Barbara Stanwyck

John Boles

Anne Shirley

Barbara O'Neil

Alan Hale

Marjorie Main

George Walcott

Ann Shoemaker

Tim Holt

Nella Walker

Bruce Satterlee

Jimmy Butler

Jack Egger

Dickie Jones

Jessie Arnold

Harlan Briggs

Heinie Conklin

Laraine Day

Ann Doran

Lester Dorr

Etta McDaniel

Forbes Murray

Lynne Roberts

Paul Stanton

Bert Stevens

Lillian Yarbo

Helen Parrish

Harry Wagstaff Gribble

Gertrude Purcell

King Vidor

Olive Higgins Prouty

Sarah Y. Mason

Victor Heerman

Samuel Goldwyn

Sherman Todd

Richard Day

Omar Kiam

Frank Maher

Rudolph Maté

Alfred Newman

Merritt Hulburd

Drama

Romance

Stella Dallas

Samuel Goldwyn Productions

United Artists

United States of America

CinemaSerf

Barbara Stanwyck is the ambitious, working class "Stella" who, determined to improve her lot in life, marries well-to-do "Stephen Dallas" (John Boles) and shortly afterwards they have a daughter "Laurel" (Anne Shirley). It doesn't take long before the couple become estranged and "Laurel" the sole focus of her mother's attentions. Nothing is too good for her, and in striving to give "Laurel" the best she gradually realises - sometimes, by some rather harsh means - that she herself may be standing in the way of the girl's happiness; particularly once her now ex-husband finds love elsewhere with a family her daughter adores. The performances deal well with the issues of ambition, devotion, snobbery and emotional cruelty and Stanwyck plays the title role with skill and sincerity. Alan Hale is also good, as the avuncular gambler, in this ultimately rather touching story.

English

Open | Stella Dallas | Warner Archive