So Big! (1932)

In the late 19th century, young Selina Peake finds her world overturned in Chicago, as her father's gambling debts culminate in his untimely death, leaving her destitute. Seeking resilience in adversity, she secures a position as a schoolteacher in a quaint Dutch farming community. Here, she boards with the Poole family, whose son Roelf, a hardworking farm boy with an artistic soul, becomes her eager pupil. Together, they immerse in a world of culture, literature, and art, forging an intellectual bond that sparks a schoolboy infatuation in Roelf. At a church fundraiser, Selina crosses paths with Pervus De Jong, a hay-market tradesman in need of arithmetic tutoring. As Selina helps Pervus improve his commercial acumen, an unexpected romance blossoms, leaving Roelf heartbroken. Marriage to Pervus brings Selina into the throes of a harsh farming life, giving birth to their son Dirk, fondly known as So Big. When tragedy strikes again, leaving her a young widow, Selina confronts the scorn of the town's menfolk to succeed in running the farm single-handedly, transforming it into a flourishing asparagus business. Meanwhile, Roelf, seeking escape from the farming life he perceives as the cause of his mother's death, embarks on a solo journey, ultimately flourishing as a renowned sculptor in Europe. Back home, Dirk, now a college graduate in architecture, is enticed away from his professional passion by a glamorous lifestyle and a tantalizing affair with a married woman. He abandons architecture for a lucrative position in her husband's investment firm, a choice that leaves him wealthy but deeply unsatisfied. His path intersects with artist Dallas O'Mara, hired to design an ad for Dirk's firm, who rebukes his decision to forsake architecture. Dallas reintroduces Dirk to her old friend Roelf, leading to an emotional reunion between Roelf and Selina. As Dirk watches his mother and Roelf exchange accolades, he is humbled by their achievements and the realization that the light of success radiates from those who toil earnestly. Selina's journey from hardship to triumph, and the profound impact of her influence, paints a vibrant portrait of determination, love, and the enduring power of education.

So Big! is a drama movie featuring Barbara Stanwyck.

So Big! is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.