DVD REVIEW
Stage Door Canteen, All-star cast, black and white,1943
War propaganda comes in all forms, from harsh gung-ho chauvinist to the melodramatic. This film is in the melodramatic form of a patriotic homage to what is now called in the mass media, at least, the "greatest generation", my parents generation during World War II. Here we have a thin story line about three GI's landing at New York's famous Stage Door Canteen to be feted, wined and dined by the toast of the international entertainment world, including Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee, Ray Bolger (doing a great dance routine), Gypsy Rose Lee, etc. Plus there is a little off-hand romance between the boys and the off-limits hostesses. But love will out in the end.
The dialogue, is to say the least to the modern ear, stilted. I assume, however, that it got its job done by boosting morale on the home front letting one shed a little tear for the boys going off to fight the enemies of the day. If you wanted to know what moved you in your youth or that of your parents or grandparents- what made you or them laugh, cry, sing and dance- then here is a slice of that for you.
Note:I do not usually comment on technical quality of films but, given war rationing, the film seems, well filmy, and somewhat out of focus.
One of the interesting things about the early film industry is how closely it adhered to various governmental edicts- the party line- in their own self-interest, for the most part. From the regulation of sexual expression in the aftermath of the Fatty Arbuckle scandal to the pro-war propaganda in this film (and including positive remarks about the Soviet Union, an ally in others -see Mission to Moscow) to the Hollywood Ten and blacklist of the post-war period. So much for freedom of artistic expression when the hammer comes down.
ReplyDelete