Stella (1950 film)

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Stella
Ann Sheridan and David Wayne.jpg
Ann Sheridan and David Wayne in Stella
Directed by Claude Binyon
Written byClaude 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 (1950-08)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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

Contents

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

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]

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References

  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. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  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.


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