Stella Dallas

It was a very moving experience for me to finally view this movie. It is definitely, without, a doubt superior to the already great 1937 version. Belle Bennett is absolutely brilliant in this role. It is only the second silent film that, not only brought tears to my eyes, but overfilled them, until almost bawling. It is that good. Even without the spoken word, the actors were able to display the emotions even better than actors whom had spoken their words.

I have been begging TCM for a couple of years, now, to please, air this movie. Mainly, because, I would love to know more people out there would get the chance to see this movie. If you haven't had the pleasure to see this movie, try to find a way. It won't be a waste of your time.

Without question, the finest version of this classic "tearjerker". Belle Bennett will break your heart. The finale (watching the wedding in the rain) is an epiphany comparable to the end of IKIRU... This is a work that should--no, must--be made available for film lovers around the world.

I think Miss Stanwyck was a great actress, but when I look at the version of STELLA DALLAS that King Vidor directed her in twelve years after this silent version..... well, something always bothered me about it. WHY was she supposed to be such a monster? She was Barbara Stanwyck. All right, she wasn't dressed as beautifully as she was in THE LADY EVE, but being a little bit frumpy isn't against the law, especially when you look like Barbara Stanwyck.

But when Belle Bennett dresses up in this movie, she is a well-meaning horror, wearing stripes, frills, lace, feather, rings on her fingers, probably bells on her toes..... and a fat suit. You couldn't have gotten Miss Stanwyck into a fat suit. She had her eye on her career. But Belle Bennett had her eye on making this movie as good as possible, so she becomes a fat monster, loving her daughter and utterly clueless. It's a great performance.

Also great is the way Henry King directs the sequences that take place in the mill town. No one had a better eye for the details of small town life than Henry King, from TOL'ABLE David through WAIT TILL THE SUN SHINES NELLIE. Jean Hersholt also has a good role as Ed Munn, and a lovely comic turn on the train into the city. Ronald Colman is fine, exuding the melancholia that he used throughout the 1930s whenever he had to run away to the Foreign Legion or face the guillotine. Alice Joyce is sedate and charming, a fine counterpoint for Bennett. Lois Moran, as Stella's daughter is adorable, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., in his first real role, is excellent.

There are a number of plot points that must be gotten through and which are better indicated in Frances Marion's script than in the 1937 version ... even though some points seem to be skipped over, they are butchered worse in the sound version. Something always seems to be missing from these weepers. It may be that it is simply that I am not able to appreciate the fine points of these things, but there you go.

However, despite these minor failings, the above-mentioned virtues, as well as the classic final shot of Stella watching the wedding through the window, make this is a great film, and it is only my annoyance at some of the minor failings of the translation from book to film that keeps me from considering this perfect.

But it is ten times the film that the sound remake is. Even if the voice I hear in my head when Miss Bennett moves her lips is that of Barbara Stanwyck.

Disgraced by his father's scandal and suicide, well-heeled Ronald Colman (as Stephen Dallas) leaves childhood sweetheart Alice Joyce (as Helen Dane) and moves to a small mill town. There, he catches the eye of attractive but poor Belle Bennett (as Stella Martin), who is scheming to improve her lot in life. With a pretty dress and landscaping, Ms. Bennett is able to attract Mr. Colman. They are happily married and have a baby daughter. Entering the country club life, Bennett's attempts to appear well-mannered look forced and she alienates other ladies by associating with uncouth horseman Jean Hersholt (as Ed Munn). Colman's work keeps him in New York and Bennett's friends keep her from moving. Meanwhile, their little girl grows into cute Lois Moran (as Laurel "Lollie" Dallas)...

Years pass with Bennett and Colman leading separate lives...

People mistakenly assume Bennett is having an affair with Mr. Hersholt, and gossip causes young Moran to lose friends and be forced into a poorer school. Bennett finally realizes she loves Colman, but it may be too late – he has re-encountered Ms. Joyce, now a wise widow. Moran begins favoring more time with her father and begins to see handsome young Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (as Richard Grosvenor), forcing Bennett to make an unselfish decision about her daughter's future. With keen direction by Henry King and a stellar performance by Bennett, "Stella Dallas" became a big hit with audiences and film critics. Samuel Goldwyn's film was "Quigley Publications" best picture of the year. It was followed by a memorable re-make (with Barbara Stanwyck) and long-running radio series.

******** Stella Dallas (11/16/25) Henry King ~ Belle Bennett, Lois Moran, Ronald Colman, Alice Joyce

I did NOT know there was a version of "Stella Dallas" before the 1937 one starring Barbara Stanwyck. And yet here is a silent film version from 1925 that tells the tell for the first time.

I am not sure why Ronald Coleman got top billing in this film. The film is owned and ruled by the great job Belle Bennett does. Bennett does a great job portraying the title character, Stella Dallas.

If you are familiar with the 1937 version then there will be no surprises for you here. The story is almost exactly the same.

Bennett wants to improve her social status and marries Coleman, but, just like Molly Brown, she can't separate from her upbringing and rough manners. Society does not accept her and they consider her to be a clown. They have a daughter played by Lois Moran. Moran is also exceptional as the daughter trying to hide how much of a joke her mother is.

If you are in the mood for a light tear jerker, then the ending, where Bennett realizes she is hurting her daughter's chances of improving in life and pushes her away, while make you tear up. She secretly attends her daughter's wedding watching outside a window in the rain and leaves weeping but happy that her sacrifice has not been in vain.

Check out this Classic and let me know your opinion of Belle Bennett's performance and the overall picture. It does a great job and all done without sound!! A true Classy Classic!