STELLA DALLAS
US, 1937, 106 minutes, Black and white.
Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Anne Shirley, Alan Hale, Marjorie Main, Tim Holt.
Directed by King Vidor.
A famous ‘women's picture’ of the mid-thirtees. Produced with great flair by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by King Vidor (who made such memorable silent films as The Crowd and was to make notable films like Northwest Passage, Duel in the Sun, War and Peace), the film is a vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck. She was nominated for an Oscar for her performance.
The story of a pushy young woman who marries and who causes the marriage to break up, the film focuses on her relationship with her daughter and her inadequacy of feeling in bringing her up. The situations are somewhat dated and contrived. It is very much a picture of the past. However, on the level of communication and feeling,
the film makes quite some emotional impact. (An 80s remake starred Bette Midler, Stella.)
1. The film's reputation: ‘women's picture’, soap opera, human drama? As a reflection of filmmaking of the thirties?
2. The production values and their impact: the Massachusetts setting, working class background, picture of society? A portrait of America in the twenties? The quality of the black and white photography, score?
3. The film as a vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck? Her skill, convincing the audience of the character of Stella Dallas, her emotions, conflicts and crises and decisions?
4. The focus of the title on Stella, the focus of the whole film on her as a character and her life? The introduction to her at the gate and her flirting with Stephen Dallas, the encounter with her brother, with her family? The clash at home and her using the lunch situation to meet Stephen Dallas, her dress, flirting in his office? The happy chance of the introduction? The transition to their going to the cinema dates, getting to know each other, marriage? Audience interest in her and awareness of her flirtatious nature, scheming? Yet a simple straightforward character in her way?
5. The marriage and its background, the lack of depth and her inability to handle it well? Wealth, society, servants? The birth of the baby and her reaction to the nurse looking after her? Her wanting to be up and about and involved in things, dances etc.? The crisis in the marriage and the break-up? The effect on her?
6. The character of Stephen, the background of his isolating and hiding himself, relationship with Helen and the letter in the typewriter? The attraction to Stella and her being a compensation for his loneliness? His responding to her, enjoying her company? The reasons for the marriage and the basis? The lack of success of the marriage?
7. The film's portrait of motivations for marriage, suitability and unsuitability, mistakes, separation and divorce?
8. The bond between Stella and Laurel? Watching Laurel’s growing up, Stella helping her? The importance of the long sequence about the party, the preparations, the dress, the gifts? The irony of Stella’s reputation and the phone calls and the messages about the people not coming? The loneliness of mother and daughter going to the party? Stella getting over this, Laurel getting over it? Laurel’s visits to her father, the enjoyment of Helen and the children? The contrast with home and Stella making her dresses? The repercussions on Laurel of the different homes and the ways of living?
9. The portrait of Laurel? A convincing adolescent girl, the bond with her mother, father? The enjoyment of Helen's company and the boys? Her reaction to her mother's decision about going to live with her father? Her dislike of Ed (and the memory of his coming in when she was trying the party dress'), hurt by her mother's attraction towards Ed? Her reaction to Helen and her father's revelation about coming to live with them. her return to her mother and her disappointment? Her marriage, future?
10. The relationship between Stella and Ed? The importance of the train ride and the long, sequence with the itching powder, their laughing, the ladies' reactions? Circumstantial evidence and people gossiping and judging?
11. Ed as a contrast to Stephen? The bond with Stella, practical joking and laughing, good time, drinking? The bonds over the years? Stephen's encountering him and his disdain? Stella’s using the photo to persuade Laurel to go to her father?
12. Helen as an attractive person, the other woman, her support of Stephen, her children her charm with Laurel's visits? Her talking as her alternate mother and yet her not being overbearing? The contrast between Helen's approach to Laurel and Stella’s?
13. The ending and the marriage, Stella being one of the crowd looking in the window, her defiant attitude as she walked off at the end and her smile? What would her future be?
14. The film's portrait of people, family relationships, love? Old style American manners and expectations? The contrast now? The film and the sad aspects of life. learning through mistakes? Insight into human nature?
