouse meals.

Today we would be calling it bulimia and this may very well have been Hollywood's first attempt to show it. You have to remember that this was the depression and a lot of people went hungry in the Thirties. It wasn't to keep her beautiful figure that Leeds is not eating, but the result is still the same.

Stage Door proved to be a big break for many. Ginger Rogers got her first good notices as an actress not a musical performer. Lucille Ball also received her first big break in this film, she'd been playing bit roles for about five years before Stage Door. Ann Miller made her debut in Stage Door at the age of 14. She lied about her age to the RKO casting people to get the part.

But this was Hepburn's film. It's the story of how she actually developed from an airhead debutante to an actress of substance and worth. The key to the film is her change and Hepburn is a good enough actress to make it convincing.

There are many things about this film that are wonderful but there are also a few elements that prevent the film rising to the next level--to be a truly time-less and memorable film. At the time it debuted, it was very well received, but over the years the film appears a tad "dusty" while STILL being an excellent film.

The dialog for this film is very, very clever and sounds an awful lot like an early Marx Brothers play due to its fast-paced banter. In some ways, this is really wonderful but after a while I frankly felt worn out--like the dialog was perhaps a bit TOO smart and snappy. As a result, it made the movie interesting but also made it all seem like a movie instead of real people. As for the rest of the writing, it generally was very good and had some exceptionally fine moments (such as when Katherine Hepburn took the stage at the end),though there were many moments that also seemed like film clichés. As a result of all these factors, we have a film with a split personality--at times very realistic and heart-wrenching and at others a bit stagy and unreal.

For fans of old films, this is still a must-see, but for others it is good but a bit tough going in spots. An excellent film that just doesn't quite make the leap to greatness.