Stella Dallas
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Movie Reviews of Stella Dallas
Movie Review: Beautiful vintage film--But the emotions are timeless!
Summary: 5 Stars
Stella Dallas is a gorgeous 30's black and white film. Vintage fans will savor every moment; the clothing, household design, music and period style are sure to please. But what makes Stella Dallas viewable for just about anybody, are timeless themes of human emotion, and the unfortunate yet unchangeable differences in social class and inevitable rifts these create.
Stella is a very attractive young woman, a daughter to honest, but very poor parents. Like her mother and father, Stella Dallas is a thoroughly decent person, but almost caricature like in her representation of a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Stella is cool and almost sophisticated just long enough to catch the attentions of the very patrician Stephen Dallas. Though the couple are truly not suitable for one another, both are vulnerable, Stella longing for a better life, and Stephen lonely and grieving over his father's suicide and a broken love affair. They marry and have an adorable, and unusually wonderful child. Stephen and Stella are utterly devoted to their daughter Laurel, but personal differences end their relationship nearly as fast as it began. It is painful watching their family disintegrate from petty misunderstandings, and a foolish rigidity present in both Stephen and Stella, a complete unwillingness to compromise. Initially, the viewer might be annoyed with Stella as she seems to undo her marriage with the same determination that she once had to win over her husband. But Stella is so likeable and sympathetic, the viewer cannot help but care for her.
Time passes, and by the time Laurel is a teenager, the Dallas marriage is marked by long years of separation and distance. Stephen resumes his relationship with his former fiancee, a patrician widow with three kindly sons. Laurel finds a natural niche with the upper crust types that she meets in her father's social circles. Stella finds that not only does she not fit in Laurel and Stephen's world, but she is an object of ridicule and scorn. Laurel is painfully aware of her mother's inability to find social acceptance, but she is faithful and ever loving to the mother who has raised her with such consistent kindness and devotion. But Stella feels that she herself will be an ultimate liability, and impediment to her beloved daughter's happiness and place in life. With the best intentions she makes a life-altering decision, one that seems incredibly extreme, with an uncertain outcome.
Beautiful imagery, wonderful dialogue, and timeless themes make Stella Dallas a must have in any family library. Would also be particularly lovely to view during the holidays.
Movie Review: STANWYCK'S GREATEST PERFORMANCE!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a magazine article once where the writer said Stanwyck was not an actress with the range of Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn. With all due respect to Davis and Hepburn, Stanwyck could act rings around them. She was far more versatile than either of them (playing villainesses, comedy, drama and musicals with equal finesse) and was never hammy as Bette Davis was with her popping eyes, neck wringing and clipped speech or mannered as Katharine Hepburn was with her high patrician attitude and twittering, voice. Stella Dallas simply attests to this fact. There are so many facets to Stanwyck's portrayal and so many memorable scenes that rival the best any actress in Hollywood had to offer. 1) The scene on the train with Anne Shirley where she pretends to be asleep after overhearing her daughter's friends degrade Stella, 2) the farewell at the train station where she send Laurel (Anne Shirley) to her father), 3) the scene at the Mirador Hotel where she steps out in bangles and beads and a loud dress and she is mimicked by some young boys (that ain't a woman, that's a Christmas tree), 4) the scene where Stella is attempting to get rid of Ed Munn with a plucked turkey stuffed in the oven, 5) the birthday party scene with Laurel where nobody comes, 6) the scene where she pretends she doesn't love Laurel and tells her she wants to marry Ed Munn, 7) the scene where she sacrifices Laurel to Stephen Dallas' new wife (played by Barbara O'Neil) and last but not least, the now classic scene where she watches Laurel's wedding outside in the rain and emerges triumphant knowing that Laurel will have the life she never could. Top all of this with a great supporting cast, an excellent script and an unforgettable musical score and you have Stanwyck's best movie and Hollywood magic of 1937!Movie Review: The martydom of motherhood
Summary: 5 Stars
Barbara Stanwyck plays the loud, over-dressed, over-reaching Stella, who marries above her station, and then sacrifices everything for her daughter. Stanwyck is excellent - totally convincing in a role that almost begs to be done with too much schmaltz. It's a soaper, to be sure, and when she decides to give up her daughter (played almost unbearably cloyingly by Anne Shirley - you want to strangle her) to her ex-husband and a better life, the handkerchiefs come out in force.
Although mixed up and unsure of herself, Stella is a good, well-meaning person (she's put her seamstressing skills to good use on her daughter's wardrobe), which makes the self-sacrifice more real and moving. The scene at the end with Stella standing out in the rain on the sidewalk, peering into the window as her daughter gets married, is a classic in soap melodrama. This was Stanwyck's favorite role in her acting career. A gem of its kind.
Movie Review: STANWYCK'S GREATEST PERFORMANCE!
Summary: 5 Stars
Barbara Stanwyck never gave a bad performance. She was consistently good in everything she did. But this performance tops all the rest! Her Stella tears the heart out of you...she gets on your nerves, yes, but the love she shows for her daughter is genuine and Stanwyck shows all the multifaceted dimensions of this character. She truly shines in every scene, particularly the final fadeout! She deserved the Oscar nomination she received for this and she should have won. The DVD is remastered beautifully, both picture and sound. Unfortunately, no extras are included. But Stanwyck alone is worth it. Equally fine is Anne Shirley as Laurel, her daughter. John Boles is a milquetoast character who does what he can as Stephen Dallas. No wonder Stella finds him a bore. Enjoy this one folks because they truly don't make them like this anymore! And they never will again!Movie Review: A dazzling performance, an amazing film
Summary: 5 Stars
Barbara Stanwyck secured her place in film history with this story of a selfless mother living her life through her daughter (Anne Shirley). As a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Stanwyck flirts with, and then ends up marrying a local businessman (John Boles), several steps above her station. Not long after their union, it becomes apparent that their personalities, goals, and temperments just don't mix. Her husband asks for a divorce, but Stanwyck is determined to raise their daughter on her own (with financial help from her husband, of course) with good results. Stanwyck's performance hits all the right notes, and even though the film is dated in some ways, her performance isn't. Stanwyck's honesty and warmth shine through today as they did in 1937. It's amazing she didn't win the Academy Award for this amazing and nuanced performance.