Stage Door (1937)

95% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(4,521 ratings)

Adapted from the Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman play, Stage Door is a comedic portrait of the theatrical community in New York. Katharine Hepburn stars as Terry Randall a young woman who comes from a wealthy, socially connected family. Aspiring for a career on the stage, Terry opts to see if she… More Adapted from the Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman play, Stage Door is a comedic portrait of the theatrical community in New York. Katharine Hepburn stars as Terry Randall a young woman who comes from a wealthy, socially connected family. Aspiring for a career on the stage, Terry opts to see if she can make it on her own gumption and moves into a boarding house with several other wannabe Broadway starlets attempting to make a mark for themselves in show business. Terry's sassy roommate Jean (Ginger Rogers) just might get the opportunity to do that when she meets a lecherous producer, but at what cost? Unamused by Terry's attempts to pull herself up by her bootstraps, her father offers her an opportunity for a starring role in a show that's sure to fail. Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, and Ann Miller are among the other residents of the boarding house. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Gregory La Cava
Written By: Morrie Ryskind
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 8, 1937 Wide
On DVD: Mar 1, 2005

Critic Reviews

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
While it sometimes lapses into pure corn, it nevertheless manages to capture the manic-depressive dormitory atmosphere of young actresses trying to make it in New York.
Variety Staff, Variety
It is funny in spots, emotionally effective occasionally, and generally brisk and entertaining.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Stage Door, La Cava's serio comedy about a group of aspiring actresses, is one of Hollywood's wittiest and most enjoyable backstage sagas. In top form, Hepburn and Ginger Rogers head a large cast that includes Lucille Ball, Andrea Leeds, and Ann Miller
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
One of the great sassy-women comedy-dramas of the '30s.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
La Cava keeps it always fascinating, the pace lively, the dialogue sharp and the ensemble cast all chip in with first-class performances.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Second only to the incomparable All About Eve as the best movie ever made about the theater.
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal
The movie is hilarious and touching with classic scenes of Hepburn trying to emote her lines about calla lilies.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
If you love movies, Stage Door is mandatory viewing.
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
**** All About Eve. The real masterpiece about women and theater is Gregory La Cava's Stage Door.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Snappy adaptation of the play marred only by an outburst of sappiness at the end.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Amazing cast, wonderful script, comedy and tragedy. A classic film.
, Film4
The plot is, in fact, unimportant, as the piece has an atmosphere and accuracy that remains entirely convincing.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Hepburn is at her best here, witty and challenging and dangerous.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Good, solid, 1930s entertainment.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A stellar cast, superb direction, and a screenplay even better than the stage play on which it was based, all add up to one of the best movies about show business -- or about women living together -- ever made.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This is the best movie about showbiz that I've seen from the 30s, I highly recommend it. Hepburn gives a fantastic performance and so do Rogers and Ball. If you're an actor too, you will be able to sympathize with the characters as I did. It made me laugh, cry, and feel… More
This is the best movie about showbiz that I've seen from the 30s, I highly recommend it. Hepburn gives a fantastic performance and so do Rogers and Ball. If you're an actor too, you will be able to sympathize with the characters as I did. It made me laugh, cry, and feel for the characters and myself as well. It really moved me, that is until the ending. There was a scene towards the end where it felt the movie would end, but it keeps going. If the movie would have ended there, it would have been perfect. I still liked this movie anyway, I enjoyed it.
Red L

I saw this recently on a channel featuring classics. Amazing to have so many future stars in one movie. The story remains relevant today even though it is a 70 year old movie.
Stella D

i like it better than the women. gotta wonder how kate and ginger got along
Cindy I

A film about a boardinghouse for aspiring actresses, their successes and their failures, with early performances by such stars as Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers and Lucille Ball. Some sensitive areas handled with more grace and class than many films of this time period. Worth your… More
A film about a boardinghouse for aspiring actresses, their successes and their failures, with early performances by such stars as Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers and Lucille Ball. Some sensitive areas handled with more grace and class than many films of this time period. Worth your time.
jay n

what a cast!
Sunil J

Nice enough.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Katharine Hepburn as Terry Randall

            Ginger Rogers as Jean Maitland

            Adolphe Menjou as Anthony Powell

            Gail Patrick as Linda Shaw

            Constance Collier as Catherine Luther

            Andrea Leeds as Kaye Hamilton

            Samuel S. Hinds as Henry Sims

            Lucille Ball as Judy Canfield

            Franklin Pangborn as Harcourt

            William Corson as Bill

            Pierre Watkin as Richard Carmichael

            Grady Sutton as Butcher

            Frank Reicher as Stage Director

            Phyllis Kennedy as Hattie

            Eve Arden as Eve

            Ann Miller as Annie

            Margaret Early as Mary

            Jean Rouverol as Dizzy

            Elizabeth Dunne as Mrs. Orcutt

            Norma Drury as Olga Brent

            Jane Rhodes as Ann Braddock

            Peggy O'Donnell as Susan

            Harriett Brandon as Madeline

            Katherine Alexander as Cast of Play

            Ralph Forbes as Cast of Play

            Mary Forbes as Cast Member

            Huntly Gordon as Cast of Play

            Pamela Blake as Pamela Blake

            Mary Bovard as Actress

            Lynton Brent as Aide

            Jack Carson as Milbank

            D'Arcy Corrigan
            
            Jack Gardner as Script Clerk

            Jack Gargan as Dancing Instructor

            Diana Gibson as Actress

            Frances Gifford as Actress

            Lynda Grey
            
            Ben Hendricks Jr. as Waiter

            Al Hill as Taxi Driver

            Theodore Kosloff as Dancing Instructor

            Ada Leonard as Actress

            Philip Morris
            
            Adele Pearce as Actress

            Bob Perry as Baggageman

            Jack Rice as Playwright

            Fred Santley as Dukenfeld

            Larry Steers as Theatre Patron

            Harry Strang as Chauffeur

            Theodore von Eltz as Elsworth the Critic

            Whitey as Eve's Cat

            Josephine Whittell as Actress

            Linda Gray as Actress
See full cast

Stage Door (1937)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Red L

Stella D

Cindy I

jay n

Sunil J

Cast