stella dallas

Nov. 23 movie: Stella Dallas. Tearjerker Night continues with Barbara Stanwyck earning her title as the Queen of the Weepers. Stanwyck plays the title character, a crass, loud, vulgar woman who devotes her life to her daughter after her upper-class husband leaves her. Eventually Stella realizes that her daughter will be better off living the upper crust life with her father, but her daughter is too loyal to leave her. So Stella pretends not to want her daughter any more to drive her away. It's so sad. But don't cry, because Alan Hale is in it! With the biggest part I've ever seen him have. He plays Stella's best friend, a loud, crass, vulgar man who would be a much better match for her than her husband was. He loves her but she won't marry him because there's no room in her life for anyone but her daughter.