Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival. If youre an old film lover like me, this film will you why you are. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. Imitation of life 2007 lora meredith lana turner, a white single mother who dreams of being on broadway, has a chance encounter with annie johnson juanita moore, a black widow. In imitation of life, peoples attitude and behavior towards sarah.
The anniesarah jane relationship portrayed in the scene in the motel room at moulin rouge is significant and relevant because it offers a parallel to lorasusie a white widow and her daughter relationship in the film. Her imitation of life creates the film s most emotionally brutalizing moments, and sets into motion a narrative ending of pure heartache. Her imitation of life creates the films most emotionally brutalizing moments, and sets into motion a narrative ending of pure heartache. A widow and her housekeeper go into business together but. Imitation of life is without question one of my alltime favorite movies. Jun 29, 2012 imitation of life is a film that deals with several serious issues like racism, female relationships, mothering and career choices but one is never fooled into thinking the look of the film is not as important as its content. Michael boughen, producer of the tv series, tomorrow when the war began 1 the subject here is imitation of life, but its important to be clear about one point from the start. I was most familiar with the lana turner 1959 version. Fast forward 10 years and lora is now a broadway star. Imitation of life was made in 1934, which means that the hays code, a set of moral policy and guidelines filmmakers were obligated to follow before releasing their work to the public, was still in effect. Fredericka carolyn fredi washington december 23, 1903 june 28, 1994 was an american stage and film actress, civil rights activist, performer, and writer.
Stahls imitation of life, louise beavers finally had the opportunity to show her acting talent in a role that transcends the mammy stereotype to form a profound portrait delilah cant do anything to solve her conflict. Sirks remake of a fannie hurst tearjerker films in 1934 with claudette. A former chorus girl at harlems famed cotton club, juanita moore began her career as a film. Find out when and where you can watch imitation of life on tv with the full listings schedule at. The men in the film do not stand out in the way that the women do, but this is very much a womans picture, emphasising female bonds over trying to please men.
My mother showed it to me when i was a tween and it marked the beginning of my love of. His reputation as an innovative storyteller and commander of great visuals is significantly due to his final hollywood film, imitation of life, which was a massive success upon its original. Oct 12, 2008 its a sin to be ashamed of what you are. This movie wouldnt have had a chance of being made in the present. Motherdaughter relationships are difficult enough to navigate, imitation of life goes to show that this is an ageold difficulty made no easier by also having to. I was only 7 when this movie came out, and i remember when the civil rights movement started and what trouble it caused. When passed before the moviegoers eyes, it may force theater owners to install aisle scuppers to drain off the tears.
This movie wouldnt have had a chance of being made in the present climate of political correctness. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette colbert, one black louise beavers. At every turn, we see her limitations should she own her identity in racist america. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m.
Imitation of life, an adaptation of the novel starring claudette colbert. It was the topgrossing independent film release of 2014. This is to her advantage, due to the laws and social mores of the time. Susan kohner, sandra dee, john gavin, juanita moore, lana turner. Whilst in the original film, the imitation of life was just a reference to peolas in this film, sarah jane desire to pass for white, in this film, three out of the four main characters have been living their own imitations of life.
Stylistically, the film directly parallels its plot in that appearances are what truly matter as they are often. In praise of juanita moores heartbreaking performance in imitation. The imitation of life is one of the most powerful cinematic displays of racial passing in movie history. Its a valiant, heartbreaking moment, but if you dig beneath the scenes giddy surface sheen, you may see that sirk is asking for an instant moratorium on films that further subjugate the role of. However, her mother is always quick to point out that sarah jane is her daughter, and this hinders her.
Imitation of life racism, vicious and defensive the. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the. This movie shows how hollywood dealt with the racial issues back in those years. Imitation of life 1959 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Reflecting on the film imitation of life during womens. Buy tickets for imitation of life at bfi southbank. Magnificent obsession was pretty sweet, but imitation of life feels much more ambitious and complete.
