Watch Stella Maris

Stella Maris is a 1918 silent drama film directed by Marshall Neilan and starring Mary Pickford, Ida Waterman, and Herbert Standing. The film is based on a novel by William John Locke and was highly regarded upon its release. It tells the story of two women with vastly different lives but intricately connected fates due to the kindness of a wealthy man with a disability.

The title character, played by Pickford, is a kind and innocent young woman who is severely disabled due to a spinal injury that she sustained as a child. She has been cared for her entire life by Nurse Gibson, played by Waterman, who is more like a mother than a nurse to Stella. Stella has never left her home or been exposed to the outside world, but this all changes when she meets John Risca, who is played by Standing.

John is a kind and wealthy man who is also disabled, but he is the complete opposite of Stella. He is often careless, self-indulgent and at times unscrupulous. Nevertheless, he is drawn to Stella and her untouched innocence. After an accident, John is left bedridden and near death. His friend, Sir Oliver, advises him to look beyond his own pain and use his money to help others in need.

John takes this advice and indulges in a philanthropic act by secretly paying for Stella's surgery. When Stella's bandages are removed for the first time and she sees herself in the mirror more beautiful than she had ever imagined, she is only grateful to John and the wonders he has brought to her life.

Stella is then introduced to John's world - one that is shallow and depraved. John has a wife, Louise, whom he married for her beauty and her money, but he hates her for her hypocrisy and evil ways. Stella becomes friends with Louise without knowing that Louise is John's wife. She finds herself in the middle of their unhappy marriage and becomes a pawn to both of them.

The film takes a dramatic turn when John admits his love to Stella but she rebuffs him often by referring to Nurse Gibson's care and love for her as the only reason for her survival. She sees the world through the lens of an innocent child who knows not too much except love and care.

At the same time, Louise discovers that John has used her money to help Stella, and she hatches a plot to get even with both John and Stella. The plot thickens and leads to a series of twists and turns that will leave the audience in suspense until the very end.

Stella Maris is a beautifully shot film with stunning performances by Mary Pickford and Ida Waterman. It is a quintessential melodrama of the silent era, with love triangles, plot twists, and emotional ups and downs. The film not only entertains but also touches on important themes such as the need for love, kindness, and care for those who are less fortunate.

It also touches on how money and prestige can shape the way one sees the world and their actions. Stella Maris remains one of the most memorable performances of Mary Pickford's career and is a must-see for anyone who loves classic cinema.

Stella Maris is a 1918 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.