Fiftysix years after it opened, douglas sirks imitation of life playing film. The book was made into a hollywood film in 1934 and 1959. In the film, the main characters are lora, a white single mother who dreams of becoming an actress and annie, an african american single mother who is trying to make a life for her and her daughter lora takes in annie and her daughter as her nanny, but treats her no different. Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. Top 7 quotes from imitation of life free book notes.
The movie imitation of life might be called a melodrama, but it portrays an unfortunate reality of mid20th century life. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the latter is rejected by her daughter, who tries to pass for white. The funeral from imitation of life 1934 complete blu ray. 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.
Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana. Watch imitation of life online stream full movie directv. I tried to make it into a picture of social consciousness not only of a white social consciousness, but of a negro one, too. The film is a remake, or at least the second adaptation of fannie hursts 1933 novel. Sarah jane can pass as white because of her fair skin. Annie becomes the caretaker of loras daughter, suzie sandra dee, while lora pursues her stage career. But what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. But he also, early in his career, simply had trouble describing people and things that he had never seen.
See more ideas about classic movies, i movie and old movies. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal international. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Hurst, fannie, daniel itzkovitz, itzkovitz, daniel. 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. Passengers is an intriguing space romance thats sunk by its ending. Theres nothing i hate more, than all these plastic people with all their plastic promises, and all their plastic deals they just cant be themselves, and live their. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of any. What is love without the giving without love youre only living an imitation, an imitation of life skies above in flaming color without love theyre so much. No film was more important to me as a colored child growing up in west virginia.
It has undergone something of a transformation in reputation since scholars have become more interested in the sentimental literature tradition. As you think about the ending of imitation of life, you might think about how the ending of now, voyager resolved things without really resolving anything. Both white and black are leading imitated lives there is a wonderful expression. 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. When passed before the moviegoers eyes, it may force theater owners to install aisle scuppers to drain off the tears. You would think that in any film with both sandra dee in the same month as gidgets release and lana turner that one or both of them would produce the mostenduring impression, but susan kohner as the black girl passing for white, and, above all, juanita moore as her saintly, longsuffering mother absolutely steal this film. Fast forward 10 years and lora is now a broadway star. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. Imitation of life struck a chord in the 1930s, and it continues to resonate powerfully today. Would passengers have been better with the original. Imitation of life, duke university press, 2004 298 pages.
Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959. Based on a bestselling novel by fannie hurst, sirks film was the second adaptation of the book, and it strays much farther from the source material than the more straightforward 1934 screen version. With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner. Fannie hursts 1933 imitation of life is quintessential mass market chick lit. Sirk conceptualized without reading the book or see. However, her mother is always quick to point out that sarah jane is her daughter, and this hinders her. It was the only hollywood film of the 1930s to view race as a serious issue. Director jm stahl first made it into a film in 1934 and by the time sirk brought it to the screen for the second time, the story had been. Appearance is a central theme throughout the story. Stahl, with claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, at turner classic movies. Meanwhile sarah jane is trying to make her way in the world, socially and careerwise, but her idealistic, hardheaded, clingy mother is still embarrassing and hindering her. Music tv recaps what to stream vulture lists books theater art awards videos.
Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. How biology is inspiring computing by nancy forbes and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. M it was released on april 30, 2001 in the united kingdom and the united states on may 8, 2001 as the lead single from the bands 12th studio album, reveal 2001. Written by jon spaihts, passengers originally generated heat in 2007, when it landed on the black list, a list of the most liked unproduced screenplays voted on. Imitation of life, an adaptation of the novel starring lana turner. Imitation of life 1933 is a book written by fannie hurst, a oncefamous american writer. Lecture notes on imitation of life cmlt 214 spring 2009. Things turn for the better when delilah johnson a devoted young mother and servant offers her service to pullan. For your reference, we provided these imitation of life quotes with page numbers using the following version of the book. An old flame, steve archer, has reappeared in her life and daughter susie is smitten with him. Although its a white novel, imitation of life is certainly a part of the african american canon.
Imitation of life 1959 frequently asked questions imdb. Imitation of life is a 1933 novel by american novelist fannie hurst. Imitation of life and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The legendary lana turner stars in this 1959 version of. 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. Although its a white novel, imitation of life is certainly a part of the african. The funeral from imitation of life 1934 complete blu ray cut. Jon spaihts screenplay had quite a different ending for chris pratt. Would passengers have been better with the original ending. An imitation of the life we know, however narrow, is our only ground, he said.
The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and fredi washington. The new yorker may earn a portion of sales from products and services that are purchased through links on our site as part of. If this book appeals then you might also enjoy the learners by chip kidd. It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Both women deal with the difficulties of motherhood. The film was so famous among blacks that peola, the name of. 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. 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. By the way, the singer mahalia jackson was a major star and her performance at the end of the movie adds to the way that annie gets what she wants not in this life but in the next.
Read the full synopsis of imitation of life, 1934, directed by john m. This is to her advantage, due to the laws and social mores of the time. 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. Gregory porter imitation of life lyrics genius lyrics.
Imitation of life remains the toughestminded movie about. Imitation of life like a koi in a frozen pond like a goldfish in a bowl i dont want to hear you cry thats sugarcane that tasted good thats cinnamon, thats hollywood cmon, cmon no one can see you try you want the greatest thing the greatest thing since bread came sliced youve got it all, youve got it sized like a friday fashion show teenager. The untold story of imitation of life is a fitting title for a. This movie is a color remake of the1934 blackandwhite film imitation of life 1934. Imitation of life is the demonstration of the sad reality that the book is not always better than the movie.
Imitation of life was originally a popular but unremarkable romantic potboiler novel by fannie hurst. Imitation of life remains the toughestminded movie about race in america by charles taylor. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing imitation of life near you. Johnsons funeral at the end of the movie as an irony, declaring that. 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. Imitation of life 1959 film analysis by jesse day on prezi. The novel was adapted for the screen by american screenwriters eleanore griffin and allan scott. Imitation of life stands as sirks masterpiece and perhaps the greatest hollywood melodrama ever made.
1070 776 1035 241 554 1136 1249 427 733 1024 981 1508 1420 1151 309 967 953 407 1414 713 1121 167 1119 719 1319 479 1082 1376 1033 520 1164