Stella Dallas **** (1925, Ronald Colman, Belle Bennett, Alice Joyce, Lois Moran, Douglas Fairbanks Jnr) – Classic Movie Review 3177

Director Henry King’s esteemed and moving 1925 silent version of Olive Higgins Prouty’s novel was remade in 1937 and 1990 (as Stella).

Belle Bennett magnificently takes the title role as the slatternly lower class Stella who marries and upper-class business man Stephen Dallas (Ronald Colman) , with whom she has nothing in common, and sacrifices herself for her daughter Laurel (Lois Moran).

As the daughter, the 16-year-old Moran, in only her second film, ages impressively, convincing at the age of 10, 13 and as a young woman.

It is sensitively filmed by director King, who stirs the emotions without over-gilding the lily. Douglas Fairbanks Jnr’s fifth film at only 16.

Also in the cast are Alice Joyce, Jean Hersholt, Beatrix Pryor, Vera Lewis, Maurice Murphy, Jack Murphy, Newton Hall, Charles Hatton, Robert W Gillette and Winston Miller.

Forgotten silent star Bennett died of cancer on November 4 1932, aged 41.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3177

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com