An actresss lana turner tie to her daughter sandra dee parallels her housekeepers tie to hers. Turner is a single mother, more determined to achieve acting fame and fortune than function as a parent. Today, imitation of life has been reevaluated by critics and is now held up as a. A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter.
Although at times the films deep emotional ties may seem forced or over melodramatic to modern audiences, to anyone who can still invest in that classic melodrama hollywood, the film is the kind of emotional journey and human examination that only sirk seemed to handle so well. Her black maid, moore, is devoted to her own daughter kohner, but loses her when the girl discovers she can pass for white. Jan 24, 2012 imitation of life stars lana turner, sandra dee, john gavin, juanita moore, susan kohner, troy donahue and a cameo by mahalia jacksonthis is a tribute to juanita who passed on january 1. Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana turner. Imitation of life 1959remake of the successful 1934 claudette colbert outing of the same title, and based on fanny hursts novel, with a few plot changes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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. Imitation of life is a 1959 american film and is the second film adaptation of the novel by the same name written by fannie hurst. But what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. Imitation of life 1959 movie simple english wikipedia. Stylistically, the film directly parallels its plot in that appearances are what truly matter as they are often. The original sound track album of imitation of life, the lush, romantic 1959 melodrama from director douglas sirk and stars lana turner, juanita moore, susan kohner, sandra dee, robert alda, and john gavin.
Though im not a fan of melodrama, especially the grand 1950s ones, the clothes aspect drew me in, shallow creature that i am. Imitation of life lana turner john gavin sandra dee 1959 an aspiring actress and her black housekeeper retain a solid friendship despite problems with their teenage daughters. Sirk closed the 1950s and his featurefilmmaking career with imitation of life 1959, his most commercially successful movie. Cast and crew credits for imitation of life, 1959, directed by douglas sirk, with lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, at turner classic movies.
If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical task forces. 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. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst. Aspiring actress lora meredith meets annie johnson, a homeless black woman at coney island and soon they share a tiny apartment. 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.
This film is a great look at attitudes that use to exist out in the open. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of any. The film opens with a long shot of a crowded beach. 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. Imitation of life movie 1959 lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee. C this article has been rated as cclass on the projects quality scale.
Conflict with authority manifested in imitation of life 1959. Today, imitation of life has been reevaluated by critics and is now held up as a masterpiece of douglas sirks directing style. Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana. While the actresss rise to broadway stardom at the cost of true love gives the first half of the film a romantic arc, the. The imitation of life is one of the most powerful cinematic displays of racial passing in movie history. Earl grants vocal, sammy fain and paul thomas websters song, the especially evocative title sequence, from producer ross hunter and director douglas sirks hit melodrama imitation of life, starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee and juanita moore. Imitation of life 1959 movie clip title song, credits. Imitation of life was originally a popular but unremarkable romantic potboiler novel by fannie hurst.
The movie was originally made in 1934 with a remake in 1959. Dec 24, 20 imitation of life is no exception to that. Claudette colbert, lana turner, louise beavers, juanita moore, warren william, john gavin. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, adapted from fannie hursts novel imitation of life, produced by universal as a vehicle for lana turner. Both white and black are leading imitated lives there is a wonderful expression. Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959. Fannie hursts best selling novel of todays tormented generation the story is a look at early 20th century american race relations. Imitation of life is a historically interesting movie. Although many of the instances in which this conflict is portrayed arise from interactions between mothers and daughters, it is obvious that other factors should be.
The last film in hollywood of director douglas sirk written on the wind, the 1959 imitation of life an adaptation of fannie hursts novelis an endlessly fascinating film that speaks volumes about the american journey toward materialism and the racial tensions that are inseparable from it. This article is within the scope of wikiproject film. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the latter is rejected by her daughter, who tries to pass for white. 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. Imitation of life 1959 film analysis by jesse day on prezi. Oct 12, 2008 but what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. With claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks. Lora lana turner majestically enters the frame from the right, as if on a grand stage. Although many of the instances in which this conflict is portrayed arise from interactions between mothers and daughters, it is obvious that other factors should be taken into account. Apr 11, 2016 the movie is very powerful and should be seen by everyone in the sixth grade and up nationwide and worldwide.
This emotionally charged hollywood classic drama follows the. Annie revealed this to the mom and at that point in the story both mothers talked about how they thought that they had failed as mothers. It stars lana turner, john gavin, juanita moore, susan kohner, and sandra dee. While the actresss rise to broadway stardom at the cost of true love gives the first half of the film a romantic arc, the relationship between the two mothers. A oncemust, at least, for its camp value, and for moores earnest performance inside.
To improve this article, please refer to the guidelines. A movie well worth watching if you want to watch a good movie that demonstrates the issue of race in 1950s america. 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. Jo ann greer susan kohners empty arms from imitation of. Rent imitation of life 1959 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. 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. 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 daughter was in love with steve the mothers boyfriend. Oct 25, 2011 imitation of life movie 1959 lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee. When lora returns from italy, sarah jane has run away from home, leaving annie a note that. For positive verification of the old french saying, the more things change, the more they are the same, consider the new film at the roxy. Imitation of life novel project gutenberg selfpublishing.
The movie tells the story of two women and their daughters over the years. Rent imitation of life 1959 starring lana turner and john gavin on dvd and bluray. The original score was composed by frank skinner, and composed by joseph gershensen and the universal pictures orchestra. Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. 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 without question one of my alltime favorite movies. Lana turner, sandra dee and john gavin discover that it takes the realities of life to help us discover who we truly are in this classic, stirring drama of ambition. 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 shots gets closer and closer, framing the railings of a pedestrian way, on which people are walking in every direction.
It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Living a lie is a poor substitute for living the truth sometimes it takes the harsh realities of life to help us discover who we truly are. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee. Its themes of motherdaughter love and abandonment, shame, and racial injustice provoked in many viewers at the time an endless flow of tears and can still bring on the waterworks today. The movie is very powerful and should be seen by everyone in the sixth grade and up nationwide and worldwide. It was produced by ross hunter and released by universal pictures.
Also the subplot was a pretty big deal in this 1959 version. By activating, you agree that you want to enable cloud technology to access your xfinity stream subscription on additional supported devices like computers and tablets, as well. This is imitation of life 1934 vs 1959 by chris wallace on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. To use this banner, please refer to the documentation. Imitation of life 1959 yify download movie torrent yts. Imitation of life is a revolutionary film with many elements contributing to the theme of conflicts with authority. Remake of the successful 1934 claudette colbert outing of the same title, and based on fanny hursts novel, with a few plot changes. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. Imitation of life dvd 1959 region 1 us import ntsc. Photograph by everett for his last hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk. Imitation of life is a 1959 american romantic drama movie. A oncemust, at least, for its camp value, and for moores earnest performance inside an impossibly awful movie.
And those who do still harbor such thoughts have been very much closeted by the politically correct police. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. Jo ann greer susan kohners empty arms from imitation. Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner. Imitation of life douglas sirk, 1959 opening scenes.
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