"The Letter"
Written by Wayne Carson Thompson
Performed by The Box Tops
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.


"The Stripper"
Written by David Rose
Performed by The David Rose Orchestra
Courtesy of Polygram Special Products, a division of Polygram Records, Inc.


"The Idler"
Written and Performed by Steve Hunter
Courtesy of URS Records/MCA Records


"You"
Written and Performed by Bert Sommer


"Carliforna Dreamin'"
Written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips
Performed by The Mamas and the Papas
Courtesy of MCA Records


"Love To Love You, Baby"
Written by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte


"Fashion By Passion"
Written by Rick Chadock and Dennis Dries
Performed by White Sister


"When A Man Loves A Woman"
Written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright
Performed by Percy Sledge
Courtesy of Dominion Entertainment, Inc.


"I Get High"
Written by Jeff Robert
Performed by DV8


"Don't Ever Be Done Lovin' Me"
Written by Kevin Dever and Dale Chadwick
Performed by Roadwork


"Mama Yo Quiero"
Written by Jararaca & Vicente Paiva and Emilio De Torre


"Smoke-Mambo"
Written by Randy Carlos and D. Lourie
Performed by Randy Carlos And His Orchestra
Courtesy of Fiesta Records


"Say You Do"
Written by Paul DeSilva, Michael Bernard and Steven Gaita
Performed by Zoom Zoom


"Boy Meet Girl"
Written by Trevor and Bartock & Lansky
Performed by Trevor


"One More Cheer"
Written by Jay Gruska and Paul Gordon
Produced by Arif Mardin
Performed by Bette Midler

I think it was Ebert who gave Stella four out of four stars but, other than his, I have never read a positive review of this sadly misunderstood drama about class divisions, love, and sacrifice (three themes most great romantic stories or films have in common).

Here the major theme is class division. Stella is a story from depression era America. That said, it was translated to the screen then in such a memorable fashion that this remake (if you ask a Stanwyck fan or two) was not exactly appreciated. Fans of the original never gave it a chance. Furthermore, this version of Stella was made in the 1990s, not exactly a time of great financial trouble in America (as the depression was).

Now is the time to remove the rosy-coloured glasses, in the midst of a new era of recession and poverty in America, and see that this powerful story still rings true, is as timely and relevant as ever, in its updated format.

Yes, class divide is the major theme here. Stella is among the working poor, single, with big dreams but little hope of realizing those dreams. She works in a bar, doesn't have much money, lives in a crummy apartment. You get the drift. In the morning, she doesn't really want to get out of bed. On her wall, pictures of movie stars she idolizes.

A man sees her dance at the bar. He's wealthy, educated, from one of those upper class families that has nothing in common with Stella's. His major concern is what ivy league college to attend, her's is how to pay the rent, how to be 'happy.' They have an affair. They like each other. Stella ends up pregnant. Stella tells the guy the news. His response? "How about an abortion?" She replies, "I just wanted a room full of balloons." He supplies the balloons, and the proposal, but she sees his heart is not in it, and has too much pride to accept. She sends him packing.

Her daughter is eventually torn between the two lifestyles--the love she has for her mom and the advantages and happiness and love held out to her by her wealthy father. Stella, alone and unloved, and not wanting her daughter to become as unhappy as her someday, makes the ultimate sacrifice. She gives up the only love and happiness she has ever known to ensure the happiness of her daughter, and perhaps live vicariously, and with hope, knowing that at least her daughter found something to live for.

Now, for the movie. Everything is right about it. Beautiful score, artful cinematography, great set design (contrast between the two lifestyles; the messy apt. and the decorated mansions), wonderful and heartfelt performances by the whole cast, with Bette Midler, in particular, Oscar-worthy.

This is a film which is much more significant and well-made than you've been led to believe.

One has to hand it to the Divine Ms. M - she's got guts. The role is tailor-made for her and she does a fine job, despite what the majority of critics say. She just doesn't somehow make us care about Stella, the way Stanwyck did. The plot is pretty much the same - mother love and sacrifice for daughter's future. Trini Alvarado is marvelous as the daughter - surprising the Academy didn't notice her that year. Stephen Collins is a wonderfully sympathetic love interest and Marsha Mason makes the most of her seven scenes as Janice Morrison, creating a warm, intelligent, compassionate human being - the sort you'd rather have as a mom than boozy Bette. Fun to see comic Ben Stiller here as a very young and sexy heavy. The film is very watchable and "works" despite its anachronisms. John Goodman is so obnoxious that one wants (and often does) fast forward through his scenes - the only low point in the film.

First off, I would just like to say what a big fan of Bette Midler's I am. Stella is a very good movie with a wonderful cast (Bette Midler, John Goodman, Trini Alvarado, Stephen Collins, Marsha Mason) This is one of my favorite films of all time. It deals with a mother raising a child on her own, she goes through a lot of things that are out of her way to bring up her daughter Jenny played wonderfully by Trini Alvarado. This movie is very good and I suggest that you pick up a copy to watch it. Roger Ebert gave is 3 1/2 stars! And it deserved 4! WONDERFUL! I give it 4 out of 4!

