| Starring Miss Barbara Stanwyck: Stella Dallas |
 |
| John Boles, Barbara Stanwyck |
| Earlier in 1937, while working with Joel McCrea in "Banjo on my knee" Barbara had heard that Samuel Goldwyn had decided to produce a film based on Olive Higgins Prouty's extremely successful novel 'Stella Dallas'. The story had been filmed earlier ( a 1925 silent starring Belle Bennett) and it was recognized as one of the greatest stories of mother's love ever told. Barbara wanted the part and wanted it desperately,but Goldwyn seemed to have other ideas. He had offered it to Ruth Chatterton, who turned it down,feeling it was 'too unpleasant' Joel McCrea appealed to Goldwyn on Barbara behalf and both him and director King Vidor pressured the producer who finally agreed to let Barbara test for the part. At first she was infuriated at the suggestion that she needed to test for anything. She was a respected actress with hundreds of glowing reviews to attest her talent (and hated tests) In the end, since she realized that was the only way to get the role, she tested with actress Anne Shirley (who had been chosen to play the daughter). Once Samuel Goldwyn saw the test, he knew that Barbara was perfect for the role. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Barbara Stanwyck, |
 |
 |
| Stella Dallas 1937. United Artists Director: King Vidor Cast: Barbara Stanwyck (Stella Dallas) John Boles, Anne Shirley, Barbara O'Neil, Alan Hale, Marjorie Main, George Walcott, Ann Shoemaker, Tim Holt, Nella Walker, Bruce Satterlee, Jimmy Butler, Jack Egger, Dickie Jones, Al Shean. Screenplay: Sarah Y. Mason & Victor Heerman from the novel by Olive Higgins Prouty Costumes: Omar Kiam |
 |
| Barbara O'Neil, Barbara Stanwyck |
 |
| Anne Shirley,, Barbara Stanwyck |
| Barbara Stanwyck, Marjorie Main |
| The story of Stella Dallas is,of course, well known by now. Stella was a cheap young woman who coveted wealth and position in society. She marries well but just doesn't fit into her husband's world and after the birth of their daughter they separate. Stella is a devoted and sacrificing mather to the girl. When her daughter reaches her teens, Stella realizes that the best thing would be for the girl to live with her well-to-do |
| father and his new wife. It means giving up her daughter once and for all, and she does so. Later,having secretely watched her daughter's wedding, she walks away, bravely holding her head up high. |
| More Stella Dallas next pages..... |