Barmaid Stella Claire and blueblood Stephen Dallas have very little in common -- except they've fallen in love. When their relationship fails, Stella decides to raise the child they had, Jenny, alone. But Jenny and Stella are far from the perfect mother-daughter pair.
Stella is a single mother struggling to make ends meet in the 1930s. Despite her hardships, she dedicates her life to raising her daughter, Jenny, instilling in her strong values and a love for life. As Jenny grows older, their bond is tested by economic hardship, societal expectations, and a fateful decision that threatens to separate them forever.
Stella received mixed reviews from critics. While Bette Midler's performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and resilience, the film's melodramatic plot and predictable storyline drew criticism. Audiences were more divided, with some moved by the mother-daughter relationship and others finding the narrative overly sentimental.
Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated Bette Midler's touching portrayal of a devoted mother and found the film to be a tearjerker. However, some viewers felt the plot was too cliché and predictable, and the emotional manipulation was a bit heavy-handed.
Bette Midler was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama.
The film is a remake of the 1937 Italian film 'Josephine and Men' (original title: 'Josephine and the Man'), which itself was based on the short story 'Little Mother' by V. A. Webster.
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