Stella Dallas

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Stella Dallas
VHS cover
Directed by	King Vidor
Starring	Barbara Stanwyck John Boles
Release date(s)	1937
Running time	106 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Stella Dallas
Directed by	Henry King
Written by	Frances Marion
Starring	Ronald Colman Belle Bennett
Release date(s)	1925
Running time	110 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Stella Dallas is a 1920 novel by Olive Higgins Prouty, written in response to the death of her three-year-old daughter from encephalitis [1]. It tells the story of a woman who sacrifices her own happiness for the sake of her daughter. The novel was subsequently adapted into a stage play in 1924 and a movie in 1925 and in 1937 (when it was nominated for two Academy Awards) and again in 1990 as Stella with Bette Midler.

As well, it was the basis for the radio serial Stella Dallas, which aired daily for 18 years, and which is often credited as being the first soap opera. Prouty was reportedly displeased with her characters' portrayals therein [2].

The 1937 version stars Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Anne Shirley, Barbara O'Neil, Alan Hale, Sr., Marjorie Main and Tim Holt. It was adapted by Joe Bigelow, Harry Wagstaff Gribble, Victor Heerman, Sarah Y. Mason and Gertrude Purcell from the original novel, and was directed by King Vidor.

It was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Barbara Stanwyck) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Anne Shirley).

The 1925 version was adapted by Frances Marion and directed by Henry King. It stars Ronald Colman, Belle Bennett, Alice Joyce, Jean Hersholt and Douglas Fairbanks Jr..