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'{{Short description|1990 American drama film directed by John Erman}} {{Infobox film | name = Stella | image = Stella poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[John Erman]] | producer = [[Samuel Goldwyn Jr.]] | screenplay = [[Robert Getchell]] | based_on = {{based on|''[[Stella Dallas (novel)|Stella Dallas]]''<br>1923 novel|[[Olive Higgins Prouty]]}} | starring = {{plainlist| * [[Bette Midler]] * [[John Goodman]] * [[Trini Alvarado]] * [[Stephen Collins (actor)|Stephen Collins]] * [[Marsha Mason]]}} | music = [[John Morris (composer)|John Morris]] | cinematography = [[Billy Williams (cinematographer)|Billy Williams]] | editing = Jerrold L. Ludwig<br>[[Bud Molin]] | distributor = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]] (North America)<br>The Samuel Goldwyn Company (International) | released = {{Start date|1990|02|02}} | runtime = 109 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $19 million | gross = $20.2 million | production_companies = [[Touchstone Pictures]]<br>[[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] }} '''''Stella''''' is a 1990 American [[drama (film and television)|drama film]] produced by [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]] and released by [[Touchstone Pictures]]. The [[screenplay]] by [[Robert Getchell]] is the third [[feature film]] adaptation of the 1923 novel ''[[Stella Dallas (novel)|Stella Dallas]]'' by [[Olive Higgins Prouty]]. Previous film versions were ''[[Stella Dallas (1937 film)|Stella Dallas]]'' (1937) and the silent film ''[[Stella Dallas (1925 film)|Stella Dallas]]'' (1925). The title character is a vulgar and unfashionable single mother living in [[Watertown (city), New York|Watertown, New York]], who is determined to give her daughter, Jenny, all of the opportunities the she never had, ultimately makes a selfless sacrifice to ensure her happiness. This film version differs from earlier versions in that Stella never marries the father of her child and in fact declines his proposal early in the film. [[John Erman]] directed a cast that included [[Bette Midler]] as Stella and [[Trini Alvarado]] as Jenny, with [[John Goodman]], [[Stephen Collins (actor)|Stephen Collins]], [[Marsha Mason]], [[Eileen Brennan]], [[Linda Hart]], [[Ben Stiller]], and [[William McNamara]] in supporting roles. ==Plot== Stella ([[Bette Midler]]) is a feisty woman working in a bar when she meets and falls for the suave charms of the young Dr. Stephen Dallas ([[Stephen Collins]]). Although from opposite ends of the social spectrum, they start an affair that results in Stella becoming pregnant. After he proposes half-heartedly, she rejects him and embarks upon raising their child, Jenny, as a single mother but is always helped and encouraged by her stalwart friend, a local good natured barfly, Ed Munn ([[John Goodman]]). Stella is fiercely independent and proud and is determined to do well by this child and take on whatever jobs she must to raise her daughter properly. When Jenny is 4 years old, her father suddenly reappears on the scene and is determined to get to know his daughter. At first reluctant to allow him, Stella is persuaded to allow contact, and a happy bond develops between the father and daughter. As Jenny ([[Trini Alvarado]]) grows up, she becomes torn between her father's rich and well-connected background and her loyalty and love for her mother who is poor and free spirited but devoted to her daughter. She also despises the perceived relationship she sees developing between Stella and Ed Munn, who is now a broken alcoholic. Jenny eventually meets and falls for a boy from her father's world. Stella realizes that the disparities in her own and Jenny's father's backgrounds might now jeopardize her daughter's future happiness. ==Cast== *[[Bette Midler]] as Stella Claire *[[John Goodman]] as Ed Munn *[[Trini Alvarado]] as Jenny Claire **[[Ashley Peldon]] as Jenny (age 3) **[[Alisan Porter]] as Jenny (age 8) *[[Stephen Collins (actor)|Stephen Collins]] as Stephen Dallas *[[Marsha Mason]] as Janice Morrison *[[Eileen Brennan]] as Mrs. Wilkerson *[[Linda Hart]] as Debbie Whitman *[[Ben Stiller]] as Jim Uptegrove *[[William McNamara]] as Pat Robbins <br> According to [[John Candy]]'s biography, he was in talks to play Midler's working class husband. However, when he was informed that Midler demanded he do a screen test, Candy became incredulous proclaiming "who the (expletive) does she think she is?!" and declined. John Goodman was eventually cast in the role. ==Reception== {{expand section|date=June 2015}} The film received mediocre reviews. [[Peter Rainer]] quipped in his ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' review, "Do we really need to be put through another version of 'Stella Dallas'? Is this the vehicle that Bette Midler thinks will reclaim her serious-actress status? If so, she's greatly misunderstood her gifts, which stand in raucous, subversive contrast to everything this sudsy weepie represents. Directed by John Erman, freighted with a musical score of soaring banality, this 20-year saga of an uneducated, working-class single mother who sacrifices everything to give her daughter the chance she never had is so recklessly shameless it verges on camp parody."