With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner. Lana turner is outstanding in the pivotal role played in universals 1934 version by claudette colbert. An old flame, steve archer, has reappeared in her life and daughter susie is smitten with him. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and fredi washington. It wasnt a small feat to get this film into theaters either. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee the story opens in new york in the late 1940s. Fiftytwo years ago this week, imitation of life, the legendary film about racial identity, was released in theatres. The only other douglas sirk film ive seen is part of all that heaven allows but imitation of life is one of those films that epitomises a directors style. Imitation of life ends with moores annie johnson being dramatically hoisted into a hearse as an entire black community mourns her passing. Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. The film does not condemn sarah jane for her choices. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the latter is rejected by her daughter, who tries to pass for white.
Imitation of life 1959 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Passing, a commonly used term especially in the african american community, occurs when a member of one racial category assumes the ethnicity of another alkon, 2012. By being introduced to the claudette colbert 1934 version, i am now a fannie hurst fan. The film as expected looks great in lavish technicolor, and its. Jan 09, 2012 imitation of life trailer directed by douglas sirk and starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner, robert alda. Imitation of life imitation of life is a remake of fannie hursts novel of the early 1930s. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst.
Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. Imitation of life movie tv listings and schedule tv guide. Jan 09, 2012 imitation of life trailer directed by john m. This movie, released in 1959, features topics that would not be discussed in good company for years. One of their rules included preventing any form of miscegenation being depicted. The screenplay by william hurlbut, based on fannie hursts 1933 novel of the same name, was augmented by eight additional uncredited writers, including preston sturges and finley peter dunne.
Stahl, 1934, based on fannie hursts acclaimed novel, was a defining moment in the history of women in film and a watershed moment for africanamerican casting in hollywood. Imitation of life, a 1981 album by steve beresford and tristan honsinger imitation of life, a song by anthrax from the 1987 album among the living imitation of life song, a 2001 song by r. Imitation of life, the 1934 version, reflected the attitude in the country toward blacks. The presentation of both versions, provided myself with a richer nourishing experience of the fannie hurst story. Director douglas sirk is now recognised as one of the great masters of hollywood cinema. Imitation of life 1959 letterboxd your life in film. Mar 02, 2020 it wasnt a small feat to get this film into theaters either. If you are a fan of old movies, imitation of life delivers the main course. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette colbert, one black louise.
The movie was adapted from fannie hursts novel and a remake of the 1934. Tear jerker indeed, this is the original film from 1934, also bought the 1959 later version imitation of life lana turner, john gavin 1959 all region dvd. Umpg publishing, umpi, latinautor warner chappell, latinautor umpg, cmrra. Motherdaughter relationships are difficult enough to navigate, imitation of life goes to show that this is an ageold difficulty made no easier by also having to deal with death, racial tensions, and heartache along the way. Beside race, imitation of life covers other issues such as family relationship, gender roles, and romance. Washington was of european and african american descent, being one of the first people of color to gain recognition for their film and stage work back in the 1920s and 30s. Imitation of life, an adaptation of the novel starring lana turner. It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender.
Fannie hursts novel imitation of life, produced and released by universal pictures as a vehicle for lana turner. Living a lie is a poor substitute for living the truth sometimes it takes the harsh realties of life to help us discover who we truly are. I watched the 1934 film in the class african americans in film taught by carmen coustaut when i was an undergrad at the university of arkansas. Jul 03, 2003 imitation of life ends with moores annie johnson being dramatically hoisted into a hearse as an entire black community mourns her passing. Film registry 2005 inductee, would fly in the late. Set in new york in the 1950s, imitation of life by douglas sirk portrays an intricate relationship between a black american mother and her fair skin daughter, sarah jane. Stahl and starring warren william, ned sparks, alan hale, henry armetta, wyndham standing.
Sarah jane can pass as white because of her fair skin. Imitation of life, a 1981 album by steve beresford and tristan honsinger imitation of life, a song by anthrax from the 1987 album among the living. Imitation of life is a remake of a 1934 film, based on a 1933 novel. Imitation of life 1934 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee. The subject here is imitation of life, but its important to be clear about one point from the start. The author of numerous bestselling novels, a masterful short story writer, and an outspoken social activist, fannie hurst was a major celebrity in the first half of the twentieth century. Imitation of life is a film that deals with several serious issues like racism, female relationships, mothering and career choices but one is never fooled into thinking the look of the film is not as important as its content. Sirk closed the 1950s and his featurefilmmaking career with imitation of life 1959, his most commercially successful movie.
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