Katharine Cornell in "Stage Door Canteen"

One of the brightest stars on broadway during the 1930s/40s/50s....Katharine Cornell.

Unfortunately this clip is the only on screen performance she ever gave and it TRULY shows her talent.

She recites a Romeo and Juliet scene with one of the soldiers and it really is a treat to watch. They don't act like this anymore.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[b40years]

Just learned about Katharine Cornell and this clip in my University of Buffalo alumni newsletter. An amazing talent!

[joshuaCTpena]

@amcoca Am reading the same book now.

[NewYorkTweety]

Stunning. And the fact that she was a lesbian makes me love her even more.

[CynVee]

Beautiful... Wish I could have had the pleasure of seeing her on stage... sigh

[Randy Reade]

The other actress next to Katharine Cornell who says "there is no charge" is Aline MacMahon.

[TheJerrycitot]

Katharine Cornell, oh so sweet a Juliet, I wish I could have been her Romeo - no greater actress of the first half of the 20th century ever did better on our American stage - good night, my sweet, my dear sweat Juliet, I will never ever forget you.

[operamichael]

This is so lovely and touching.

[operamichael]

- I think what you say is wonderful and I do understand.

[amcoca]

I am now reading a biography of Katharine Cornell, "Leading Lady"....and found your comment....Please tell me more.

[copperleaves]

What a surprise and delight to find this clip on YouTube! I was a guest many times in Miss Cornell's Manhattan townhouse in the East 50's where she lived with writer Nancy Hamilton in the 1960's. I asked her once why she never made any movies. The answer was blunt, honest and straightforward: "Because I was terrible on screen!" She had apparently done a screen test many years before and was not happy with it.