MovieChat Forums > Stella Dallas (1937) Discussion > whats the great sacrifice?

whats the great sacrifice?

posted 20 years ago by mommamia77
12 replies | jump to latest

I saw the remake with Midler years ago and I cant remember, can anyone tell me what it is that Stella does to make the daughter leave?

[–] mepage 19 years ago

Since I haven't seen the Bette Midler edition, I can't tell you for sure -- but if it resembles the Barbara Stanwyck version, Stella makes her daughter hate her by divorcing her (Laurel's) father and marrying a man whom Laurel loathes. In addition she pretends to never have wanted Laurel and as much as throws her out of the house.

Does this help?

[–] thisisnotacure 19 years ago

I too, have only seen the 1937 version of Stela Dallas film, but the other person who responded was a little off in what happened. In order to make Laurel choose life with her father and Mrs. Morrison Stella PRETENDS to be romantically in volved with, and engaged to, Ed Munn, because she knows Laurel has always disliked him. She also dresses gaudily, smokes, orders Laurel around and treats her like a child she despises, and also states "a woman wants to be something other than a mother you know," insinuating that she's sick of having to take care of Laurel.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] twilightfun 17 years ago

To me that was the hardest thing for Stella to have to do. This movie is still as beautiful now as ever. And I am really lucky I got to see it with my own mother just yesterday (Mother's Day). Funniest though is that it was her first time seeing it as well, out of all the years she's been here to love Barbara Stanwyck as well -- what a treat it was indeed.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jfd0210 17 years ago

Actually, this isn't the "original." The film was done in the 1920's by Goldwyn, with Belle Bennett, Lois Moran, Ronald Colman, and Alice Joyce (as "Stella," "Laurel," "Mr. Dallas," and "Helen").
It is an excellent film, but I don't think it works quite as well as the 1936 version.
In either regard, both are masterpieces compared to the much later version.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] MissIlsaLund 16 years ago

She wasn't a social climber at all. She married Stephen Dallas for love and he happened to be rich. While she initially claims that she wants to make herself over into a sophisticated, upper-class woman, he tells her to keep being herself. Ironically, he starts trying to mold her and she clings to her blue collar roots because that was a huge part of who she is. She just wanted to have fun without sacrificing her identity. I think they were madly in love at first but after a hasty marriage they soon realized they were incompatible. He ceased to be her dream man and the marriage wasn't working so they virtually separated. She likes money just as much as the rest of us, but it wasn't her primary motive.

What you see is nothing. I got a Balinese dancing girl tattooed across my chest.

[–] sitfan-2 14 years ago

I've heard about the original with Belle Bennett,boy I'd sure love to see that one....I haven't seen the one with Bette Midler either.

[–] IloveMuggy 13 years ago

I must respectfully disagree, MissIlsa. Stella made no bones about the fact that she was, indeed, a social climber who wanted nothing so much as to travel in the elite circles her lowly station in life could not afford her. She set out to "get" Stephen Dallas; and get him she did--no denying that she grew to love him, but the reality of marriage to him was a bit more than she could handle when she realized that she simply wasn't cut out for that sort of life and could never be the person he wanted her to be.

Marry in haste; repent in leisure. ;)

None of this takes away from the fact that she was a wonderful mother to Laurel and made the ultimate sacrifice in the end--though I do wonder how much Laurel's head will be screwed up due to Stella's actions.

Great movie--I never tire of it!

[–] beetiesmom 13 years ago

Good post, ILM! I feel that this is exactly what happened with Stella. However, I never liked "her sacrifice"---it wasn't the right thing to do. I know Laurel clung to her, but if Stella really wanted the best for Laurel, honesty would have been the best policy....telling the girl that in order for her to have the best life possible, she should be with her father and step-mother, living in the lap of the uber-rich "swells". I don't like to think Laurel ever became big-headed and spoiled like the kiddies we saw at the country club. I think that Stella did a great disservice by not attending Laurel's wedding; it was silly to stand outside, eating her handkerchief and crying. Stella should have had someone help her get suitably clothed, been the perfect guest and made her daughter proud.

But then, we wouldn't have the weep-fest we did have with this movie! Rest in peace, Miss Stanwyck. We love you.

[–] LolaVerdon (130) 4 years ago

I agree.