She went west and began appearing in minor Hollywood films like A Ticket to Red Horse Gulch (1914). Her break came when Samuel Goldwyn selected her from among seventy-three actresses for the leading role in Stella Dallas (1925). The film has been ranked as one of the finest movies of all time. Interesting note: While filming the movie her son, sixteen-year-old William Howard Macy, died. William had posed as Bennett's brother for some time because of her fear that her employers might find out her true age. She was actually thirty-four rather than twenty-four, which she had claimed to be.
After playing the mother role in Stella Dallas, Bennett was typecast for the remainder of her film career. She appeared in Mother Machree (1928), The Battle of the Sexes (1928), The Iron Mask (1929), Courage (1930), Recaptured Love (1930) and The Big Shot (1931).
She survived the transition to sound but sadly, Belle developed cancer and died in 1932, ending what may have been an important “talkie” career. Belle Bennett appeared in 87 films and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This picture of Belle is from the 1930 edition of Stars of the Photoplay, a hardcover book published by Photoplay magazine. The text accompanying the picture was:
In 1925 a new screen mother found fame among the fans-a young and modern mother in the person of Belle Bennett. “Stella Dallas" Was the picture that brought her nation-wide acclaim. Miss Bennett had waited long for success. Born in 1891, in Coon Rapids, Iowa, she trouped for years in stock and appeared in pictures in their early days. She was divorced from William Macy, her first husband. They had one son who passed away when he was sixteen. She married Director Fred Windemere in 1924.
Belle Bennett - What do you think - Allure?
Belle Bennett - What do you think - Allure?