IMDb > Imitation of Life (1959)
Imitation of Life
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Imitation of Life (1959) More at IMDbPro »

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Imitation of Life (1959) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   4,341 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Eleanore Griffin (screenplay) and
Allan Scott (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Imitation of Life on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 April 1959 (USA) more
Genre:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Diamond of Hollywood
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 2:46 AM, PST)

IESB Interviews The Cast And Crew Of 'New Moon'
 (From TwilightersAnonymous. 9 November 2009, 12:48 PM, PST)

User Comments:
canned goods as caviar: Sirks last masterpiece. more (106 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
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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)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
125 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
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

Fun Stuff

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). more
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. more
Quotes:
Sarah Jane: [to mother Annie] I wouldn't be caught dead in a colored teachers' college! more
Movie Connections:
References This Island Earth (1955) more
Soundtrack:
Empty Arms more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
How closely does the movie follow the novel?
Was Sarah Jane's father white?
more
60 out of 99 people found the following comment useful.
canned goods as caviar: Sirks last masterpiece., 8 May 2005
10/10
Author: Joseph Harder (jah5y@virginia.edu) from warren michigan

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.

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Crying Over This Film musicman81
sarah jane at the end...(SPOILERS) neely_o_hara
If you were in Sarah Jane's shoes would..... jasbru7
JOHN GAVIN A DEFINITE ASSET kenolting
Even to this day it touches my heart obsid1177
Is this the movie in which....? jose_qf
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