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Many will dismiss this great film with slanders like "sappy," "corny," and, worst of all, "Capra-corn," but anyone who can watch this movie unmoved and uninspired must have a heart of stone. This tale of the idealistic American everyman struggling and triumphing against the greed and corruption that has tarnished the institutions of our country is done in a way that only Capra could pull off. This is perhaps his greatest achievement, with competition only from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. The acting is superb, with Jimmy Stewart giving an absolutely mesmerising (and frequently hilarious!) performance, and Jean Arthur making the role of the cynical secretary Saunders truly memorable, and reminding us that she's one of the most under-appreciated actresses of all time. The two of them have great chemistry together, and the balance between comedy and drama is perfect. For me, what makes this film truly remarkable is that it is profoundly patriotic without resulting to the flag waving, "no questions asked" attitude taken by many people today. The movie expresses a real love for the country, but is not afraid of showing the flaws in the government, though admittedly the resolution IS unrealistic, but that just adds to its charm as a political fantasy. After all, who secretly doesn't wait for a Jeff Smith to come around and win us the America we wish we had? Definitely a 10/10.

STAGE DOOR wins the prize in the intelligent, crackling, witty writing department. It is also exquisitely acted, and directed in a manner that blends comedy and drama seamlessly. Not really a comedy, it is really a comedy that contains some of the funniest lines you'll hear in the movie. The cast is unbelievably star-studded, headed by the unsurprisingly excellent Katherine Hepburn and a Ginger Rogers who proves that she is much, much more than Fred's dancing partner, actually keeping up with Kate the Great. I must agree that Andrea Leeds overacts and Olivia De Haviland would have been better in the role, but overall she still does a fine job in the part.

In many ways, STAGE DOOR seems to be a precursor to ALL ABOUT EVE, in that they both examine female rivalry on Broadway, both are legendary for their literate scripts, and both end in a cyclical manner. However, for me STAGE DOOR is the more involving, satisfying film. None of its female characters are truly villainous: they have a sisterly bond, but must compete with each other to survive. It is also less cynical than EVE, in that it does not emphasize only th evil in human nature. Interestingly, that makes the theme of exploitation ultimately more disturbing: the exploitation of a fellow actress is done not with intentional malice, but out of dire necessity and often unwittingly.

STAGE DOOR is one of those rare films that not only survives repeated viewings, but actually improves with them. The many layers become more apparent each time, and more of the overlapping dialogue is understood. This movie is a masterpiece that manages to be hilarious, touching, optimistic, and disturbing all at once.