<ref>{{cite news|title= MOVIE REVIEWS : Melodrama: Was this 'Stella,' a loony Midler remake, really necessary?|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date=1990-02-02|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1990-02-02/entertainment/ca-1176_1_stella-dallas|accessdate=2012-06-10|first=Peter|last=Rainer}}</ref> In ''[[The Washington Post]]'', critic Rita Kempley stated: "From bathhouse chanteuse to Lemon Joy diva, from self-proclaimed queen of camp, sass and tactlessness to goddess of suds, sap and pap -- yes, you have come a long way, Baby Divine. Gone is the Bette Midler of "[[Clams on the Half-Shell Revue|Clams on the Half Shell]]" and '[[Ruthless People]],' the better Midler, and in her place is this new middling piddler."<ref>{{cite news|title= Stella|newspaper= [[Washington Post]]|date=1990-02-02|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/stellapg13kempley_a0c994.htm|accessdate=2012-06-10}}</ref> In her ''[[New York Times]]'' review, [[Janet Maslin]] said, "Bette Midler, too old for the film's opening and too smart for its resolution, isn't exactly the right actress, but she's a lot closer than might have been expected. Ms. Midler manages to gloss over the story's inconsistencies, play up its charming aspects, and generally bluster her way through . . . her exuberance is most helpful in overshadowing the inconvenient aspects of this story."<ref>{{cite news|title= Review/Film;Bette Midler as a Selfless Mother in Tear-Inducing 'Stella'|work= [[The New York Times]]|date=1990-02-02|url= https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CEED6123FF931A35751C0A966958260|accessdate=2012-06-10|first=Janet|last=Maslin}}</ref> A far more positive review came from critic [[Roger Ebert]] who wrote that "''Stella'' is the kind of movie that works you over and leaves you feeling good, unless you absolutely steel yourself against it. Go to sneer. Stay to weep."<ref>{{cite news|title= Stella|publisher= [[Chicago Sun Times]]|date=1990-02-02|url= http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19900202/REVIEWS/2020305|accessdate=2012-06-10}}</ref> [[Razzie Award]] nominations went to Midler for Worst Actress and Jay Gruska and Paul Gordon for Worst Original Song ("One More Cheer"). ===Box office=== ''Stella'' debuted at No. 2 in Canada and the United States behind ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title= WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : 'Driving Miss Daisy' Gets the Checkered Flag|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date=1990-02-06|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1990-02-06/entertainment/ca-1_1_miss-daisy|accessdate=2012-06-10|first=Pat H.|last=Broeske}}</ref> Total US gross for the film was $20,240,128.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1990/0STEL.php|title=Stella (1990) - Financial Information}}</ref> ==Home media== The film was issued on VHS on [[Touchstone Home Video]] (Cat. #995) on August 29, 1990, and proved more successful on home video.<ref>{{cite news|title=VIDEO RENTALS: 'Born' Can't Pass High-Revving 'Daisy'|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date=1990-09-27|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1990-09-27/entertainment/ca-1644_1_miss-daisy|accessdate=2012-06-10|first=Dennis|last=Hunt}}</ref> ''Stella'' was released on [[DVD]] on April 8, 2003. The film was presented in Widescreen format, no special features were included. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb title|0100691}} * {{amg movie|46807}} * {{tcmdb title|id=23578}} * {{AFI film|id=58698|title=Stella}} * {{mojo title|stella|Stella}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|1020086_stella}} * [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEED6123FF931A35751C0A966958260 ''New York Times'' review] {{John Erman}} {{Stella Dallas}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Stella (1990 Film)}} [[Category:1990 films]] [[Category:1990 drama films]] [[Category:American drama films]] [[Category:Remakes of American films]] [[Category:Films about social class]] [[Category:Films based on American novels]] [[Category:Films directed by John Erman]] [[Category:Films scored by John Morris]] [[Category:Films set in New York (state)]] [[Category:Films shot in Florida]] [[Category:Films shot in New York City]] [[Category:Films shot in Toronto]] [[Category:The Samuel Goldwyn Company films]] [[Category:Touchstone Pictures films]] [[Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships]] [[Category:1990s English-language films]] [[Category:1990s American films]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Robert Getchell]]'