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Stella (1990)

Director: John Erman

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

This second remake of Stella Dallas updates the story, with Stella (Midler) a single parent struggling through the '70s who still makes the ultimate sacrifice, giving up her daughter in the interest of the latter's social advancement. Handsome doctor Stephen Dallas (Collins) first notices bartender Stella when she leaps on the bar to do a mock striptease routine. Becoming pregnant, she fiercely rejects his offers of marriage or financial support. Years later, their teenage daughter Jenny (Alvarado) grows weary of mother's bad dress sense, and the ultimate humiliation comes when Stella is arrested outside a local bar. Off she goes to Dad and prospective stepmother (Mason) for blueberry pancakes and cocktails. Whatever challenge existed in rendering the class conflict credible has been missed: Robert Getchell's script milks the story for maximum tears, but wrestles unsuccessfully with the inherent absurdity of Stella's predicament, delivering clichéd situations and dialogue. And Midler's larger-than-life performance is daunting against the subtler approaches of Alvarado and Mason.

Author: CM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Barbara said...
    Posted on Jan 09 2008 03:38 Very touching can relate in todays life and to every loving mum I would like dvd but can't get one to play in UK
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Cast & crew

Director: John Erman

Producer: Samuel Goldwyn Jr, David V Picker

Cast: Bette Midler, John Goodman, Trini Alvarado, Stephen Collins, Marsha Mason, Eileen Brennan, Linda Hart, Ben Stiller, William McNamara full cast

Duration: 109 mins


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