Stella (1950 film)

Stella
Stella
	Ann Sheridan and David Wayne in Stella
Directed by	Claude Binyon
Written by	Claude Binyon
Based on	Family Skeleton; by Doris Miles Disney
Produced by	Sol C. Siegel
Starring	Ann Sheridan; Victor Mature; David Wayne; Randy Stuart; Marion Marshall; Frank Fontaine; Leif Erickson; Evelyn Varden; Lea Penman; Joyce MacKenzie; Hobart Cavanaugh
Cinematography	Joseph MacDonald
Edited by	Harmon Jones
Music by	Cyril J. Mockridge
Color process	Black and white
Production; company	20th Century Fox
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	August 1950;
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Stella is a 1950 American black comedy film directed by Claude Binyon and starring Ann Sheridan, Victor Mature and Leif Erickson.

In the film, the family of an accident victim decide to bury the corpse in secret. They want to avoid suspicions of murder.

Plot

When a relative dies in an accident, family members worry that they will be suspected of murder, so they bury the body, but that does not solve anything.

Cast

Ann Sheridan as Stella Bevans
Victor Mature as Jeff DeMarco
Leif Erickson as Fred Anderson Jr.
David Wayne as Carl Granger
Randy Stuart as Claire
Marion Marshall as Mary
Frank Fontaine as Don
Evelyn Varden as Flora
Lea Penman as Mrs. Calhoun
Joyce MacKenzie as Peggy Denny
Hobart Cavanaugh as Tim Gross

Production

The novel Family Skeleton by Doris Miles Disney was published in 1949. The New York Times described the book as "half humorous... not a mystery, hardly even a murder novel, and certainly not the light farce suggested by the publisher's grinning skull symbol."^[1] Hero Jeff di Marco later appeared in Disney's Straw Man in 1951.^[2]

The film was known as Stella and the City Man.^[3] Susan Hayward was meant to play the title role but refused and was put on suspension. Ann Sheridan replaced her. Filming started in March 1950.^[4]

Stella was Hobart Cavanaugh's last film; he knew he did not have long to live and collapsed twice on set, but was determined to see it through.^[5]

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote "With a good cast, including David Wayne and Ann Sheridan; dialogue which is generally bright and often quite satirical, Mr. Binyon has put together a surprisingly funny show."^[6]

References

^ A. B. (May 1949). "Killing of Uncle Joe: FAMILY SKELETON Doris Miles Disney. 188 pp. New York: Doubleday-Crime Club. $2.25". p. BR29.
^ ANTHONY BOUCHER (October 21, 1951). "Criminals at Large". New York Times. p. 195.
^ THOMAS F. BRADY (March 1, 1950). "PARAMOUNT GETS OPTION ON NOVEL: TO ENACT TITLE ROLE". New York Times. p. 42.
^ THOMAS F. BRADY (March 13, 1950). "HAWKS, LASKER BUY RIGHTS TO 'BIG SKY': Producing Firm Acquires A. B. Guthrie Novel for Filming in the Late Summer Ross Acquires "Rendezvous"". New York Times. p. 15.
^ "Jimmy Fidler in Hollywood". Valley Morning Star. May 5, 1950 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'Stella,' With Ann Sheridan and David Wayne, New Feature at the Roxy Theatre". The New York Times. August 19, 1950.

External links

Stella at IMDb
Stella at the TCM Movie Database

This film article about a 1950s comedy film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This article related to an American film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] A. B. (May 1949). "Killing of Uncle Joe: FAMILY SKELETON Doris Miles Disney. 188 pp. New York: Doubleday-Crime Club. $2.25". p. BR29.

[2] ANTHONY BOUCHER (October 21, 1951). "Criminals at Large". New York Times. p. 195.

[3] THOMAS F. BRADY (March 1, 1950). "PARAMOUNT GETS OPTION ON NOVEL: TO ENACT TITLE ROLE". New York Times. p. 42.

[4] THOMAS F. BRADY (March 13, 1950). "HAWKS, LASKER BUY RIGHTS TO 'BIG SKY': Producing Firm Acquires A. B. Guthrie Novel for Filming in the Late Summer Ross Acquires "Rendezvous"". New York Times. p. 15.

[5] "Jimmy Fidler in Hollywood". Valley Morning Star. May 5, 1950 – via Newspapers.com.

[Stella.SKEL-6] "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'Stella,' With Ann Sheridan and David Wayne, New Feature at the Roxy Theatre". The New York Times. August 19, 1950.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]