Imitation of Life (1959)

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

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

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 | African American | Widow | Maid | Beach

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
Joel Fluellen	...	Minister
Jack Weston	...	Tom
Billy House	...	Fat man on beach
Maida Severn	...	Teacher
Than Wyenn	...	Romano
Peg Shirley	...	Fay
Mahalia Jackson	...	Choir soloist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Barrows	...	Furniture mover (uncredited)
Chuckie Bradley	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Paul Bradley	...	Preston Mitchell (uncredited)
Teddy Buckner	...	Member of marching band (uncredited)
Joe Darensbourg	...	Member of Marching band (uncredited)
Mike De Lay	...	Member of marching band (uncredited)
Cicely Evans	...	Louise Morton (uncredited)
Myrna Fahey	...	Actress (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Geraldine Moore (uncredited)
Leota Lorraine	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	...	Policeman at funeral (uncredited)
Eddie Smith	...	Funeral onlooker (uncredited)
Napoleon Whiting	...	Kenneth - Lora's butler (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Sirk

Writing credits
Eleanore Griffin		(screenplay) and
Allan Scott		(screenplay)
Fannie Hurst		(novel)

Produced by
Ross Hunter	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner
Henry Mancini		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Milton Carruth

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
Richard H. Riedel

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Shaw	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Joe Lapis	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Monty Phillips	....	lead digital artist (digital restoration) (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clifford Stine	....	special photography

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jean Louis	....	gowns: Lana Turner

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor
Jo Ann Greer	....	singing voice: Susan Kohner (uncredited)

Other crew
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents) (as Universal - International)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Legacy Series)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Laykin et Cie  jewels: Miss Turner
• Pathé  Eastman Color by

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (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:

Revealing mistakes: Susan Kohner's bedroom clock radio is unplugged throughout both its scenes, although she switches it on to music in the second scene.

Quotes:

Sarah Jane: [to mother Annie] I wouldn't be caught dead in a colored teachers' college!

Movie Connections:

References This Island Earth (1955)

Soundtrack:

Empty Arms

canned goods as caviar: Sirks last masterpiece.

For a long time Douglas Sirk was dismissed by all but he most insightful critics. It was thought that he made a series of well crafted, well acted, but ultimately empty"weepies"(as well as "americana" films, a swashbuckler( Captain Lightfoot), a revisionist western( Taza Son of Cochise),and a sandals and toga epic(Sign of the Pagan.)

However, the "weepies" have been reevaluated( and the Americana films may be reevaluated as well).Sirk is now seen as one of the most significant American directors of the fifties, and, perhaps, as one of the hundred greatest directors of all time. Imitation of Life was his last Hollywood pictures, and one of his best. I call this film, "Canned goods as caviar", because it is an example of taking a "low brow" genre and transforming it into art. Sure, the music is melodramatic, sure the performances by Gavin and Turner are somewhat contrived), sure, the story is campy, but Sirk in his genius transforms melodrama into a scathing critique of materialism, conformity, and racism. Sirk was no cynic, but a rigorous moralist-a superbly educated and sensitive man, steeped in European and American literature.

One of the most astonishing-and misunderstood- elements in this picture is the incandescent performance by Juanita Moore. Moore achieves what is almost impossible; she portrays human goodness. Ican rarely think of a time when an American film has more saintly, more purely Christian figure.