History Film / StellaMaris

* DisabledLoveInterest: Stella has been paralyzed since birth. Subverted as halfway through the film she regains the ability to walk thanks to surgery.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: John's surname is spelled "Riska" in a newspaper article, but the titles and other text all display it as "Risca".

As it's over a centenary old, it's public domain and therefore [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taJ0LOEm5kk available here]].

Unity Blake is the most unpopular girl at St. Martha's Orphanage. She gets ignored and bullied even by the younger girls. One day, a woman visits and decides to adopt Unity. Her luck has seemingly changed for the better. On the other side of town, a young woman named Stella Maris lies in her bed; she has been paralyzed since birth. Her wealthy guardians have prevented Stella from learning of the miseries of reality by keeping her locked away in a room. Stella however is happy with her life and oblivious to the world outside of her mansion's doors. The two girls don't know each other yet but they'll be united by a series of unfortunate events.

''Stella Maris'' is a 1918 film starring Creator/MaryPickford and Conway Tearle. It is based on a novel by William J. Locke. It received a remake starring Mary Philbin in 1925. Mary Pickford (and Mary Philbin in the remake) play [[ActingForTwo both Unity and Stella]].

** Unity kills herself after [[MurderSuicide killing Louise]].

* HeroicSacrifice: Unity's MurderSuicide is treated this way. She kills Louise so that she can't hurt Stella or John anymore.

* TheIngenue: The titular protagonist was crafted into one by her overprotective family. After gaining the usage of her legs, her perfect image of the world starts slowly breaking apart.

* PrecociousCrush: It's hard to tell their ages, but Unity can't be much older than 16 maximum. She has a crush on the older John.

* YourCheatingHeart: From a legal standpoint, John is still married to Louise when he begins courting Stella; however, their marriage is irreparable. Stella learns this the hard way when meeting Louise.

* DisabledLoveInterest: Stella has been paralyzed since birth. Subverted as halfway through the film she regains the ability to walk.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: Even in the pre-Code era, the film's dark themes were a bit much. The [[spoiler:shooting of Louise]] is often cut.

** [[spoiler:Stella]] hits a DespairEventHorizon and becomes suicidal after [[spoiler:she learns that John has a wife]]. [[spoiler:Her views on the world dissipating]] are also a large reason for it.
** [[spoiler:Unity]] kills herself [[spoiler:after [[MurderSuicide killing Louise]].]]

* HeartwarmingOrphan: Despite all that happens to her, Unity stays a sweetheart. [[spoiler:Until she shoots Louise, that is, and even then she had good intentions.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Unity's MurderSuicide]] is treated this way. [[spoiler:She kills Louise so that she can't hurt Stella or John anymore.]]

* YourCheatingHeart: From a legal standpoint, John is still married to Louise when he begins courting Stella; however, their marriage is irreparable. [[spoiler:Stella learns this the hard way when meeting Louise.]]

Unity Blake is the most unpopular girl at St. Martha's Orphanage. She gets ignored and bullied even by the younger girls. One day, a woman visits and decides to adopt Unity. Her luck has seemingly changed for the better. On the other side of town, a young woman named Stella Maris lay in her bed. Stella has been paralyzed since birth. Her wealthy guardians have prevented Stella from learning of the miseries of reality by keeping her locked away in a room. Stella however is happy with her life and oblivious to the world outside of her mansion's doors. The two girls don't know each other yet but they'll be united by a series of unfortunate events.

* AlcoholicParent: Drunkard Louise Risca's previously servants would always leave her. So she adopted an orphan so that she can clean her house.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: Even in the pre-Code era, the film's dark themes were a bit much. The [[spoiler:shooting of Louise]] was often cut.

** [[spoiler:Stella]] hits a DespairEventHorizon and becomes suicidal after [[spoiler:she learns that John has a wife]]. [[spoiler:Her views on the world dissipating]] also had a large reason for it.

* HeartwarmingOrphan: Despite all that happens to her, Unity stays a sweetheart. [[spoiler:Until she shoots Louise, that is, and even then she had good intentions]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Unity's MurderSuicide]] is treated this way. [[spoiler:She killed Louise so that she couldn't hurt Stella or John anymore]].

* TheIngenue: The titular protagonist was crafted into one by her overprotective family. After gaining the usage of her legs, slowly her perfect image of the world starts breaking apart.

* ASaintNamedMary: Stella Maris' name is intended to be a reference to the Virgin Mary. An archaic title for Mary is "Stella Maris". The titular Stella is TheIngenue.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: John's surname is spelled "Riska" in a newspaper article, but the titles and other text all write it as "Risca".

* YourCheatingHeart: From a legal standpoint, John is still married to Louise when he begins courting Stella, however their marriage is unrepairable. [[spoiler:Stella learns this the hard way when meeting Louise]].

* BeautyInversion: Mary Pickford plays both the adorable Stella and the quote-on-quote "ugly duckling" Unity. Stella is Pickford as usual while Stella is a more plain looking young woman.

-->''"All unhappiness and world wisdom leave outside. Those without smiles need not enter.''

* TheIngenue: The titular protagonist was crafted into one by her overprotective family. After regaining the usage of her legs, slowly her perfect image of the world starts breaking.

* DisabledLoveInterest: Stella has been paralyzed since childhood due to an illness. Subverted as halfway through the film she regains the ability to walk.

* HeartwarmingOrphan: Despite all that happens to her, Unity stays a sweetheart. [[spoiler:Until she shoots Louise, that is]].

* HeroesLoveDogs: Stella has a faithful pet dog that she loves. She's also partial to cute kittens.

* ParentalIncest: John adopts Unity and becomes her guardian, though they don't develop much of a familial bond and she's more like a servant. She later falls for him.

''Stella Maris'' is a 1918 film starring Creator/MaryPickford and Creator/ConwayTearle. It is based on a novel by William J. Locke. It received a remake starring Creator/MaryPhilbin in 1925. Mary Pickford (and Mary Philbin in the remake) play [[PlayingForTwo both Unity and Stella]].

''Stella Maris'' is a 1918 film starring Creator/MaryPickford

* AlcoholicParent: Drunkard Louise Riska's previously servants would always leave her. So she adopted an orphan so that she can clean her house.
* BeautyInversion: Mary Pickford plays both the adorable and the quote-on-quote "ugly duckling" Unity.
* DeathOfAChild: As a part of Stella learning life isn't all gumdrops and lollipops, she read in the newspaper about how a starving mother committed MurderSuicide with her child.

* MessyHair: Louise has long, unkempt hair.
* ParentalIncest: John adopts Unity, who later falls for him.
* PrecociousCrush: It's hard to tell their ages, but Unity can't be much older than 16 max. She has a crush on the older John.

* YourCheatingHeart: From a legal standpoint, John is still married to Louise when he begins courting Stella.

* PlayingForTwo: Pickford plays both Unity and Stella. This is lampshaded when a character notes a resemblance between the two.