Stage Door

US (1937): Drama

A boarding house for aspiring actresses is the setting for one of the greatest of backstage dramas. When heiress Katharine Hepburn moves in with tough-cookie Ginger Rogers, sparks fly. The women compete for Broadway parts and men, including producer Adolphe Menjou. When Menjou gets an offer from Hepburn's father (Samuel S. Hinds) to back his latest show, Hepburn gets the lead, causing jealousy and despair. The cast is deep in great supporting actors (Lucille Ball, Ann Miller, Eve Arden, Franklin Pangborn) and the lines roll off the women's sharp tongues with spiteful elegance. That's remarkable due to the number of hands on the script; George S. Kaufman (who collaborated on the play with Edna Ferber) commented acidly that the production should have been called "Screen Door."

The line "The calla lilies are in bloom" that was closely associated with Hepburn is taken from the play The Lake, which Hepburn had appeared in before making Stage Door. In the film, the line is heard in the play within the film. (amctv.com)

 Use this link to view the original theatrical trailer for Stage Door on TCM.com.

4 nominations