Stella Dallas (1937)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Olive Higgins Prouty (novel)
Harry Wagstaff Gribble (dramatisation) ...

Release Date:

6 August 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Sure - I like a good time!

Plot:

Working-class Stella Martin marries high-end Stephen Dallas and soon they have a daughter named Laurel...

Plot Keywords:

Sacrifice | Marriage | Compassion | Orchestral Music Score | Social Climber

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck	...	Stella Martin 'Stell' Dallas
John Boles	...	Stephen Dallas
Anne Shirley	...	Laurel 'Lollie' Dallas
Barbara O'Neil	...	Helen Morrison Dallas
Alan Hale	...	Ed Munn
Marjorie Main	...	Mrs. Martin
George Walcott	...	Charlie Martin
Ann Shoemaker	...	Miss Margaret Phillibrown
Tim Holt	...	Richard 'Dick' Grosvenor III
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Grosvenor
Bruce Satterlee	...	Cornelius 'Con' Morrison
Jimmy Butler	...	Cornelius 'Con' Morrison (grown up)
Jack Egger	...	John Morrison
Dickie Jones	...	Lee Morrison

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3558)

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

The play version written by Harry Wagstaff Gribble and Gertrude Purcell had no Broadway, New York run.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Stephen Dallas is first seen in his office, he's typing a letter. You can see that his fingers type several different keys, spaced out on the keyboard (probably in the middle of the middle rows), before he lowers his hands and stops typing to read. Then when he reads, you see that his letter ends with - -. It's not possible for him to have typed - - using the keys he was striking before he lowered his hands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Susan Slept Here (1954)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

The mother of all soap operas...

BARBARA STANWYCK knew a good, earthy role when she saw it--and knew she could do justice to STELLA DALLAS. And she does. But still, there are times when the sentiment is poured on just a bit too thick for current taste--and there are scenes where she is almost a caricature of the vulgarized creature she has become. Stanwyck's fans will probably count this among her best--but I have to admit I prefer her way with comedy in THE LADY EVE or her way with wickedness as the femme fatale of DOUBLE INDEMNITY. Here she's a good actress--but the performance is a bit mechanical at times. As for the story itself, well it is pure unadulterated soap opera and no amount of acting skill can make us forget we're watching a teary drama of sacrificial mother love.

A more subtle drama of this kind of sacrifice came later in films such as TO EACH HIS OWN--done with even more honesty and skill than the script permits here. John Boles is as bland as ever in his role as Stella's rich (and rather stuffy) husband; and Alan Hale reminds us that he was one of the most watchable character actors, no matter how obnoxious his roles were. Anne Shirley does nicely as the daughter Stanwyck is willing to sacrifice for--but the truth is, it all seems a bit old-fashioned and must have seemed so even back in 1937.

Still, there is no denying the interest in seeing how Stanwyck plays Stella. There are times when she makes the emotions seem as natural, real and raw as they could possibly be. All in all, a satisfying soap opera under King Vidor's direction.

Excellent support from handsome young Tim Holt as Anne's boyfriend and Barbara O'Neil as an understanding wife who sympathizes with Stanwyck's plight.