DramaRomance

Imitation of Life

- Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!

In 1940s New York, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway has a chance encounter with a black single mother, who becomes her maid.

Release Date : 1959-06-26

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal International Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Lora Meredith

Original Name : Lana Turner

Gender : Female

Character Name : Steve Archer

Original Name : John Gavin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Annie Johnson

Original Name : Juanita Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Susie (16)

Original Name : Sandra Dee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sarah Jane (18)

Original Name : Susan Kohner

Gender : Female

Character Name : Allen Loomis

Original Name : Robert Alda

Gender : Male

Character Name : David Edwards

Original Name : Dan O'Herlihy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah Jane (8)

Original Name : Karin Dicker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Susie (6)

Original Name : Terry Burnham

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young man

Original Name : John Vivyan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Photographer

Original Name : Lee Goodman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Showgirl

Original Name : Ann Robinson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frankie

Original Name : Troy Donahue

Gender : Male

Character Name : Receptionist

Original Name : Sandra Gould

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. McKenney

Original Name : David Tomack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minister

Original Name : Joel Fluellen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stage manager

Original Name : Jack Weston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fat Man on Beach

Original Name : Billy House

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teacher

Original Name : Maida Severn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Romano

Original Name : Than Wyenn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fay

Original Name : Peg Shirley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Choir Soloist

Original Name : Mahalia Jackson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Geraldine Moore (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest

Original Name : Frank Baker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Alex Ball

Gender : Male

Character Name : Furniture Mover

Original Name : George Barrows

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man at Coney Island

Original Name : Chet Brandenburg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marching Band Member

Original Name : Teddy Buckner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Security

Original Name : George Calliga

Gender : Male

Character Name : Actor at Audition

Original Name : Steve Carruthers

Gender : Male

Character Name : McKinney

Original Name : Richard Collier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Show Spectator

Original Name : Paul Cristo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marching Band Member

Original Name : Joe Darensbourg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Robert Darin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marching Band Member

Original Name : Mike De Lay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lora's Friend

Original Name : Elinor Donahue

Gender : Female

Character Name : Himself (Archive Footage)

Original Name : Adolf Eichmann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louis Morton

Original Name : Cicely Evans

Gender : Female

Character Name : Iris Dawn

Original Name : Myrna Fahey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Show Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : George Ford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cop

Original Name : Tedd Hadfield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teacher

Original Name : Lynne Hunter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Nelson Leigh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Paul Levitt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : John McNamara

Gender : Male

Character Name : Watchman

Original Name : Joseph Mell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cop at Funeral

Original Name : Eddie Parker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Patron

Original Name : Waclaw Rekwart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Cosmo Sardo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Audience Member

Original Name : Jeffrey Sayre

Gender : Male

Character Name : Truck Driver

Original Name : Cap Somers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dog Owner

Original Name : Ted Thorpe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kenneth, Lora's Butler

Original Name : Napoleon Whiting

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-01-24

Whilst Lana Turner is great in this family drama, the plaudits really ought to go to the sparing appearances of the hugely charismatic Juanita Moore. The latter woman is very much down on her luck, with her daughter "Sarah Jane", when she rescues the young "Susie", separated at the beach from her mother "Lora" (Turner). Not that she has much better prospects, but "Lora" takes in the destitute couple and that seems to act as her good luck charm. A budding actress, she finds herself slowly but surely - with the aide of the less than scrupulous "Loomis" (Robert Alda) - climbing up the greasy pole - without, it has to be said, compromising her integrity. The four march on as her star rises, but of course there is no pain, no gain. "Sarah Jane" (by now Susan Kohner) is of mixed-race, and as she struggles to fit in socially, she goes off the rails. Meantime, "Lora" has an on/off relationship with "Steve" (John Gavin) to whom, also, her daughter takes a bit of a shine too! It's not a melodrama, this film - it's a well crafted characterful drama that mixes comedy, aspiration, racial tension and love - in many different guises; and it delivers a thought provoking but still very entertaining look at 1950s America. Success always comes at a price, and much of Turner's excellence here comes from the fact that she plays a woman who almost glides through life without really appreciating how or why it impacts on her. It's only when the tragedies - yes there are a few - start to hit her square on, that she has to adjust to real life. Gavin was never really any better than eye candy, but here he does have an extra gear and there are strong contributions from both Kohner and Sandra Dee as the sixteen year old "Susie". Henri Mancini had a hand in the score of this lavish and complex story that really does allow the talent on screen to deliver some solid writing well and engagingly. Two hours just flies by.

griggs79

@griggs79

2024-09-25

Imitation of Life is a masterpiece that explores race, class, and privilege in 1950s America. Douglas Sirk's final Hollywood film masterfully contrasts the lives of Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) and Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), using their intertwining stories to expose the stark divides of the era. The emotional depth of Annie's relationship with her daughter, who chooses to pass as white, is super-emotional and heart-wrenching. Sirk's use of heightened drama not only serves as a critique of 1950s society's blind spots but also enlightens today's audience about the issues of the time. In the final act, with Mahalia Jackson's moving performance, the film delivers an emotionally shattering experience that cements its status as a timeless work of art. Flawless.