Stella Dallas

Stella.Dallas.1937.(Barbara.Stanwyck).720p.x264-Classics

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Moviecut—Stella Dallas

Barbara Stanwyck delivers, without exaggeration, one of the best performances I have ever seen in a movie in this gut-wrencher from 1937. She plays the slovenly title character, ex-wife of a privileged and wealthy man, who decides to sacrifice her relationship with her own daughter (Anne Shirley) so that the daughter can have a better life. This material could have been maudlin to the point of dreadful if handled differently, but Stanwyck and director King Vidor deliver the goods without letting them soak first in sentimentality, and the result is a five-hankie movie. I'd already seen the final and famous scene, and so thought it wouldn't have the impact on me it might otherwise have, but I was wrong. I was a mess. I used to think that Irene Dunne deserved the Best Actress Oscar in that year's race for her performance in "The Awful Truth," but wonderful as that performance still is, Stanwyck should have had it in the bag (though neither won; the award that year went to Luise Rainer in "The Good Earth.") Shirley was also Oscar-nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category. "Stella Dallas" would make a great double feature with another 1937 release, "Make Way for Tomorrow." There's something about the themes and tone of the former that kept making me think of the latter, and they both made me feel the same way. Of course after that double feature you'd also have to reserve some time to be utterly inconsolable for a day or two. Grade: A

Stella Dallas (1937) is the bittersweet melodrama about a woman from the wrong side of the tracks, Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck) and her ravenous desire to do right by her only daughter. After marrying the ambitious Stephen Dallas (John Boles) and giving birth to Laurel (Anne Shirley) Stella soon realizes that her uncouth upbringing is in direct conflict with the high society world that populates her husband's existence. Stella's refusal to assimilate herself into that world ultimately leads to marital unhappiness to divorce. When Stephen remarries, this time to the respectable widow, Helen Morrison (Barbara O'Neil), Stella devotes herself to smothering Laurel. The two become inseparable. But after an embarrassing incident while on holiday at a ritzy seaside resort, Stella comes to the realization that her only child would be better off without her as a mother. Director King Vidor keeps the pacing of this four hanky tearjerker swift and smooth, tugging at the heart strings but never in a way that is obvious or cliché. His staging of Stella's subsequent sacrifice, standing outside the window in the pouring rain while her daughter achieves everything she would have hoped and dreamed for herself is both heartwarming and heartrending. This is remarkable film making and a stellar example of the studio system with all its pistons firing. This new transfer of "Stella Dallas" is only a marginal improvement over the original release through HBO. Though the gray scale of the black and white image is quite pleasing throughout, there is an excessive amount of film grain present throughout this presentation for a very gritty quality that is, at times, quite unflattering. Blacks are solid. Fine details are generally nicely realized. There's a hint of digital grain for a picture that is not very smooth over all, though after watching the first 15 minutes one tends to get lost more in the performances and forgo the substandard presentation. The audio is mono and generally nicely balanced. There are NO extras.

This is a wonderful old film that will simply take your breath away. Barbara Stanwyck is excellent as the mother Stella, who selflessly denies herself in order to give her daughter a chance in life. The movie will draw you in and the ending will leave you in tears. Barbara Stanwyck delivers a truly beautiful performance.

There are several problems with this film. The most obvious -- and the one that has been mentioned in many viewer reviews -- is how oblivious the character of Stella Dallas is with regard to the way she dresses, speaks, etc (especially in the second half of the film). She seems to make classy/simple dresses for her daughter! Stella becomes much MORE "low class" as the film progresses, which doesn't make much sense either. Her aspirations in the beginning of the film are essentially the opposite - she's taking a class, she tells John Boles (Stephen, the father) that she wants to change, etc. Another issue is why it seems to appear that Stella and her daughter are, while not living in squalor, certainly not living as well as the father. Why is that? Not only does Stella work, but her husband provides for them as well. There's no reason to think Stella blows all the money on partying (she doesn't even drink). You would think Stella (and the father) would want to bring her daughter up in a nicer environment. Stanwyck's performance is good - it always is. But....the whole affair is pretty ridiculous toward the end and I can't honestly say "wow, this is worth seeing just for her acting". On the other hand: Some reviewers took issue with the family that the daughter ends up with - they are rich snobs, elitist. Well, they may be rich, but there is nothing in the film that shows them to be snobbish. Perhaps Stephen is embarrassed by Stella, but why wouldn't he be? She's a caricature. The rest of his new family are well behaved and the new "mother" is very nice. The rich kids make fun of Stella, but that's not so much of a stretch. I suppose the new family doesn't seem particularly interesting or intelligent and perhaps modern viewers don't really relate to the concept of giving your kids more than what you had (it made a more sense to audiences 75 years ago). I think it's maybe just a little dated now and that effects the enjoyment (but not really the quality) of the film. And of course....the self sacrifice in the end does not seem necessary (as many other reviews state as well).

