Sad, huh?
Stella Dallas is a 1925 silent film based on the novel by Olive Higgins Prouty. It starred Ronald Colman as Stephen Dallas and Belle Bennett as the titular Stella Dallas. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. appears in an early role as Richard Grosvenor.
The film received a more famous remake in 1937, followed by a third remake in 1990.
This film has the examples of:
- The Alcoholic: The fact that the film was made during Prohibition doesn't stop Ed Munn from constantly getting sloshed.
- Bridal Carry: While they're courting, Stephen carries Stella this way to help her across a river.
- Old-Fashioned Rowboat Date: Richard and Laurel go on one. Turns out they're also useful for getting away from embarrassingly dressed mothers.
- One-Person Birthday Party: Due to Stella's antics, Laurel gets expelled from the exclusive girls' school she had been attending, resulting in no one showing up to her birthday party.
- Swing Low, Sweet Harriet: In the opening scene, Stephen is enjoying the sight of Helen swinging.
- Uptown Girl: The marriage between upper-class Stephen and working-class Stella. It doesn't work out.