Stella Dallas

Stella Dallas

Year: 1937

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: English

Director: King Vidor

RomanceDramaMoving relationship storiesEnduring stories of family and marital dramaHeartbreaking and moving family drama

Sure - I like a good time! After divorcing a society man, a small-town woman tries to build a better life for their daughter.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Stella Dallas (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Stella Dallas (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1919, early 20th century

The action begins in 1919, in the immediate post-World War I era, in a Northeastern industrial town. It reflects a society where factory work defines livelihoods and women navigate limited options within traditional expectations. As years pass, the story traces evolving roles for women, marriage, and family life against a backdrop of social change.

Location

Massachusetts factory town

Set in a Massachusetts factory town at the dawn of the 20th century, the narrative centers on mill workers and their families. The industrial environment shapes daily life, work routines, and social hierarchies, influencing whom people marry and how they are perceived. The town’s close-knit, judgmental atmosphere frames Stella’s ambitions and Laurel’s coming-of-age journey.

❄️ Small town 🏭 Industrial setting 💼 Class divisions

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:46

Main Characters – Stella Dallas (1937)

Meet the key characters of Stella Dallas (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Stella Dallas (Barbara Stanwyck)

A determined millworker’s daughter whose social ascent drives much of the plot. She balances fierce maternal instinct for Laurel with a hunger for social status, creating a push-pull between love and reputation. Her choices expose the costs of ambition and the resilience required to forge a life she believes she deserves.

❤️ Maternal Love 💼 Ambition 👀 Public Image

Laurel 'Lollie' Dallas (Anne Shirley)

Stephen and Stella’s daughter who grows into a perceptive young woman attuned to both worlds—her mother’s boldness and Helen’s polish. Her relationship with Richard Grosvenor III anchors a hopeful romance while she observes the consequences of adult decisions. Laurel embodies empathy, resilience, and the longing for a secure, loving family.

👪 Family 💘 Romance 🌱 Growth

Stephen Dallas (John Boles)

Laurel’s father, an advertising manager who has risen from society’s margins and seeks to rebuild a stable life. He loves Laurel and supports her, even as his marriage to Stella remains strained. His choices reflect a balance between pride, care for his daughter, and the pull of professional advancement.

💼 Ambition 💔 Family 🕊️ Loyalty

Richard Grosvenor III (Tim Holt)

The young man Laurel falls for, representing a future of romance and perceived social ease. He brings warmth and steadiness into Laurel’s life and embodies the hopeful possibility of moving beyond the town’s rigid judgments. His relationship with Laurel offers a contrast to the tensions at home.

💘 Love 🏷️ Social standing 🌟 Youthful romance

Ed Munn (Alan Hale)

Stella’s flashy, vulgar friend whose presence undercuts Stella’s standing in the social crowd. He serves as a foil to the more refined worlds Laurel encounters and highlights the temptations and gossip surrounding Stella. His influence underscores the fragile control Stella has over her reputation.

🎭 Gossip 🥂 Temptation 🧭 Influence

Helen Morrison (Barbara O'Neil)

A wealthy widow who becomes Laurel’s more polished, supportive figure. She represents an alternative model of success and family life, shaping Laurel’s sense of belonging and future possibilities. Her relationship with Stephen and Laurel adds a layer of stability and aspiration to the story.

💎 Wealth 👩‍👧 Family 🔄 Stability

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:46

Major Themes – Stella Dallas (1937)

Explore the central themes of Stella Dallas (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Maternal Love

Stella’s fierce devotion to Laurel drives many decisions, highlighting how a mother's love can shape a daughter’s sense of self. The film probes the cost of maternal sacrifice when ambition and affection pull in different directions. Laurel’s growth is inseparable from Stella’s influence, for better or harder.

💼 Class and Ambition

Set in a mill town, the story contrasts Stella’s hunger for social mobility with Stephen’s fall from wealth. Their intertwined ambitions influence marriage, status, and the family’s future. The narrative uses this tension to question whether success is worth personal compromise.

👀 Reputation and Judgment

Public gossip and appearances drive much of the conflict, especially Stella’s fashion sense and conduct. The town’s scrutiny strains relationships and tests loyalty within the family. The film critiques how reputations are formed and the cruelty of public judgment.

🔒 Independence and Choice

Stella’s later choices reflect a pursuit of autonomy within restrictive norms of the era. Laurel navigates the pull between her mother’s world and Helen’s refined circle, making decisions that shape her own life. The ending emphasizes the complexity of freedom when love, duty, and circumstance collide.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:46

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Stella Dallas Summary

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Stella Dallas Summary

Stella Dallas Timeline

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Stella Dallas Timeline

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