Bootleg Betty
36 Years Ago Today, Bette Midler’s Stella Premiered
By Mister D
Feb. 2, 2026
Stella (1990) is a drama film starring Bette Midler in the title role. It’s the third major screen adaptation of Olive Higgins Prouty’s 1923 novel Stella Dallas (previously filmed as a silent in 1925 and famously in 1937 with Barbara Stanwyck).
Overview and Plot Summary
Directed by John Erman and released by Touchstone Pictures (a Disney label), the film follows Stella Claire (Midler), a bold, flamboyant, working-class single mother and high school dropout who works as a bartender in Watertown, New York. She has a brief affair with a wealthy, sophisticated young doctor, Stephen Dallas (Stephen Collins), resulting in pregnancy. Stella rejects his half-hearted marriage proposal, choosing to raise their daughter Jenny (Trini Alvarado) on her own, with help from loyal friend Ed Munn (John Goodman).
The story spans years, chronicling Stella’s fierce, devoted (and often eccentric) efforts to give Jenny every opportunity she never had—despite their social and economic differences. As Jenny grows up and enters a higher social world, Stella makes heartbreaking, selfless sacrifices for her daughter’s happiness, culminating in a poignant, tear-jerking finale where Stella watches Jenny’s wedding from afar (a nod to the classic Stella Dallas ending, though updated here).
The cast includes strong supporting performances from Marsha Mason, Eileen Brennan, Ben Stiller (in an early role), Linda Hart, and William McNamara. It’s rated PG-13, runs about 1 hour 49 minutes, and blends heartfelt drama with Midler’s signature wit and emotional depth.It had a $19 million budget and grossed around $20.2 million at the box office. Reviews were mixed—some praised Midler’s committed, Oscar-worthy performance (though she didn’t receive a nomination), while others felt the dated melodrama didn’t fully land in a modern context.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- This is a modernized remake: Stella doesn’t marry Stephen (hence the shortened title), and the story updates the setting and details from the original novel and earlier films.
- An early scene features Midler performing a playful pretend striptease at the bar; her co-worker there is played by Linda Hart.
- Ben Stiller appeared in a small supporting role early in his career.
- The film received two Razzie Award nominations: one for Midler’s performance and one for the original song “One More Cheer for Me.”
- Midler’s portrayal emphasizes Stella’s vulgar, wisecracking, unfashionable side—making her a determined but unconventional mother figure.
- The movie’s emotional core is the mother-daughter bond, with Midler delivering vulnerable, heartfelt moments amid the melodrama.
If you’re a fan of classic weepies or Midler’s dramatic turns (beyond her comedies like Beaches or Hocus Pocus), Stella showcases her range in a maternal, sacrificial role!
