Stage Door, starring Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball | clown ministry | Reviews

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Stage Door - Katherine Hepburn - Ginger Rogers - Adolphe Menjou - with Gail Patrick, Andrea Leeds, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Ann Miller

Editorial Review of Stage Door, courtesy of Amazon.com essential video

This one’s all about the ladies. In this absolutely terrific 1937 gem, a Manhattan boardinghouse for aspiring actresses houses an amazing roster of golden-era performers--some of whom, like their characters, were just breaking in. It’s hard to say who’s in best form here: Katharine Hepburn in blueblood mode, Ginger Rogers streetwise, Andrea Leeds suffering, Lucille Ball and Ann Miller impossibly young, and Eve Arden being, well, splendidly Eve Ardenish. The sassy comedy and sober life lessons are wonderfully mixed by the underrated director Gregory La Cava (My Man Godfrey), who captures the brashness of ‘30s female chatter in a much pleasanter way than the more famous The Women. Hepburn’s sublime attempts to wrestle with the line about calla lilies being in bloom will make you smile long after the movie’s over. --Robert Horton

Plot synopsis of Stage Door

Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn), rich society beauty, has decided to see if she can break into the Broadway theatre scene without her family connections. She goes to live in a theatrical boarding house and finds her life caught up with those of the other inmates and the ever-present disappointment that theatrical hopefuls must live with. Her smart-mouth roommate, Jean (Ginger Rogers), is approached by a powerful producer for more than just a role. And Terry’s father has decided to give her career the shove by backing a production for her to star in, in which she’s sure to flop. But his machinations hurt more than just Terry.

Funny movie quotes from Stage Door (1937)

Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Hey, you’re not gonna catch the opening tonight, huh?
Eve (Eve Arden): No, I’m going tomorrow and catch the closing.

Eve (Eve Arden): Well, I don’t like to gossip, but that new gal seems to have an awful crush on Shakespeare!
Susan: I wouldn’t be surprised if they get married!
Mary Lou: Oh, you’re foolin’! Shakespeare’s dead.
Madeline: No!
Mary Lou: Well, if he’s the same one that wrote “Hamlet,” he is.
Eve (Eve Arden): Never heard of it.
Mary Lou: Well, certainly you must have heard of “Hamlet.”
Eve (Eve Arden): Well, I meet so many people.

Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): The calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower, suitable to any occasion. I carried them on my wedding day and now I place them here in memory of something that has died.

Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): The person you should be applauding died a few hours ago. I hope that wherever she is she knows and understands and forgives.
Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): I see that, in addition to your other charms, you have that insolence generated by an inferior upbringing.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Hmm! Fancy clothes, fancy language and everything!
Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): Unfortunately, I learned to speak English correctly.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): That won’t be of much use to you here. We all talk pig latin.

Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): We started off on the wrong foot. Let’s stay that way.

Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): When I get back to my room, you’re the only thing I want to find missing.

Judy Canfield (Lucille Ball): Do you want a date?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): To some other lumberman?
Judy Canfield (Lucille Ball): Am I supposed to apologize for being born in Seattle?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Well, the last couple we went stepping with were made of lumber. Especially their feet.
Judy Canfield (Lucille Ball): All right, all right, you can stay here and gorge yourself on lamb stew again.

Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): How many doors are there to this place?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Well, there’s the trap door, the humidor, and the cuspidor. How many doors would you like?

Linda Shaw: If you were a little more considerate of your elders, maybe Mr. Powell would send his car for you someday. Of course, he would probably take one look at you and send you right back again, but then you have to expect that.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Is that so?
Linda Shaw: Do you know, I think I could fix you up with Mr. Powell’s chauffeur. The chauffeur has a very nice car too.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Yes, but I understand Mr. Powell’s chauffeur doesn’t go as far in his car as Mr. Powell does.

Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Do you mind if I ask a personal question?
Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): Another one?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Are these trunks full of bodies?
Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): Just those, but I don’t intend to unpack them.

Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Hey, that’s a kind of good-lookin’ piece of jackrabbit you got there.
Linda Shaw: Oh, it’s just a little trinket my “Aunt Susan” sent over.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Say, I think it’s very unselfish of those little animals to give up their lives to keep other animals warm.
Linda Shaw: You know, they’re very smart little animals. They never give up their lives for the wrong people.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Well, you understand the rodent family much better than I do.

Terry Randall (Katherine Hepburn): It’d be a terrific innovation if you could get your mind to stretch a little further than the next wisecrack.

Eve (Eve Arden): A pleasant little foursome. I predict a hatchet murder before the night’s over.

Bill: One of the best press campaigns…
[Offers Jean cigaret]
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): No thanks. Gave it up when I was seven.
Bill: Bright girl. Busy tonight?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Yes.
[Following routine lines omitted]
Bill: Well, you haven’t given up eating, have you?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): It isn’t that. It’s - just that I think we hadn’t better see each other for a while.
Bill: Why?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): I just think it’s better, that’s all.
Bill: [long pause] O-h-h-h.
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Why do you say “o-h-h-h” like that?
Bill: Well, how would you say it?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): You make it sound like it meant something else.
Bill: Well, does it?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Whatever I do is my own business.
Annie: Are you coming or aren’t you?
Jean Maitland (Ginger Rogers): Oh shut up.
Bill: Did you eat something sour for lunch today?