Film Snail

6.9

Stella Dallas

NR·1937·106m

Drama

Romance

Drama

Romance

Summary

After divorcing a society man, a small-town woman tries to build a better life for their daughter.

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck

Stella Dallas

John Boles

Stephen Dallas

Anne Shirley

Laurel "Lollie" Dallas

Barbara O'Neil

Helen Morrison

Alan Hale

Ed Munn

Marjorie Main

Mrs. Martin

George Walcott

Charlie Martin

Ann Shoemaker

Miss Margaret Phillibrown

Tim Holt

Richard Grosvenor III

Nella Walker

Mrs. Grosvenor

Bruce Satterlee

Cornelius 'Con' Morrison

Jimmy Butler

Con Morrison - Grown Up

Jack Egger

John Morrison

Dickie Jones

Lee Morrison

Jessie Arnold

Ed's Landlady (uncredited)

Harlan Briggs

Mr. Beamer (uncredited)

Heinie Conklin

Train Passenger (uncredited)

Laraine Day

Girl at Soda Shop / Train Passenger (uncredited)

Ann Doran

Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

Lester Dorr

Man on Train (uncredited)

Etta McDaniel

Agnes (uncredited)

Forbes Murray

Stephen's Business Friend (uncredited)

Lynne Roberts

Student (uncredited)

Paul Stanton

Arthur W. Morley (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Guest at River Club (uncredited)

Lillian Yarbo

Gladys (uncredited)

Helen Parrish

Train Passenger (uncredited)

Crew

Director

King Vidor

Adaptation

Gertrude Purcell

Adaptation

Harry Wagstaff Gribble

Novel

Olive Higgins Prouty

Screenplay

Victor Heerman

Screenplay

Sarah Y. Mason

Reviews

Geronimo1967

June 20, 2022

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.