TCM Pick O’ The Day: Sunday, February 22nd
by John Nolte
5pm PST - Stage Door (1937) – Women at a theatrical boarding house try to make their big break happen. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick Dir: Gregory LaCava BW-92 mins, TV-G
Because it conflicts with Big Hollywood’s live-blogging of the Academy Awards, under penalty of our disapproval and no small amount of pouting, you’ll have to set the DVR for this classic gem containing more bona fide female stars than you’re likely to see during all nine hours of tomorrow night’s Oscar telecast.
Katherine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Ann Miller and Gail Patrick round out one of those dream casts the Golden Age frequently served up, but it’s 25 year-old Ginger Rogers who walks away with the film, stealing it right out from under the rest in one of the best performances of her career.
For good reason, Rogers is best known for the ten glorious musicals she made with Fred Astaire, but here’s a chance to see that the smart, sexy, sassy Rogers would’ve had no problem becoming an immortal all on her own.
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10 Comments
Legend has it that one of the film's technicians, after watching Rogers do a particularly dramatic scene, said to her, "You can hang up those dancing shoes, honey."
I'd much rather watch this than the Oscars. I'm a huge Ginger Rogers fan and I definitely agree that she stole this film (although IMO, her best performance was for Kitty Foyle, in which she, deservedly, won her Oscar). She outshone Hepburn in this film, and that's saying a lot!
I'm glad to see you give Gail Patrick a mention. It's a shame that she generally seems to have been forgotten for the most part. She was one of classic Hollywood's great bitchy "other woman" types…and she played those parts well and with humor.
John, you are so right. Ginger is one of the best female stars in history, period. She could do it all IMHO. One of my favorites and a perennial Christmastime TCM offering is “Bachelor Mother” (1939). She is beautiful, sassy, smart, silly, sexy, vulnerable, and hilarious. A great supporting cast including David Niven and Charles Coburn (another two of my favorites), round out one of the best holiday get-in-the-Christmas-mood movies ever made.
Amen! Ginger Rogers was incredible. I just recently discovered (thank YOU, John) that awesome 'Roxie Hart' flick of hers – man, nobody but a great actress could have pulled that one off. (Btw, she pulled it off in 'Kitty Foyle' as well.) Yup, they don't make 'em like they used to.
We had this on DVD a couple months ago. What a treat. Rogers and Hepburn going head-to-head. Nothing like it.
It'll be a challenge to watch it tomorrow night for two reasons:
1) I live with a family that is not known for being big fans of 1930's movies, let alone either Ginger Rogers or Katherine Hepburn
2) The Amazing Race will be on at 8pm EST tomorrow night, and I make it a point not to miss it
Yeah, I know, the 2nd reason has an easy solution, but the 1st reason doesn't.
John, why exactly are you still a film critic since you have such a sneering contempt for today's movies?
Lucky me! I just saw, on the BIG screen @ The Stanford Theater last weekend, Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland in The Major and the Minor. Rogers was 30 when it was filmed, but she played a twenty-something pretending to be a twelve year old and was absolutely adorable! It was a good ole patriotic WWII era movie, too.
Thanks so much, DH, for your continued criticism of those contemporary films that deserve contempt and for your ongoing reminders that movies have in the past been assets to our culture. In so doing, you contribute to the good side. You keep us inspired.
… and to heck with anyone who would seal your lips except to sip the koolaid!
The Calla Lilies are in bloom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YzNMc_aQ_A
Although Ginger Rogers rightly receives accolades for her performance, I think it is mainly because she was paired with Hepburn so much in the film and one is surprised when it is Rogers, not Hepburn, that dominates the sceen. The outstanding performance to me, however, is Andrea Leeds. If you haven't before, pay close attention to her character Kay Hamilton. Superb!!
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