After the success of "Beaches", Bette Midler once again wanted to rejuvenate the "woman's picture" genre (some Susan Hayward, Bette Davis, Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, & Barbara Stanwyck films come to mind) with a remake of the Stanwyck film "Stella Dallas". I love this movie, but it does have some flaws, including a TV movie feel. The movie starts off in 1969, & ends in the present, which was 1990. What made sense in the 1937 Stanwyck film doesn't hold up at all in 1990. There is no need for a low-income, single mom to give up her daughter for a "better life" with her affluent doctor father in 1990. Add to that the daughter is almost college age! An unlikable/senseless aspect of Midler's Stella is her stubbornness to not accept financial assistance from her daughter's father. This decision is just plain stupid. He wasn't a jerk, he actually wanted to help her & accept his responsibilities. Even marry her, although all they ever had in common, from the get-go, was sex. How many woman in this situation find themselves with a man this willing to help out??? Midler also adopted an unusual accent for this role which comes & goes. It can be annoying at times. John Goodman has a supporting role that makes me cringe every time he's on screen. All this aside, the birthday party scene & the ending is so heart wrenching, it tears you up. Watch this drama, it's enjoyable despite some imperfections.

This movie is about a bartender, Stella, who becomes pregnant out-of-wedlock in 1969. The father, an up-and-coming doctor, proposes to her out of obligation. She refuses, and decides to raise her daughter on her own, despite financial difficulties and judgement from her community. Her best friend, played by John Goodman, tries to help but has too much of a drinking problem. The daughter, Jenny, has a good relationship with both her mom and dad. When the teen years hit, though, she becomes very unhappy.

This was a very bittersweet movie, with good acting and character development. If you like movies with car crashes and bombs exploding, this isn't the movie for you. However, if you like movies that are a little more slower paced with a lot of character development, this one is for you. I don't normally cry at movies, but I did a couple times with this one. I recommend it.

I think this movie is wonderful. Bette Midler truly makes you feel the pain you may go through when making the right choices for your children. This is one of my favorite tear jerker movies. My mother and I always watch it together at least once a year!

The original with Barbara Stanwyk is saved only by Stanwyk's performance. The story and the other performances are too sickeningly sweet and the film itself is too dated to be really enjoyed today. Bette Midler's version is much more interesting. She is Stella Claire, an independent, free-spirited single woman who gets pregnant and refuses help from her boyfriend (Stephen Collins) or her friend (John Goodman in an underrated performance). She raises her daughter Jenny played so sweetly by Trini Alvarado and then comes to the conclusion that Jenny's father can do better for her and ultimately makes a life-altering decision. Through out the film, there are plenty of laughs, tears and memorable moments mostly between Midler and Alvarado. Marsha Mason co-stars as Jenny's would-be stepmother, who though wealthy turns out to be a very good influence on her. If you like Midler, Goodman or just good films with plenty of emotion you'll enjoy Bette Midler's version of STELLA.

I can sympathise with Bette Midler's desire to extend her range, especially following her personal triumph in "Beaches". Throughout "Stella" she bears evidence of a thinking, intelligent actress, and she has my profound admiration for that. But good intentions do not make for a good movie, nor indeed for a good performance. As the redoubtable Stella Dallas - so memorably played by Barbara Stanwyck in 1937 - Midler gives an hysterically over detailed performance. Straining pathetically for heart throbs, she makes herself look more than a little ridiculous - and for a woman who started her career singing in a gay bath house, that's saying something.

But whilst I can't see the film as more than the standard mother-love soap opera, its good to see an actress daring to hang herself in public. Her performance doesn't really work, but the effort in itself is fascinating, and at times she comes so close to making us believe in the film.

With a stronger director and a better script this might have been something special. But Midler has had to carry it alone, and that's simply no way to treat the Divine one.

This is the weepy that Beaches never was. As much as I wanted to love Beaches, it always seemed too hurried for me to "feel" for it (its soundtrack is one of my favorite albums though). Stella, on the other hand, moves at a slower (and occasionally too slow) pace and though it's somewhat manipulative in its tears-inducing tale about a self-sacrificial mother, it works because Bette and the rest of the cast turn in great performances. 10/10

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This movie always makes me cry in the end when Bette Middler sees her daughter`s wedding from the distance because the only thing she wants is to see the face of her little girl to know if she`s happy...God, I think I`m gonna cry again ! The best part of the movie obviously is when Stella( againts her will and with a broken heart ) dissapoints Jenny( Trini Alvarado - EXCELLENT !!!) with a terrible fight(broken glasses included) with the only intention that her daughter comes back to New York with his father who could give her a better life.