Stella (1950 film)

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

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 (1950-08)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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]

The film was a box office disappointment.^[7]