Circumstances that she chose herself ended the meteoric rise to fame that Andrea Leeds had in "Stage Door". Oscar nomination or not, after only three years in the public eye ended fie home and hearth, but among her few major films are a large handful of gems.
This follow-up to "Stage Door" features three of the major players from that classic. Besides Ms. Leeds is Adolph Menjou, once again as her mentor, but this time with honorable intentions. Eve Arden, minus cat but still overloaded with wisecracks, is one of Leeds' pals. Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen reunite with Menjou and Leeds, having worked with them in "The Goldwyn Follies".
Also present in the major romantic male lead is George Murphy, obviously in love with Leeds even though he's involved with Rita Johnson. A rising young ingénue named Ann Sheridan shows her fire as Menjou's hot-tempered much younger fiancée who doesn't believe that Leeds and Menjou share a relationship that doesn't involve romance. He gives a performance that John Barrymore must have envied.
A mixture of soap opera and screwball comedy, this is poignant and well acted, making it the audience's loss that gentle and ladylike Leeds would retire within two years. An intense boarding house fire opens up the film that is delightful in almost every way. Twists towards the end remind me not only of "Stage Door", but "Dinner at Eight" and "A Star is a Born" as well.
This follow-up to "Stage Door" features three of the major players from that classic. Besides Ms. Leeds is Adolph Menjou, once again as her mentor, but this time with honorable intentions. Eve Arden, minus cat but still overloaded with wisecracks, is one of Leeds' pals. Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen reunite with Menjou and Leeds, having worked with them in "The Goldwyn Follies".
Also present in the major romantic male lead is George Murphy, obviously in love with Leeds even though he's involved with Rita Johnson. A rising young ingénue named Ann Sheridan shows her fire as Menjou's hot-tempered much younger fiancée who doesn't believe that Leeds and Menjou share a relationship that doesn't involve romance. He gives a performance that John Barrymore must have envied.
A mixture of soap opera and screwball comedy, this is poignant and well acted, making it the audience's loss that gentle and ladylike Leeds would retire within two years. An intense boarding house fire opens up the film that is delightful in almost every way. Twists towards the end remind me not only of "Stage Door", but "Dinner at Eight" and "A Star is a Born" as well.