Stella Dallas

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Stella Dallas ★★★ 1937

Uneducated Stella (Stanwyck) lets go of the daughter (Shirley) she loves when she realizes her ex-husband (Boles) can give the girl more advantages. What could be sentimental turns out believable and worthwhile under Vidor's steady hand. Stanwyck never makes a wrong step. From a 1923 novel by Olive Higgins Prouty. Remade in 1989 as “Stella,” starring Bette Midler. 106m/B VHS, DVD . Barbara O'Neil, Tim Holt, Barbara Stanwyck, Anne Shirley, John Boles, Alan Hale, Marjorie Main; D: King Vidor; W: Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman; C: Rudolph Mate; M: Alfred Newman.