MovieChat Forums > Stage Door (1937) Discussion > Andrea Leeds sucked.

Andrea Leeds sucked.

posted 16 years ago by joestank15
13 replies | jump to latest

I saw this film last month and...oh. my. god. she's TERRIBLE! She got an Oscar nomination for that? Over Katherine Hepburn? Are you *beep* kidding me? Every scene with her is an abomination. The stabbing of the birthday cake. The glazed smiley look in her face like she just smoked a bud whenever she's supposed to be "disturbed" or "detached". And then the suicide for NO reason with NO character buildup. Every scene with her is a joke.

Somebody must've blown somebody to get her the nomination.

[–] SnorrSm1989 16 years ago

(****possible spoilers here****)

I can agree with you that Leeds' performance stands out as rather old-fashioned in certain parts (in an otherwise EXCELLENT film IMO) but as for the lack of character development, I think that was the point. Right before she walks up the stairs, remember she screams for Terry; letting air to one big outburst that reveals her hidden feelings of anger and defeat.

[–] crachelm 15 years ago

she was the best part

"She plays like a Stradivarius, man," Dobkin of Rachel McAdams.
R.I.P. Ledger & Natasha Richardson

[–] gbennett5 14 years ago

Disagree big time. Leeds is amazing - quiet, thoughtful, terribly troubled.
She brings an amazing emotional weight to this film.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fonte-2 13 years ago

Everything's subjective, of course. But in my opinion, she is perfect. When I hear the title "Stage Door", the image that immediately comes to mind is Andrea Leeds slicing into the cake and then crying. And then I cry. lol

[–] kmc-4 13 years ago

I agree! I saw the film for the first time last night, and I thought she stole the movie from Kate and Ginger.

[–] ncgraham 13 years ago

I didn't think she was great in every scene, but the staircase bit left me breathless!

[–] marioncrane 12 years ago

me too, it was incredible!

"Three years...I promise."

[–] Errington_92 12 years ago

Completely disagree with the OP, I thought her performance was adequate. Especially in the scene leading to her suicide, the slow tracking shot up the stairs let the audience focus on her emotions as she decended into her imagination.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] charliebuenfil 12 years ago

I think that Andrea Leeds's acting has not aged well especially because it belongs to that era when actresses were so melodramatic when they needed to express anguish or suffering.

I only dislike her crying scenes. Other than that, i think she was more than adequate with her portrayal of the sweet one of the bunch. She really stood out among the cast, which must not have been an easy thing to do with such large female cast, especially with Ball, Rogers, Arden and Hepburn there.

The Male Ego is Elephantine to Begin With

[–] GlitterDisaster 12 years ago

Oh,please.You probably couldn't act your way out of a paper bag.Andrea was amazing.

I'm broken,do you hear me? If I'm louder,would you see me?

[–] hka-3 12 years ago

I think that Andrea Leeds's acting has not aged well especially because it belongs to that era when actresses were so melodramatic when they needed to express anguish or suffering.

You make a good point about how melodrama was somewhat the norm back then. I wonder if the directer was understandably confused on how to direct this tragic character in a film which is otherwise a comedy.

Cheese fries...next time.

[–] kristinaknight 9 years ago

I think that Andrea Leeds's acting has not aged well especially because it belongs to that era when actresses were so melodramatic when they needed to express anguish or suffering.

I agree with this. Her acting as she mounted the steps to her death reminded me greatly of Norma Desmond's exit on Sunset Blvd. And Norma, of course, was still acting as if she was the sweetheart of silent film.

Nowadays insanity isn't portrayed with such a heavy-handed touch.

Nevertheless I think she did a wonderful job and is really the heart of this nearly-perfect film.