the first film version of the olive higgins prouty best seller . despite third billing and belle bennett star a stella and be very good in the role of her career . she do an amazing job of age over a 20 year period and be very effective . ronald colman star ( and get top bill ) a stephen dallas and and alice joyce be mrs. morrison . lois moran get the role of laurel and be excellent and start out a a 10 year old . douglas fairbanks and jr. play the boy friend . they be both 16. jean hersholt be ed munn and vera lewis be a gossipy teacher and and beatrix pryor play fairbanks mother . bennett never get another good role and die of cancer in 1932 .