Stanwyck is probably the best movie star who ever existed.
A working-class woman is willing to do whatever it takes to give her daughter a socially promising future.
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Cast & crew
6What people say
Vidor is one of the most sensitive directors - it's wonderful to see a film which has no specific underlying message or theme, simply about people who are flawed and make mistakes and who often have the best interests of others at heart. And it maybe has the most beautiful parent-child relationship in cinema. There's no point to be made; all that matters are the people. And the ending is a moment of ironic sublimity that would not be out of place in a film by Dreyer.
I don’t think a mother-daughter drama has torn my heart out quite like this
Common questions
What is Stella Dallas about?+
A working-class mother makes devastating personal sacrifices to ensure her daughter has a promising social future.
Who directed Stella Dallas?+
King Vidor directed the 1937 classic Hollywood melodrama starring Barbara Stanwyck.
Has Stella Dallas won any awards?+
The film received Academy Award nominations including Best Actress for Barbara Stanwyck.
