This is to her advantage, due to the laws and social mores of the time. Based on the fanny hurst novel, imitation of life is a movie directed by douglas sirk in 1959. Imitation of life racism, vicious and defensive the. Imitation of life is arguably his highest masterpiece. Based loosely on reality, imitation of life was inspired by a. Imitation of life 1959 movie clip title song, credits. Set in new york in the 1950s, imitation of life by douglas sirk portrays an intricate relationship between a black american mother and her fair skin daughter, sarah jane. Watch imitation of life movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. The 1934 version of imitation of life is definitely less glossy and doesnt have the same distraction of pretty clothes and the staractress glamour. Earl grants vocal, sammy fain and paul thomas websters song, the especially evocative title sequence, from producer ross hunter and director douglas sirks hit melodrama imitation of life, starring lana. But before turning to film in the 1930s, sirk made a career for himself as a. The imitation of life is one of the most powerful cinematic displays of racial passing in movie history.
For lana turner, that hit a little too close to home, and she hesitated. Imitation of life 1959 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Mar 31, 2014 there is a perpetual tension between up and down, black and white, and real and fake throughout the film and this tension is introduced right from the start. Imitation of life is a piece of social criticism of. Sirks version starred lana turner as an actress and uninterested mother whose daughter sandra dee is.
In my mind i guess i was leaving hollywood, yes, even before i made the picture, he said. These films are all that heaven allows 1955, written on the wind 1956, the tarnished angels 1958 and imitation of life 1959. Imitation of life 1959 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. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing imitation of life near you. Imitation of life is a historically interesting movie. In the film, the main characters are lora, a white single mother who dreams of becoming an actress and annie, an african american single mother who is trying to make a life for her and her daughter lora takes in annie and her daughter as her nanny, but treats her no different. An old flame, steve archer, has reappeared in her life and daughter susie is smitten with him.
Imitation of life 1959 film analysis by jesse day on prezi. 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. The movie was originally made in 1934 with a remake in 1959. But in the case of imitation of life at least the sarris line remains cryptic, if not misleading.
Appearance is a central theme throughout the story. Enter ross hunter, producer of lavish womens pictures for universal, who had breathed new life into the careers of aging stars like jane wyman and barbara stanwyck. Hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic torrent of rage at the corrupt core of american lifethe unholy. Imitation of life an analysis set in new york in the 1950s, imitation of life by douglas sirk portrays an intricate relationship between a black american mother and her fair skin daughter, sarah jane. Stahls imitation of life movie was certainly the shameless.
Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959. Originally, the heroine was a widowed mother who kept the wolf from the door by setting up a successful pancake business with her black housemaid. Imitation of life is an interracial film between a black woman delilah and white woman bea. Lora meredith turner is a widow struggling to make it as an actress as well as take care of her little daughter susie. It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Nim from auckland, new zealand the name of the movie that patrick refers to is actually imitation of life a great film by douglas sirk that typifies the hopes an aspirations of different women in 50s america. In the subsequent 1959 version directed by douglas sirk, they cast a biracial jewishhispanic actress, susan kohner, to play peola, evading any vigorous or challenging casting opportunities. Blacks in cinema 2151 march 5, 20 set in new york in the 1950s, imitation of life by douglas sirk portrays a complex relationship between a black american mother and her fair skin daughter, sarah jane. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst. Imitation of life by douglas sirk portrays a complex relationship between a black american mother and her fair skin daughter, sarah jane. Imitation of life 1934 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Oct 12, 2008 but what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. Its been years, but i recall thinking that the 1934 version and pinky1949 told the tragic mulatta story in a more complex and interesting way than the 1959 film. Though lora lana turner shuns the love of steve archer john gavin and lies in order to.
Based loosely on reality, imitation of life was inspired by a trip to canada that fannie hurst had. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. The teenage girl listening to records finds herself seduced into a life of sin. The message behind this film is to live your life in authenticity, to be proud of your roots, and embrace. However, her mother is always quick to point out that sarah jane is her daughter, and this hinders her. Though im not a fan of melodrama, especially the grand 1950s ones, the clothes aspect drew me in, shallow creature that i am. Since the topic didnt thrill me, i submitted the following essay, which certainly addresses the topic but also includes some, shall we say, melodrama of.
