Stage Door Canteen

This delightfully sentimental movie set itself apart from the many other World War II films of the day, made to boost American morale. It documents (via a fictional tale) the real-life story of New York City's Stage Door Canteen, an east coast version of the equally-famed Hollywood Canteen, where soldiers on their way to battle during WWII were entertained by stage and screen stars of the era. Countless celebrities make cameos in the film (everyone from Kate Hepburn and Tallulah Bankhead to Harpo Marx and bandleader Benny Goodman), which was directed by Frank Borzage, first-ever recipient of the Academy Award for Best Director.

• musical