Imitation of Life (1959)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Eleanore Griffin (screenplay) and
Allan Scott (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 April 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A struggling young actress with a six-year-old daughter sets up housekeeping with a homeless black widow and her light-skinned eight-year-old daughter who rejects her mother by trying to pass for white.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Coney Island | Widow | Maid | African American

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Lana Turner	...	Lora Meredith
John Gavin	...	Steve Archer
Sandra Dee	...	Susie, age 16
Susan Kohner	...	Sarah Jane, age 18
Robert Alda	...	Allen Loomis
Dan O'Herlihy	...	David Edwards
Juanita Moore	...	Annie Johnson
Karin Dicker	...	Sarah Jane, age 8
Terry Burnham	...	Susie, age 6
John Vivyan	...	Young man
Lee Goodman	...	Photographer
Ann Robinson	...	Showgirl
Troy Donahue	...	Frankie
Sandra Gould	...	Annette
David Tomack	...	Mr. McKenney

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (uncut) (2005) | UK:U (original rating) (cut) | South Korea:12 (1999) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #19184) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Aquarius Theatre - 6239 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Lana Turner took a much smaller salary, than her usual $25,000 per week and worked for 50% of the film's profits, which earned her over $2 million (setting a record for an actress at the time).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The type of desk telephone in Robert Alda's 1947 office was not developed until the mid-1950s.

Quotes:

Steve: Your bones...
Lora Meredith: What about my bones?
Steve: They're perfect. My camera could easily have a love affair with you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in For Pete's Wake! (2007)

Soundtrack:

Imitation of Life

Superb movie!

What can you say about this wonderful classic?!

The acting is extraordinary -- especially Ms. Moore and Ms. Kohner.

The music, the gowns, and Lana Turner.

I'm afraid that Ms. Moore and Ms. Kohner stole the show from the perceived stars of this movie.

I have always been a Sandra Dee fan. I read somewhere that she was most proud of her work in this film. I don't think she had anything to be ashamed of.

The underlying theme of this movie was so heartwrenching. You can never forget the ending, especially Ms. Kohner's line "That's my momma!"

A wonderful, wonderful movie. Very moving!