Sirk was bombarded with offers, but he retired instead. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the latter is rejected by her daughter, who tries to pass for white. Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959. This emotionally charged hollywood classic drama follows the. The melodrama film examined conflict within the home, often with an emphasis on gender roles. Made at universal, sirks version is a remake of john m. Earl grants vocal, sammy fain and paul thomas websters song, the especially evocative title sequence, from producer ross hunter and director douglas sirks hit melodrama imitation of life, starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee and juanita moore. Imitation of life 1959 film analysis by jesse day on prezi in the film, the main characters are lora, a white single mother who dreams of becoming an actress and annie, an african american single mother who is trying to make a life for her and her daughter lora takes in annie and her daughter as her nanny, but treats her no different. Imitation of life became one of the biggest hits in universals history. Film registry 2005 inductee, would fly in the late. This movie is a melodrama that shows the love and the hardships between mother and daughter while juggling the tasks of work, love, and personal problems. In imitation of life, peoples attitude and behavior towards sarah. Imitation of life was originally a popular but unremarkable romantic potboiler novel by fannie hurst.
Meanwhile sarah jane is trying to make her way in the world, socially and careerwise, but her idealistic, hardheaded, clingy mother is still embarrassing and hindering her. Butler presumes otherwise, proposing that the film ridicules delilahs inability to grasp. But what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. Aug 15, 2009 made at universal, sirks version is a remake of john m.
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. For positive verification of the old french saying, the more things change, the more they are the same, consider the new film at the roxy. I was given an assignment to submit an essay discussing douglas sirks 1959 melodrama, imitation of life in a career women in film course i took some time ago. Sarah jane can pass as white because of her fair skin. As imitation of life is both sirks final film and, arguably, his masterpiece, a reexamination of its actual achievement is long overdue. Imitation of life is without question one of my alltime favorite movies. This critique discusses the 1959 version of imitation of life directed by douglas sirk. Both susan kohner and juanita moore earned a nomination for the academy award in the best actress in a supporting role category. Imitation of life movie trailer and videos tv guide. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee. Sep 24, 20 this critique discusses the 1959 version of imitation of life directed by douglas sirk. Fast forward 10 years and lora is now a broadway star. But even though the director tries to make the imitation nicely, it still have the big.
Imitation of life is a 1959 american film and is the second film adaptation of the novel by the same name written by fannie hurst. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. Imitation of life could almost be a parody of everything americans find embarrassing about our social attitudes in the 1950s. Imitation of life douglas sirk, 1959 opening scenes. With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner. Imitation of life film analysis 1642 words 7 pages. Passing, a commonly used term especially in the african american community, occurs when a member of one racial category assumes the ethnicity of another alkon, 2012. Feb 18, 2019 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 relations. Apr 20, 2005 imitation of life 1959 was not a box office success due to its content alone, the barrage of advertising around the film was aimed at all demographics. Style and the domestic melodrama, an article originally published in jump cut, no. Stahls 1934 movie, also called imitation of life, based on fannie hursts bestselling novel, starring claudette colbert and louise beavers.
Hunter offered turner the starring role in a remake of imitation of life 1934. I think the whole film try to express a new idea to the audience, black people are equal with the white people, they can work together, live together, and even they can open a. Director jm stahl first made it into a film in 1934 and by the time sirk brought it to the screen for the second time, the story had been. Douglas sirk enriches this lush remake of imitation of life with racial. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of any. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Jun 18, 2014 but in the case of imitation of life at least the sarris line remains cryptic, if not misleading. The film historian donald bogle called her a character in search of a. I think the whole film try to express a new idea to the audience, black people are equal with the white people, they can work together, live together, and even they can open a business and corporate successful. Photograph by everett for his last hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic. Jul 03, 2003 1959s sardonic imitation of life deals with blond bombshell lora merediths rise to fame and her complicated relationships with a series of carnivorous men, her hotheaded daughter, and her angelic africanamerican maid annie johnson juanita moore. The song makes more sense when you have seen the movie. Imitation of life analysis essay example graduateway.
The woman who chooses a career over marriage finds herself empty and her family falling apart. Ads were placed in national weekly magazines, young adult magazines, women appeal magazines, teenager appeal magazines, family appeal magazines, negro national magazines, and more. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. What she never realizes is that her performances, including her own life, are a bit tacky at times and very uninformed.
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