Lora Meredith, an attractive widow with theatrical aspirations, has lost her 6-year-old daughter, Susie, in the crowded beaches of Coney Island... She finally finds her in the care of Annie Johnson, a black woman, and her very light-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane, who had been playing with Susie
Before long Annie goes to work as a maid for Lora and the two women become fast friends
Encouraged by an agent (Robert Alda), Lora gets a good role in a play by David Edwards
In the years that follow, she becomes a successful Broadway actress and appears in one Edwards enormous hit
But fame means work and work means neglecting Susie, now sixteen, who must bear the loneliness of a teenager whose mother is too busy being a star
A handsome photographer, Steve Archer (John Gavin), is the resolute, admiring love of Lora's life but he too must wait and suffer for her affection
Meanwhile, Annie has big problems with her daughter
Sarah Jane rejects her race, and refuses to accept she is black
She disclaims her mother to camouflage her ancestry and eventually takes a decision with extremely drastic effect
"Imitation of Life" was an ideal tearjerker/soap opera for the major talents of Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner... Moore shined as the self-sacrificing mother so loving, honest and sincere
Cleverly enough, Kohner projected unafraid sensuality
Both stars won Academy Award nominations as Best Supporting Actress
