Remembering Barbara Stanwyck in ... Stella Dallas (1937) The Ending Scene. Stella Dallas is a 1937 American drama film based on the Olive Higgins Prouty novel of the same name. It was directed by King Vidor, and stars Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, and Anne Shirley. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role. This was the second feature film adaptation of the 1923 novel. The first was the 1925 silent film version titled Stel