While this movie featured great acting by stanwyck and shirley, the message was disappointing. I say this because while stella should be lauded for her self-sacrifice, it reinforces in people the wrong notion that riches is the cure all for everything. Stella evidently figured that a wealthy lifestyle for laurel would mitigate the effects of being bereaved of her mothers companionship and nurturing. All the riches and education in the world can never supplant the love and family structure that every person alive needs. Sadly, people in this world don't understand this.
To underscore my point, consider that in the same year of 1937, another classic, captains courageous was made. In it, freddy bartholemew's character realized that the intangibles of love and friendship that he received from spencer tracy's character was greater than his privileged upbringing. Even worse, he never received this from his father. That friendship he received impacted him more than any riches could.
To be fair, I still recommend Stella Dallas to anyone who wishes to see impeccable acting from a legend like Barbara Stanwyck. This was the first time I ever saw Anne shirley and I must say she was marvelous.
To underscore my point, consider that in the same year of 1937, another classic, captains courageous was made. In it, freddy bartholemew's character realized that the intangibles of love and friendship that he received from spencer tracy's character was greater than his privileged upbringing. Even worse, he never received this from his father. That friendship he received impacted him more than any riches could.
To be fair, I still recommend Stella Dallas to anyone who wishes to see impeccable acting from a legend like Barbara Stanwyck. This was the first time I ever saw Anne shirley and I must say she was marvelous.