In no capacity is Stella Dallas a villain. I'm not even sure why her character was nominated for the 100 villains list. Everything she does after she gives birth to Laurel is in service to her. Just because she has her own style and likes to have a laugh doesn't make her an antagonist. it makes the society look snobbish. But the snobbery is never acknowledged
Not suggested the point should be laboured, however the subtleties of behaviour, knowledge and actions of the lead can flummox viewers.
After watching it twice, years apart, I didn't feel it was that clear about Stella's actions. You have an idea but I felt it wasn't that clear (aware some folks can feed you the information it make it too babyfed, but I felt this cut it too fine)
Stanwyck is amazing, as always, and so is Anne Shirley, but the final act left me annoyed by the decisions of the main character and confused by what the audience is supposed to make out of this story.
Stella gave up her daughter when she was already willing to love her regardless of the contempt of everyone else. OK! Let her stay with her father, but cutting all ties with her felt stupid and unecessary. "I won't see my daughter ever again because of my bad taste in clothing" sounds like a stretch but it's what it is
It should've ended on the train. Up to that point the movie was a great and heartbreaking tale.
In contrast to fairy tale romcoms like Sabrina where marrying into high society is the ultimate goal and spells happiness forever after for the romantic protagonist, Stella Dallas marries the lead off early, and turns it into a much more realistic story where ambition destroys relationships, priorities shift with age, and over-reaching leads to humiliation. There IS upward mobility in the film, but it's not meant to be immediate, and while the whole high society business is dated, it can still be seen as an expression of first-generation college attendees, etc. But Stella Dallas is all about Barbara Stanwyck. Everyone else, with the possible exception of Alan Hale's lusty Ed Munn, gives a mannered and wet performance. They're in an old-fashioned melodrama and lack complexity, while Stanwyck is thoroughly modern and acting her socks off as the single mother who will sacrifice everything for her daughter, having transferred her hopes and dreams to her.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 8 of 8
estiedelruth
Fantasic performance from Stanwyck. A very interesting plot. If you are a fan of Stanwyck then you are guaranteed to appreciate this movie.corchap
In no capacity is Stella Dallas a villain. I'm not even sure why her character was nominated for the 100 villains list. Everything she does after she gives birth to Laurel is in service to her. Just because she has her own style and likes to have a laugh doesn't make her an antagonist. it makes the society look snobbish. But the snobbery is never acknowledgedboulderman
Not suggested the point should be laboured, however the subtleties of behaviour, knowledge and actions of the lead can flummox viewers.After watching it twice, years apart, I didn't feel it was that clear about Stella's actions. You have an idea but I felt it wasn't that clear (aware some folks can feed you the information it make it too babyfed, but I felt this cut it too fine)
baraka92
Stanwyck is amazing, as always, and so is Anne Shirley, but the final act left me annoyed by the decisions of the main character and confused by what the audience is supposed to make out of this story.lauli
I think this film could be a complete waste of time if it weren't for Barbara Stanwyck's incredible performance. She makes it totally worth watching.Siskoid
In contrast to fairy tale romcoms like Sabrina where marrying into high society is the ultimate goal and spells happiness forever after for the romantic protagonist, Stella Dallas marries the lead off early, and turns it into a much more realistic story where ambition destroys relationships, priorities shift with age, and over-reaching leads to humiliation. There IS upward mobility in the film, but it's not meant to be immediate, and while the whole high society business is dated, it can still be seen as an expression of first-generation college attendees, etc. But Stella Dallas is all about Barbara Stanwyck. Everyone else, with the possible exception of Alan Hale's lusty Ed Munn, gives a mannered and wet performance. They're in an old-fashioned melodrama and lack complexity, while Stanwyck is thoroughly modern and acting her socks off as the single mother who will sacrifice everything for her daughter, having transferred her hopes and dreams to her.Limbesdautomne
Since the 30's, the little girls don't dream anymore about princesses, but about becoming working girls. Thank you, Barbara.Read more in French on La Saveur des goƻts amers.
DerekFME
Far too long and far too one note. Watch the vastly superior Forbidden from the early 30s for a similar but more satisfying experience.