Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

When I first heard about the 1937 movie Stella Dallas, I was a little girl listening to my great aunt describe it. It was one of her favorite movies, and she was a softie.

"Her face was just shining with pride as she watched her daughter's beautiful society wedding through a window from the street..." she said, dabbing her blue eyes with a lace hankie. "She walks off down the street after they kiss, wet and cold, but smiling and happy..." She usually stopped right before she started bawling.

Thanks to Cable, I Finally See It

My great aunt died in 1984, and I got cable television the following year. Not long after my daughter was born in 1986, I was channel surfing and Stella Dallas was just starting. Of course, I had to drop what I was doing and watch it -- for Aunt Gladys!

There's a more contemporary re-make of this movie, Stella, starring Bette Midler as Stella, and John Goodman as her platonic crude pal Ed Munn, but it's not as good as the original.

Barbara Stanwyck's First Oscar Nomination

At the time this movie was made in 1937, Barbara Stanwyck wasn't really old enough to play an older Stella, who ages about 20 years in the story, but she campaigned for the part and won the role in the Sam Goldwyn production.

Stella is a sweet but unpolished girl from the wrong side of the tracks, living with her father and brothers near a factory mill where the men of the house work. At quitting time, Stella stands by the fence gate and watches the distinguished looking men in factory management pass by, hoping to strike up a conversation with a particularly classy-looking one named Stephen Dallas (John Bolles), whose father happens to own the factory.

Just a note, there are few really "big name" stars in this movie besides Stanwyck, so I'll spare excruciating detail trying to explain who they are.

Stella's friendliness and charm cheers Stephen up, because he has just read in the Society Pages that the woman he loves has married another wealthy man. Stephen is conveniently on the rebound, and Stella's curiosity and willingness to be taught about some of the finer points of life, like manners and breeding, appeal to Stephen as well, so they eventually marry.

After the wedding, Stella seems to be more interested in social climbing than learning about books and manners as Stephen had originally thought. Her taste in clothes runs to the gaudy side, and the silk stocking set at the country club are put off by Stella's crude but sincere friendliness. There's a strong "Poor Stephen..." attitude.

The Great Depression, Stephen is Broke

Stephen's father dies and the factory goes belly up during the Depression, so Stephen finds a fine position in New York City. Stella refuses to go with him, believing she's reached a level of social respectability there in her own home town. They also have a beautiful new baby girl named Laurel, and Stella is determined to stay and be sure Laurel is accepted by the town's social elite.

During Stephen's long absences in the city, Stella takes up a platonic relationship with a crude old pal, Ed Munn (Alan Hale) from her scruffy past. They go out in public, laughing and drinking and being loud and obnoxious, making the refined set turn up their noses in disgust.

Years pass with Stephen commuting to New York City, and Laurel has been progressing beautifully at a fancy private school. She is delicate, kind, refined, intelligent, and a joy to be around. Laurel has her mother's love of people and her father's dignity and elegant taste in clothing. She's about to celebrate her birthday and invites all of her school friends to come.

Stella, a fine seamstress and cook, has made a lovely dress and cake for Laurel. But what Laurel doesn't know is that the headmistress of her school has spotted Stella and Ed on the town, cutting up and disturbing the peace.

No one comes to Laurel's party, and Stella is left to comfort her devastated daughter. Laurel is beginning to get the idea that her mother's behavior and crude manners are reflecting on her, through no fault of her own.

The Strong Mother-Daughter Bond

Laurel (Anne Shirley) grows into a beautiful young blonde teenager who dearly loves her mother, warts and all. No one knows better that Stella is a strong and nurturing mother who lives to make Laurel happy, and yet she's firmly rooted in her love of tacky attire, wearing too much cheap jewelry and elaborate train wrecks of hats. Stella really thinks she looks classy, and yet she doesn't insist that Laurel "gussy up" her own tailored attire. She lets Laurel be Laurel, and Stella wants the same courtesy.

Stephen's Old Girlfriend Is Widowed and Available

Years have passed, and Laurel is nearly ready to graduate from high school and go away to college -- that's what Stella wants for Laurel, hard as letting her leave the nest will be for her. Still spending most of his time in New York, Stephen has reunited with his old girlfriend, Helen Morrison (Barbara O'Neal), who is a socialite with a kind heart, plenty of money, a couple of young sons, and impeccable breeding.

Stella is at first reluctant to give Stephen a divorce because she doesn't want to give up the privileges of being Mrs. Stephen Dallas, financially or socially. But then while traveling to a fancy resort with Laurel, who is meeting some of her high-toned classmates there for a little holiday, she overhears some of Laurel's snotty friends attacking her nutty taste in clothing, her blatant flashing of cash at the resort, tipping bellboys lavishly and with great attention to herself.

Stella listens and realizes for the first time that being Mrs. Stephen Dallas doesn't change a thing, and that she herself does not know how to change her wrong side of the tracks tastes. Stella seems to realize -- and readily accept -- that she is who she is and that's that. It's also not what she wants for Laurel.

But Laurel overhears her friends, too, not knowing that Stella did. Laurel sweetly comes into her mother's train bunk. Stella pretends she's been asleep and missed the catty free-for-all. "Mother, I just feel lonely and want to snuggle in here with you for awhile," Laurel says.

A Visit To the Other Woman

Stella has made up her mind that she wants Laurel to live with her father -- and his new wife -- because she is ready to divorce him so Laurel will have a classy stepmother. She visits Helen, who is surprised to see her, but welcoming. In a halting and not so subtle way, Stella wants to make sure that Helen will accept Laurel as her own child, and let her live with them when she marries Stephen.

Once she is confident that Helen is eager to embrace Laurel without trying to be a mother figure (Helen recognizes that Stella has something better than class -- a good heart), Stella forges on. She says she's had enough of the mother gig, and now that Laurel is grown and raised, she wants to kick up her heels and have a good time while she's still young.

Helen knows Stella is lying, and that she's making the biggest sacrifice a mother can make. But Stella knows Laurel will not leave her willingly. When Laurel comes home, Stella practically throws her out of the house, telling her to get a life of her own -- she wants to go to South America with Ed and marry him.

The act is convincing, and disillusioned Laurel leaves in tears. Stella even writes Laurel a fake letter telling her that she is leaving immediately for South America and has actually married Ed (who is really in a bowrey flophouse).

Later, Stella reads in the society pages that Miss Laurel Dallas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dallas, is going to be married to the son of the highly regarded Grovesnor family in a lavish Park Avenue wedding...

Mothers and Daughters, Watch This Together

Barbara Stanwyck as Stella Dallas truly brings out the most visceral feelings of motherhood and sacrifice. You weep for her, and cheer for her. Stanwyck takes a role that could have been played in a pitying tone, and she makes it look like the most supreme human triumph.

Now I have to stop writing, because I'm going to cry just thinking of the last scene. The one that made Aunt Gladys tear up.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12