Director douglas sirk is now recognised as one of the great masters of hollywood cinema. Imitation of life imitation of life is a remake of fannie hursts novel of the early 1930s. Imitation of life 1959 by the ultimate fashion history. Lana turner stars as lora, a single mother focusing on starting an acting career and raising her daughter. Other articles where imitation of life is discussed. I was most familiar with the lana turner 1959 version. Imitation of life 2007 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. Style and the domestic melodrama, an article originally published in jump cut, no. His reputation as an innovative storyteller and commander of great visuals is significantly due to his final hollywood film, imitation of life, which was a massive success upon its original. Imitation of life 1934 was a wellmounted adaptation of hursts drama about racism and single parenthood, as told through the friendship of two womenone white claudette colbert, the other african american louise beavers. Watch imitation of life 1934 online verizon fios tv. It hit the number 83 in the billboard hot 100 list.
According to robesons son, she had a longrunning affair with the actorsinger. Sirks version starred lana turner as an actress and uninterested mother whose daughter sandra dee is. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Imitation of life 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities.
Apr 30, 2001 imitation of life is the 8th song of r. Single mom and aspiring actress lora lana turner, embarrassed by christmas attention from steve john gavin, as housekeeperroommate annie juanita moore takes a call from agent loomis robert alda, representing edwards dan oherlihy, in douglas sirks hit imitation of life, 1959. Its something you have to absorb to fully understand, to mentally push back the clock and see the ways things have changed and how they havent. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the latter is rejected by her daughter, who tries to pass for white. Lana turner is outstanding in the pivotal role played in universals 1934 version by claudette colbert. Juanita moore, the oscarnominated star of imitation of life, has died at the age of 99. Lora meredith turner is a widow struggling to make it as an actress as well as take care of her little daughter susie. Find out where imitation of life is streaming, if imitation of life is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette. Cliff has a ton of stuff about the films background and just how tough it was to follow up her work in this movie, and its well worth a read. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. A struggling young actress with a six yearold daughter sets up housekeeping with a homeless black widow and her lightskinned eight yearold daughter. Feb 04, 2008 washingtons dusky gorgeousness in imitation of life must have scared hollywood bosses even as it tempted them. Sep 14, 20 imitation of life trouble of this world sung by mahalia jackson youtube stay safe and healthy.
The presentation of both versions, provided myself with a richer nourishing experience of the fannie hurst story. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. A young white widow claudette colbert with a baby girl goes into a business partnership with her colored maid louise beavers who.
Stahl, 1934, based on fannie hursts acclaimed novel, was a defining moment in the history of women in film and a watershed moment for africanamerican casting in hollywood. The men in the film do not stand out in the way that the women do, but this is very much a womans picture, emphasising female bonds over trying to please men. Tcm moms in the movies 1of4 imitation of life intro by sonofaspaceape. Imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie, imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie, imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie, imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie dvd quality. Released january 22nd, 2007, imitation of life stars lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, dan oherlihy the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 5 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959.
The legendary lana turner stars in this 1959 version of fannie hursts emotionally charged drama, which chronicles two widows and their troubled daughters as they struggle to find true happiness amidst racial prejudice. With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner. Photograph by everett for his last hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic. Imitation of life, along with the 1934 film its remaking and the novel it was inspired by was one of the most poignant films that dealt with race.
Imitation of life novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. Due to ongoing covid19 concerns, film forum is temporarily closed. Popular videos imitation of life imitation of life topic. 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. Atlantic city, in 1919, was not just a boardwalk, rollingchairs and expensive hotels where bridal couples spent their honeymoons. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of. Imitation of life is a remake of fannie hursts novel of the early 1930s. A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter. The original theatrical release print of imitation of life featured different title cards, including a title card containing a brief prologue, which read. Imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie, imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie dvd quality imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie dvdrip online free imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie dvd quality. The actor, who played alongside lana turner in douglas sirks 1959 race drama, died at home, according to. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst. As we continually monitor and assess this evolving situation, we will share updates via email and bam social media.
