Claim: Barbara Stanwyck was the lead role in Stella Dallas.

Stella Dallas is a 1937 American 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 . Stanwyck was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role , and Shirley for Best Actress in a Supporting Role .   A 1925 silent film version is Stella Dallas , starring Ronald Colman and Belle Bennett . A 1990 version is Stella , with Bette Midler and Stephen Collins .