Before I begin my epinion on this movie, allow me a little griping space. I should have loved 'The Women'. A movie with an all female cast! Just the thing for my Susan B Anthony coin collecting little self to devour. Well, it might have helped if the whole movie wasn't about them making fools of themselves over men.
Luckily, two years before 'The Women', another movie came out. This one also boasted a mainly female cast (Only one man had a major role, and others had small parts). The movie was 'Stage Door'.
In a theatrical boarding house, struggling performers (actresses, dancers, etc) keep their hopes up in between jobs by making one wisecrack after another. Among them are Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers), Linda Shaw (Gail Patrick), Judy Canfield (Lucille Ball) and Kaye Hamilton (Andrea Leeds). Into this world enters socialite and aspiring actress Terry Randall (Katharine Hepburn). Terry's aristocratic ways get her off on the wrong foot with the other occupants, until a tragedy happens, and opens all their eyes.
The strength lies in the performances. Katharine Hepburn, as always, is brilliant. Although she starts off as her usual abrasive self, she has to show uncertainty, humor and grief. She handles all these emotions.
Ginger Rogers is best known for being Fred Astaire's other half. Here, she gets a chance to shine her own light. A gifted comedian, she also gets to stretch her dramatic skills. The climax scene in the theater with Hepburn was very powerful and showcased both actresses perfectly.
Hepburn and Rogers also make a great team together. Poor girl Jean holds her own with wealthy Terry. It's fun to watch Hepburn counter Rogers sarcastic remarks (like the many times Rogers refuses to believe that the picture Hepburn displays is actually of her grandfather, and not a sugar daddy). Other great scenes are when Rogers gets drunk, and, of course, the emotional climatic scene near the end.
The supporting cast is also very good. The only man with a major role was Aldophe Menjou, who played a stereotypical producer, complete with casting couch. He gets outsmarted by Hepburn, which makes all people who had migraines after watching 'The Women' do a dance of joy. (Rogers also had a scene with him, and was great comic relief) Gail Patrick, as one of the older actresses, has a good time exchanging barbs with Rogers. Ann Miller shows off her tap skills. (Incidently, did you know that she was only 14 when the movie was made? She lied about her age. Probably the only time an actress has claimed to be older than they really are.)
The only really weak part was Andrea Leeds. Surprisingly, she was the only one nominated for an Oscar. I have my own theories on that, but since it would spoil the movie, I won't share them here. I'm not sure if it was her acting (which I felt was a bit too strained and dramatic at times) or the writing. As the actress who was a star the year earlier, only to be cast down to desperately getting a producer to see her, her part was meant to show the hardships these women faced. However, when you take into account that the other people also had just as hard a time breaking into the theater, and didn't become so desperate. I question the writing because it seemed they could have helped us understand the character better. One scene had Leeds saying there was no one she could go back to except someone she'd never go back to. I was left wondering, who? An abusive father? Mother? Boyfriend? Knowing this might have made her plight more convincing.
I don't want to give the impression that I'm a feminist man-hater. I am a feminist, but I love men. Really! And, this movie isn't out to bash men. Only the producer comes off in a really bad light (although some others seem to be a bit silly). One of the women decides to give up a career for marriage (I don't believe women did both at the time), and no one implied that she made a mistake. They even seem a bit wistful that she is experiencing that chapter in her life.
'The Women' implied that the be all and end all to a woman's life was a man. 'Stage Door' says that men are one wonderful aspect a woman can choose in her life. But, hopes, dreams, and hard work are also essential.
Recommended:
Yes
Viewing Format: VHS Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older
The Footlights Club the primary setting for much of STAGE DOOR is a remarkable creation. The result of a collaboration between director Gregory La Cav...More at Family Video
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