The story of Stella Dallas has been told a couple of times, and the theme of the selfless mother who will do anything, even hurt their children's feelings in order to make a better life for them is not an uncommon one, but one of the first times it was done, and perhaps one of the most effective films of this nature is King Vidor's 1937 weepy "Stella Dallas", starring Barbara Stanwyck in the title role. Stella is a lower-class young woman who catches the eye of local businessman Stephen Dallas, a former playboy who has lost his fortune, but not his good breeding and society status. Stella and Stephen fall in love marry and have a daughter, Laurel. Regardless of her marriage and eventual wealth, Stella is resistant to changing her character, something that upsets Stephen and eventually leads to their separation. As a single mother, Stella devotes her life to Laurel who grows into a beautiful and charming 13 year old (played by Anne Shirley). Living on an allowance provided by Stephen, Stella manages to make ends meet and still give Laurel a decent life. Laurel still visits her father every year, and has an excellent relationship with him, a relationship that seems to intensify when Stephen starts seeing an old flame of his, a newly widowed woman with three boys of her own. When Stella sees that not only do they make a beautiful family together, but that Stephen can provide a life she feels Laurel deserves, a life of society and privilege, she pretends to dismiss Laurel as a burden, causing Laurel to flee to her father's house and to a new life, without her mother. "Stella Dallas" is definitely a four-hankie film of the highest caliber, and the character of Stella was tailor made for Stanwyck, who earned an Oscar nomination for her work. There is honestly not a lot to comment about in terms of its merits; it is just simply a damn good film with an equally good story and a great actress who manages to pull off the role without resulting to the maudlin or the mundane. Anyone who appreciates having a little bawl session with their drama should definitely see this film; it is a "chick flick" with a world of class. 8/10 --Shelly

In 1919, the ambitious Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck) lives with her working-class family and her father and her brother are workers in a mill in Massachusetts. Stella is decided to climb to the upper-class to party and she chases the mill executive Stephen Dallas (John Boles) to marry him. Soon her dream comes true and they have a daughter, Laurel. Stella has a vulgar behavior when she meets the horse gambler Ed Munn (Alan Hale) in a night-club bothering Stephen. When he is transferred to a better position in New York, she decides to stay in Massachusetts with her daughter. Years later, Laurel (Anne Shirley) is a lovely teenager and Stella Dallas is a dedicated mother. When Stephen stumbles with his former fiancée Helen Morrison (Barbara O'Neil) is a department store, he asks Stella for a divorce to marry Helen but she refuses. Stella decides to travel with Laurel to an expensive resort and Laurel befriends wealthy teenagers. When the tacky Stella seeks out Laurel in the facility, the youngsters notes her vulgarity and Laurel decides to leave the resort without telling the truth to her mother. However she overhears the cruel comments about her in the train. Now Stella takes the ultimate sacrifice for the wellbeing of her beloved daughter. "Stella Dallas" is a movie with melodramatic class warfare and top-notch performance of Barbara Stanwyck that was nominated to the Oscar of Best Actress in a Leading Role and Anne Shirley was nominated to the Oscar of Best Actress in a Supporting Role. This version is a remake of "Stella Dallas" (1925). In 2013, the story is totally dated and corny, but in 1937, the values of the society were so different from the present days that the movie was very popular and became a radio show from 1937 to 1955. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Stella Dallas, Mãe Redentora" ("Stella Dallas, Redemptive Mother")

Barbara Stanwyck is the self-sacrificing "Stella Dallas" in this 1937 film directed by King Vidor and also starring John Boles, Anne Shirley, Barbara O'Neill, and Alan Hale. The lower-class Stella Martin sets her sights on a successful businessman from an upper-class family, Stephen Dallas. The two marry and have a daughter, Laurel, but over time it becomes apparent that the marriage just can't work. Stella's a girl who just wants to have fun; the stuffy life and staid clothing just aren't for her. Stephen goes to New York to work, leaving Stella and Laurel in Boston. They both adore the little girl. But as she grows up into the lovely Anne Shirley, Stella thinks her slatternly presence may be limiting her daughter's chances for happiness. This film is a major tear-jerker with an absolutely wonderful performance by Barbara Stanwyck as a warm, outlandishly dressed, and loud woman who nevertheless is devoted to her daughter and wants only the best for her. Anne Shirley is sweet and loving as her daughter, Barbara O'Neill is excellent as Stephen's ex-girlfriend, now widowed, and John Boles gives a gentle performance as the kind Stephen. "Stella Dallas" will make you cry, but you'll be glad you saw it.