Imitation of life is a 1959 american romantic drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal. Due to the evolving covid19 situation and out of consideration for the health of our audiences, staff, and artists, imitation of life on fri, may 15 has been canceled. Imitation of life where to stream and watch decider. Fannie hursts fourhankie bestseller had been filmed before in 1934, but douglas sirks 1959 remake, his last hollywood film, is the one to. Stahl claudette colbert, louise beavers, fredi washington.
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. 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. She got fourth billing in a 1937 fox film, one mile from heaven, but that was it. January 2324 thufri imitation of life 1959, douglas sirk lana turner, susan kohner oscar nomination, juanita moore oscar nomination. Join us for our free, upcoming film discussion with jennifer fleeger, ph. It was the lowest chart of a lead single from an r. Charades, pop skill water hyacinth, named by a poet imitation of life like a koi in a frozen pond like a goldfish in a. The only other douglas sirk film ive seen is part of all that heaven allows but imitation of life is one of those films that epitomises a directors style. Stahl and starring warren william, ned sparks, alan hale, henry armetta, wyndham standing. The films handling of race and the tragic mulatto character is a slice. Ms album reveal, and its the most popular song of the album. Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. Released 62 years apart, stahls imitation of life 1934 and dunyes the watermelon woman 1996 perhaps seem like strange bedfellows, but considered together they posit a nuanced, reflective view on the fraught celebrity of black actresses.
Just log on to your verizon account and watch the latest shows online. If you are a fan of old movies, imitation of life delivers the main course. Jan 02, 2014 juanita moore, the oscarnominated star of imitation of life, has died at the age of 99. While its narrative reveals how problematic the representation and depiction of people of color was in 1934, this film. 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. The last film in hollywood of director douglas sirk written on the wind, the 1959 imitation of lifean 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. January 2325 thusat imitation of life 1934, john m. Aug 21, 2019 imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie online free no download. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The film s handling of race and the tragic mulatto character is a slice.
Imitation of life trailer directed by douglas sirk and starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner, robert alda. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and. Imitation of life the 1934 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. Imitation of life is a strong picture with an unusual plot.
She returned to new york, where she cofounded the negro actors guild of america and was a casting consultant on the 50s two big black musicals. By being introduced to the claudette colbert 1934 version, i am now a fannie hurst fan. Watch the full length movie of imitation of life 1934 online or on the fios mobile app. Imitation of life 1959 movie clip foolish together. Washingtons dusky gorgeousness in imitation of life must have scared hollywood bosses even as it tempted them. We are not selling tickets at this time, but we are hopeful that we will show all of our upcoming films in the near future, possibly at other dates than originally announced. 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. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette colbert, one black louise beavers. Butler presumes otherwise, proposing that the film ridicules delilahs inability to grasp. 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 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. Imitation of life is a deeply interesting movie, but only if you go in knowing that its not something you just watch. A giant among hollywood melodramasperhaps the best tinseltown ever produceddouglas sirks imitation of life stealthily turns a deceptively slick tearjerker into a subversive examination of race in america. Imitation of life 2007 stream and watch online moviefone. Dec 24, 20 imitation of life is no exception to that. Imitation of life trouble of this world sung by mahalia. Plus black and tan 1929 with duke ellington, fredi washington. A struggling young actress with a six yearold daughter sets up housekeeping with a homeless black widow and her lightskinned eight yearold daughter who rejects her mother by trying to pass for white. 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. Jimmie fidler, writing of hattie mcdaniels 1936 ascent into parts once filled by louise beavers, said imitation of life ruined beavers, because, of all idiotic reasons, she was too good. Tear jerker indeed, this is the original film from 1934, also bought the 1959 later version imitation of life lana turner, john gavin 1959 all region dvd read more 2 people found this helpful. With claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks. 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. It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender.