Stella (Bette Midler) is a feisty single good time gal working in a
bar when she meets and falls for the suave charms of the young Dr. Steve
Dallas (Stephen Collins ). Although from opposite ends of the social
spectrum they start an affair resulting in Stella becoming pregnant.
After he proposes half heartedly she rejects him and embarks upon
raising their child Jenny as a single mother but is always helped and
encouraged by her stalwart friend, a local good natured barfly, Ed Munn
(John Goodman). Stella is fiercely independent and proud and is
determined to do well by this child and take on whatever jobs she must
to raise her daughter properly. When Jenny is 4 years old her father
suddenly re appears on the scene and is determined to get to know his
daughter. At first reluctant to allow this Stella is persuaded to allow
contact and a happy bond develops between the father and daughter. As
Jenny ( Trini Alvarado) grows up she becomes torn between her fathers
rich and well connected background and her loyalty and love for her
mother who is poor and crass and vulgar but devoted to her daughter. She
also despises the perceived relationship she sees developing between
Stella and Ed Munn who is now a broken alcoholic. Jenny eventually meets
and falls for a boy from her fathers 'world' and Stella realizes that
now the disparities in her own and and Jennys father's backgrounds might
jeopardize her daughters future happiness. So she makes a heart rending
decision played out in the last 10 minutes of the film to ensure that
this is not going to happen.
Thanks for writing this.
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