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IMDbPro

Imitation of Life

  • 19591959
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Imitation of Life (1959)
Trailer for this classic drama
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
86 Photos
  • Drama
An aspiring white actress takes in an African-American widow whose mixed-race daughter is desperate to be seen as white.An aspiring white actress takes in an African-American widow whose mixed-race daughter is desperate to be seen as white.An aspiring white actress takes in an African-American widow whose mixed-race daughter is desperate to be seen as white.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Douglas Sirk
  • Writers
    • Eleanore Griffin(screenplay)
    • Allan Scott(screenplay)
    • Fannie Hurst(novel)
  • Stars
    • Lana Turner
    • John Gavin
    • Sandra Dee
Top credits
  • Director
    • Douglas Sirk
  • Writers
    • Eleanore Griffin(screenplay)
    • Allan Scott(screenplay)
    • Fannie Hurst(novel)
  • Stars
    • Lana Turner
    • John Gavin
    • Sandra Dee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 176User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Imitation of Life
    Trailer 2:19
    Imitation of Life

    Photos86

    Lana Turner, Terry Burnham, and Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life (1959)
    Lana Turner, Terry Burnham, Karin Dicker, and Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life (1959)
    John Gavin and Lana Turner in Imitation of Life (1959)
    Lana Turner and Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life (1959)
    Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life (1959)
    Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life (1959)
    Imitation of Life (1959)
    Imitation of Life (1959)
    Imitation of Life (1959)
    Imitation of Life (1959)
    Lana Turner and Robert Alda in Imitation of Life (1959)
    Sandra Dee in Imitation of Life (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lana Turner
    Lana Turner
    • Lora Meredithas Lora Meredith
    John Gavin
    John Gavin
    • Steve Archeras Steve Archer
    Sandra Dee
    Sandra Dee
    • Susie (16)as Susie (16)
    Susan Kohner
    Susan Kohner
    • Sarah Jane (18)as Sarah Jane (18)
    Robert Alda
    Robert Alda
    • Allen Loomisas Allen Loomis
    Dan O'Herlihy
    Dan O'Herlihy
    • David Edwardsas David Edwards
    Juanita Moore
    Juanita Moore
    • Annie Johnsonas Annie Johnson
    Karin Dicker
    • Sarah Jane (8)as Sarah Jane (8)
    Terry Burnham
    • Susie (6)as Susie (6)
    John Vivyan
    John Vivyan
    • Young Manas Young Man
    Lee Goodman
    • Photographeras Photographer
    Ann Robinson
    Ann Robinson
    • Showgirlas Showgirl
    Troy Donahue
    Troy Donahue
    • Frankieas Frankie
    Sandra Gould
    Sandra Gould
    • Annetteas Annette
    David Tomack
    • Mr. McKenneyas Mr. McKenney
    Joel Fluellen
    • Ministeras Minister
    Jack Weston
    Jack Weston
    • Tomas Tom
    Billy House
    Billy House
    • Fat Man on Beachas Fat Man on Beach
    • Director
      • Douglas Sirk
    • Writers
      • Eleanore Griffin(screenplay)
      • Allan Scott(screenplay)
      • Fannie Hurst(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As Mahalia Jackson started singing at the funeral, Lana Turner lost control and fled to her trailer in tears. When no arguments could convince her to return to the church and shoot the scene, her makeup woman slapped her in the face, breaking her out of her hysterics. She then returned to the set and completed the scene perfectly.
    • Goofs
      When Steve and Susie go riding together their horses jump a low stone wall which one of the horses knocks revealing the whole thing to be a lightweight single-piece prop.
    • Quotes

      Annie: How do you tell a child that she was born to be hurt?

    • Crazy credits
      Juanita Moore, who plays Annie, is billed with the credit "And Presenting Juanita Moore as Annie Johnson", even though she had already appeared in many films.
    • Connections
      Featured in Home Stories (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Imitation of Life
      Words by Paul Francis Webster
      Music by Sammy Fain
      Sung by Earl Grant

    User reviews176

    Review
    Top review
    Imitation of life
    there are still yet very many classics needing be made into DVD and this has made it but wish Back Street and Madame X as well as Connie Stevens in Susan Slade and Valley of the Dolls would come out like this has .. I notice now that on Amazon you can get this version as well as the older Claudette Colbert version together :) woo hoo ..

    this is the saddest movie of all time, I remember watching it many years ago before with my mom before she passed away in 1976 many many times .. its just too bad she did't't live to see all the technology of the future to see what they can do with movies now :(

    oh well, hope all enjoy it as much as I did and still do
    helpful•9
    3
    • tjcubby
    • Sep 20, 2005

    FAQ12

    • What is 'Imitation of Life' about?
    • Is "Imitation of Life" based on a book?
    • Who sings the title song? Is it Nat King Cole?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 20, 1959 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Solange es Menschen gibt
    • Filming locations
      • Long Beach, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $365
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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