Imitation of Life

1959

2h 5m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

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50 Images

Drama

Romance

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.

Directors

Douglas Sirk

Writers

Eleanore Griffin(screenplay by)

Allan Scott(screenplay by)

Fannie Hurst(novel by)

Stars

Lana Turner

John Gavin

Juanita Moore

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Videos3

Trailer
Watch Imitation Of Life ≣ 1959 ≣ Trailer
Trailer
Watch Imitation of Life Official Trailer #1 - Lana Turner Movie (1959) HD
Featurette
Watch Dan Ireland on IMITATION OF LIFE

Top cast

Lora Meredith

Steve Archer

Annie Johnson

Susie (16)

Sarah Jane (18)

Allen Loomis

David Edwards

Sarah Jane (8)

Susie (6)

Young man

Photographer

Showgirl

Frankie

Receptionist

Mr. McKenney

Minister

Stage manager

Fat Man on Beach

Directors

Douglas Sirk

Writers

Eleanore Griffin(screenplay by)

Allan Scott(screenplay by)

Fannie Hurst(novel by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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.

Geronimo196724 Jan, 2023