Imitation of Life (1959)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 125 minuten
Alternative title: Zolang Er Mensen Zijn
Country:
United States
Directed by: Douglas Sirk
Stars: Lana Turner, John Gavin and Juanita Moore
IMDb score:
7,8 (19.709)
Releasedate: 2 October 1959
Imitation of Life plot
"Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!"
Lora is an actress who just can't seem to break through. One day at the beach, Lora and her daughter meet black Annie and her white-looking daughter Sarah Jane. Annie is desperately looking for shelter and she and Sarah Jane are allowed to move in with Lora as a domestic help. As the years pass, Lora's success comes as an actress and the four remain together all the while. But from an early age Sarah Jane has had problems with being black and tries to hide it as best she can from the outside world, much to her mother's chagrin.
Actors and actresses
Lora Meredith
Steve Archer
Susie (16)
Sarah Jane (18)
Allen Loomis
David Edwards
Annie Johnson
Sarah Jane (8)
Susie (6)
Young man
Reviews & comments
mjk87 (moderator films)
-
- 14546 messages
- 4526 votes
Especially what an incredibly nice film to watch. Lana Turner is radiant from the first second and a little later is also completely believably made up when she is twelve years older. In addition, you notice that the entire cast plays with a certain pleasure, especially Sandra Dee made me completely happy. Also a very nice role of Gavin as Steve. But across the board the acting is also quite modern without exaggerated melodrama. No, in everything this is a very nice subtle film.
The film actually consists of two storylines that never really come together in a credible way. At least, there is no reason why both are in this film - there is no logical connection between them. In addition, the role of Sarah Lee is certainly not written equally well. Too black and white and you miss a bit of background, something that was probably well known to the public in '59 (yes okay, it is there, but I don't feel anything for it). Furthermore, beautiful use of color, nice sets, surprisingly fresh and modern looking, great music and not a dull moment. Then it may not be a perfect film, but that doesn't spoil much fun either. So here and there not a top film, but a fine piece of entertainment and moving at the end. 4.0*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
brief encounter
-
- 48 messages
- 50 votes
Very entertaining film with a lot of storylines and sometimes some stereotypical characters. Sandra Dee is very charming. Great that she was in the film. You have to love Lana Turner. She reminded me of Meryl Streep; another actress who evokes admiration in some and aversion 
in others (in me).
Still a film that should be better known. Just try it when the time comes.
Translated from Dutch · View original
El Loco
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- 1114 messages
- 2392 votes
After All That Heaven Allows this is the second of Douglas Sirk that I have seen and both are quite similar to each other. Where in All That Heaven Allows the relationship between an older woman and a younger man is strained by the reactions of the outside world, here it is a mother-daughter relationship that is difficult because of their difference in skin color. The first part mainly focuses on Lora's career and her relationship with Steve and in the second part the difficulties between Annie and Sarah Jane come more to the fore.
I also find this Imitation of Life to be an over-the-top melodrama. Every dialogue is presented with enormous gravity and especially at the final scene where Sarah Jane is crying at her mother's coffin, I was watching with vicarious shame. The very smooth male types like Steve and the movie agent should not be missing either.
It's a shame, because the story is quite interesting enough to follow, but it is presented in a much too loaded manner.
2.5*
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