Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of any. Imitation of life douglas sirk, 1959 opening scenes. Imitation of life 1934 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. 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. Sep 24, 20 this critique discusses the 1959 version of imitation of life directed by douglas sirk. Imitation of life could almost be a parody of everything americans find embarrassing about our social attitudes in the 1950s. The song makes more sense when you have seen the movie. But what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes.
As imitation of life is both sirks final film and, arguably, his masterpiece, a reexamination of its actual achievement is long overdue. Lora meredith turner is a widow struggling to make it as an actress as well as take care of her little daughter susie. The woman who chooses a career over marriage finds herself empty and her family falling apart. 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. But even though the director tries to make the imitation nicely, it still have the big. 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. The film historian donald bogle called her a character in search of a. 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. 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. Sirk was bombarded with offers, but he retired instead. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. The movie was originally made in 1934 with a remake in 1959. 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.
However, her mother is always quick to point out that sarah jane is her daughter, and this hinders her. Imitation of life is arguably his highest masterpiece. Hunter offered turner the starring role in a remake of imitation of life 1934. Imitation of life is an interracial film between a black woman delilah and white woman bea.
Stahls imitation of life movie was certainly the shameless. Imitation of life is a piece of social criticism of. The melodrama film examined conflict within the home, often with an emphasis on gender roles. Imitation of life racism, vicious and defensive the. 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. Imitation of life analysis essay example graduateway.
Sirks version starred lana turner as an actress and uninterested mother whose daughter sandra dee is. 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. 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. And those who do still harbor such thoughts have been very much closeted by the politically correct police. With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner.
This critique discusses the 1959 version of imitation of life directed by douglas sirk. But in the case of imitation of life at least the sarris line remains cryptic, if not misleading. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. Stahls 1934 movie, also called imitation of life, based on fannie hursts bestselling novel, starring claudette colbert and louise beavers. Ads were placed in national weekly magazines, young adult magazines, women appeal magazines, teenager appeal magazines, family appeal magazines, negro national magazines, and more. Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959. 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.
Butler presumes otherwise, proposing that the film ridicules delilahs inability to grasp. 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. Imitation of life is without question one of my alltime favorite movies. This film is a great look at attitudes that use to exist out in the open. It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. As each generation passes away, so do bigotries and stereotypes. Both susan kohner and juanita moore earned a nomination for the academy award in the best actress in a supporting role category. Hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic torrent of rage at the corrupt core of american lifethe unholy. 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. 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. Based loosely on reality, imitation of life was inspired by a trip to canada that fannie hurst had. 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. Imitation of life 1959 movie clip title song, credits.
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. Imitation of life by douglas sirk portrays a complex relationship between a black american mother and her fair skin daughter, sarah jane. Though im not a fan of melodrama, especially the grand 1950s ones, the clothes aspect drew me in, shallow creature that i am. 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. 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. The teenage girl listening to records finds herself seduced into a life of sin. 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.
In my mind i guess i was leaving hollywood, yes, even before i made the picture, he said. This emotionally charged hollywood classic drama follows the. Appearance is a central theme throughout the story. But before turning to film in the 1930s, sirk made a career for himself as a. 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. 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. 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. Though lora lana turner shuns the love of steve archer john gavin and lies in order to. 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. 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. Imitation of life 1959 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. 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. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. Photograph by everett for his last hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic.
Based on the fanny hurst novel, imitation of life is a movie directed by douglas sirk in 1959. Film registry 2005 inductee, would fly in the late. This is to her advantage, due to the laws and social mores of the time. Based loosely on reality, imitation of life was inspired by a. An old flame, steve archer, has reappeared in her life and daughter susie is smitten with him. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The 1934 version of imitation of life is definitely less glossy and doesnt have the same distraction of pretty clothes and the staractress glamour. Imitation of life is a historically interesting movie.
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. Aug 15, 2009 made at universal, sirks version is a remake of john m. 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. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959. Imitation of life 1959 film analysis by jesse day on prezi. Imitation of life was originally a popular but unremarkable romantic potboiler novel by fannie hurst. Imitation of life became one of the biggest hits in universals history. Made at universal, sirks version is a remake of john m. Financial analysis of imitation of life 1959 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. In imitation of life, peoples attitude and behavior towards sarah. Imitation of life film analysis 1642 words 7 pages. These films are all that heaven allows 1955, written on the wind 1956, the tarnished angels 1958 and imitation of life 1959. Oct 12, 2008 but what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes.
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 is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal international. The message behind this film is to live your life in authenticity, to be proud of your roots, and embrace. Fast forward 10 years and lora is now a broadway star. Douglas sirk enriches this lush remake of imitation of life with racial. 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.
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. Watch imitation of life movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. Sarah jane can pass as white because of her fair skin. 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. What she never realizes is that her performances, including her own life, are a bit tacky at times and very uninformed. Jun 18, 2014 but in the case of imitation of life at least the sarris line remains cryptic, if not misleading. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst. 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. The imitation of life is one of the most powerful cinematic displays of racial passing in movie history. Style and the domestic melodrama, an article originally published in jump cut, no. 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. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing imitation of life near you. For lana turner, that hit a little too close to home, and she hesitated.