Revisiting the brilliant Stanwyck in "Stella Dallas"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/20/05 at 6:59pm

Haven't seen this film in 20 years, and TCM is showing it again. It's well worth revisiting. I was startled by its unexpected emotional power, most of which lies in Stanwyck's brilliantly realized, truthful, fearless performance. Considering the way "Stella Dallas" has entered show biz lexicon as representative of the ultimate soap opera sensibility, it's remarkable to note how UN-soapy -- devoid of sentimentality -- Stanwyck's performance is. She played this woman as rough-edged, at times loud, coarse, and tactless. She does nothing to beg for audience sympathy, or glamorize her. And as beautiful as she was in 1937, she dared to explore the woman's inner tackiness; she approached the role as a character actor would.

Young actors should study the depth of Stanwyk's honesty. Just watch her during the Christmas sequence, when she registers disappointment that her ex-husband is about to wisk her beloved Lolly away for the holidays. Her face goes through the Kubhler-Ross scale. And the finale, considered 2nd only to the Little Match Girl for wringing tears, feels entirely earned. The movie has surprising things to say about class envy and Stanwyck gives unstintingly. To watch it again with fresh eyes is to deconstruct its soap mythology.

Updated On: 11/20/05 at 06:59 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/20/05 at 7:15pm

The very last scene where she's watching her daughter's wedding from the street in the rain is one of the great film moments. Her bittersweet expression is priceless.

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/20/05 at 7:18pm

Saw it for the first time last Thanksgiving night.
It played on TCM and I was in a hotel that had it.
Needless to say I own the DVD.
Love it. Love her.

[BrendanStryker]

Posted: 11/20/05 at 7:46pm

Stanwyck, in my opinion, is the best actress of her generation. While everyone trips over themselves, praising the sameness of Hepburn and Davis, Stanwyck gives underrated performance after underrated performance.