"Stage Door"

I was super excited to watch this picture. Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn, and Lucille Ball all together in one film. Oh what fun!

We fade in to the theater boarding house, "The Footlights Club". It resembles an episode of America's Next Top Model. Girls are arguing, accusing each other of stealing, talking over one another and pissing each other off. We learn that these girls work hard trying to land theater gigs, but have very little luck, and not much dough either.

In walks Terry, aka Katharine Hepburn. She's rich and very optimistic. Instantly the girls are caddy as Terry asks for a room and puts fifty bucks out as a down payment. She is roomed with witty Jean, Miss Ginger Rogers. They instantly don't care for each other.

Terry is jazzed that she gets to live in a poor house with "atmosphere" and Jean is just annoyed she has a roomie. They talk in bed while wearing shades because of the giant blinking sign out their window.

Notice Jean's creepy doll.

As Terry and Jean slowly become friends, we meet Kay, the best actress in the house who can't get a job and is in some serious need for some Zoloft. She really, really wants the roll in the new play being put on by womanizer and theater head Mr. Powell. He is busy "taking care" of another lady in the house, but spots Jean when rehearsing. 

Ann Miller lied about her age to work on this film. Here she is at 14 and is defiantly keeping up with Ginger! 

Jean is not interested, but realizes she wants him after he persuades her to go out. Lucille Ball keeps dating losers so she can get a good dinner away from the Footlights Club.

Terry meets with her rich dad who tries to talk her out of all this theater nonsense. She wants to do it with or without him. He wants her to fail so she will come home. (Way to be supportive!) Kay has a chance to read for a role but Mr. Powell cancels on her. He has moved on to Terry as his latest fling and she just wants a part in the theater.

She gets the roll which makes Kay go nuts. They throw her a birthday party, but she is so sad she does a 'Norma Desmond' like act up the stairs and looses it.

Look at those crazy eyes!

 Terry is upset about Kay but the show must go on and she gets ready for opening night.

The show is a success and we see just how great an actress Terry is (and Katharine). This film is so cute. The costumes are adorable thanks to first time costume designer, Muriel King. 

There is some cute dance numbers and the girls really work well together. Lucille Ball considered this her big break film and Katharine Hepburn was just glad nobody mentioned "box office poison" during production. Her role was made bigger because she was so good and she also got top billing with Ginger.

"Suspicion"

In this 1941 picture, Cary Grant is as handsome as ever and gives one of his best performances to date. Joan Fontaine stars with Cary as his wife who is convinced her man is out to kill her.

Joan meets Cary on the train. She is in first class and Cary wishes he was. He is told to shove out or pay for a first class fair. Joan forks over the cash. So far, she isn't impressed with Cary. 

After the train ride, Joan goes home to learn her hottie train friend is very desirable and quite the ladies man. Joan isn't into that stuff. She lives with her parents and has a boring rich life.

After church, Joan and Cary meet up on a scary hill. Cary calls her "monkey face" and screws with her hair. Joan is still not impressed. But she can't help but notice what a babe Cary is. She's intrigued. 

Soon they are dating and Cary meets the parents, who are not impressed. What is impressive is the massive self portrait of Joan's strict dad. Joan is mad because they think Joan will never wed.

She proves them wrong and marries Cary. They honeymoon and come back to a lavish house with a maid that Cary set up. Moments later, Joan learns that Cary is broke, and has never had a job. Father also delivers some snazzy chairs for their house.

Cary thinks they are stupid.

 Before you know it, Cary starts to act all suspicious and Joan is convinced he is going to kill her. Cary's pal, Beaky (Nigel Bruce) comes for a visit and they all play Scrabble. Joan faints after some bad word choices.

 The next shady move Cary pulls is he sells Daddy's chairs for gambling cash and buys Joan tons of gifts and a dog (which was really Hitchcock's dog named "Johnny"). Joan is pissed until she learns that Cary bought the chairs back as well.

Look at that glare!

Beaky has a near death experience when he drinks some booze and we learn he can't drink the stuff because it can kill him. 

(Foreshadowing much?)

 

Cary is such a babe but Joan is finding out too many bad things about her man. Secret business deals, lies about out of town trips, and top secret letters makes Joan sure that Cary wants to off her. One night while sick, Cary brings her some milk. She is convinced that it is poisoned and won't drink it!

How could he kill? He's such a hunk!

 Alfred put a light in the milk to make it glow and look ominous.

Joan finds out Cary is still gambling and was fired from his job for steeling. Beaky goes missing and Joan is sure he is dead from the hands of Cary. Joan wants to leave him, but decides not to, probably because Cary is so damn good looking.

On a car ride up a hill, it seems like Cary is going to try to kill both of them. Joan flips out and tries to escape. I can safely say they do not die, and Cary has to explain to his wife how he feels and ask why she is going nuts. 

This movie was supposed to have a horrid ending, the way Alfred wanted, but the studio said no way and made Alfred film a "happy" ending. This movie makes you paranoid, although it is hard to think of Cary Grant as a murderer. This was the only Oscar winning performance in a Hitchcock film (Fontaine)and the first time Alfred directed and produced a film. The cinematography is excellent, as it should being a Hitchcock flick of course. There are also some great sets.

Joan loved the part so much she offered to play if for free. Alfred makes his appearance a little while in as a pedestrian who is mailing a letter.

Picture Of The Day

Tab Hunter, soaking up the sun in a too small inner tube.