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Stella Dallas

Play trailer Poster for Stella Dallas 1937 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
When Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), a working class woman, meets and marries the wealthy Stephen Dallas (John Boles), they quickly have a daughter named Laurel (Anne Shirley). Stella and Stephen struggle to stay happy as their class differences become a problem; when they finally separate, Laurel is caught in the middle of the divorce. Soon, Lauren becomes the center of Stella's life. Stella tries to be a good mother, but realizes that her daughter can flourish quite well without her.
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Stella Dallas

Critics Reviews

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Scott Tobias The Dissolve Jan 8, 2014
4.5/5
Stella Dallas itself-sentimental without question, building to an act of heartbreaking selflessness-earns the copious tears it jerks, embodying the "weepie" in every respect, yet more complicated and more flush with genuine emotion. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Oct 2, 2024
5/10
It's a melodrama that boasts a splendid performance by Barbara Stanwyck, but unfortunately it doesn't shake off a contrived plot that often undermines the inconsistencies of its social issue about class, motherhood and divorce. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Jul 6, 2022
3.5/4
Barbara Stanwyck flings her voice around like a lasso. Go to Full Review Loren King Newport This Week (RI) May 7, 2020
The mother of all sacrificial mother movies, "Stella Dallas," should have earned an Oscar for Barbara Stanwyck in 1937 for what is arguably her finest performance. Go to Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Sep 26, 2019
Barbara Stanwyck, always at home in a part that calls for tough yet tender handling, is excellent as Stella, and Ann Shirley is surprisingly good as the daughter, Laurel. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Oct 13, 2014
B-
Barbara Stanwyck gives a sensational brassy performance as the ambitious poor girl trying to make a better life for herself by marrying above her class. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M @RT77296778 1 day ago A melodramatically dampened but palpably sympathetic portrait of motherhood, whilst possibly one of the earliest coming-of-age filmic staples that reflectively furthers the underlying sacrificial dedication in an emotionally conflicting matter as traced through Barbara Stanwyck’s dazzling performance. (B) See more Mickey B @Mickerdoo Sep 12, 2026 A lot of sacrifice for divorce. Why couldn’t she sacrifice her wardrobe, though? Laurel was very sweet. And Helen was a standup lady. See more Debi M. @RT70254073 Jun 16, 2026 I love love loved this movie. Great actors! Highly recommend! See more Henry D @Henry_Domke Jun 1, 2026 Subtle is not a word anyone would use to describe this picture. The syrupy strings and boldly drawn "black-and-white" behavior make sure of that. Add to that Barbara Stanwyck’s outrageously gauche costumes, which practically become characters of their own. But it was fun, and we enjoyed it. See more Sharon I @Puddles426 Mar 7, 2026 I’ve always loved Stella Dallas and Barbara Stanwyk’s heartbreakingly beautiful performance. See more Jaime H @Sfrajett Mar 1, 2026 Barbara Stanwyck should have clinched an Oscar for her stunning performance as a tough cookie with a soft heart in this classic "women's pic." This movie is all about femininity and class in mid-century America, where a working class mother's efforts to help her daughter rise socially can only succeed if she erases herself from the picture. Stella's tenderness, loyalty, and heartbreaking belief in true love allows her a certain triumph in the end, but as is true in many fairy tales, her victory costs her everything that is dear to her. Watch this on the big screen if you can, and bring lots of Kleenex. Stanwyck is breathtaking. See more Read all reviews
Stella Dallas

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Cast & Crew

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King Vidor

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Stella Dallas

John Boles

Stephen Dallas

Anne Shirley

Laurel Dallas

Barbara O'Neil

Helen Morrison

Alan Hale

Ed Munn

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Stella Dallas

Stella Dallas (1937) Stella Dallas (1937) Stella Dallas (1937) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), a working class woman, meets and marries the wealthy Stephen Dallas (John Boles), they quickly have a daughter named Laurel (Anne Shirley). Stella and Stephen struggle to stay happy as their class differences become a problem; when they finally separate, Laurel is caught in the middle of the divorce. Soon, Lauren becomes the center of Stella's life. Stella tries to be a good mother, but realizes that her daughter can flourish quite well without her.
Director
King Vidor
Producer
Samuel Goldwyn
Screenwriter
Joe Bigelow, Harry Wagstaff Gribble, Victor Heerman, Sarah Y. Mason, Gertrude Purcell, Olive Higgins Prouty
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 5, 1937, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 5, 2017
Runtime
1h 51m
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