Imitation of Life

Year:

1959

Duration:

125 min

Genres:

Drama | Romance

IMDB rate:

7.9

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1959-04-30

Filming Locations: Aquarius Theater - 6230 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Earnings

Budget: $2,000,000

Gross: $13,990,819 (USA)$25,000,000 (Worldwide)

Cast

Actor

Character

Susan Kohner

Imitation of Life

Lana Turner

Lora Meredith

John Gavin

Steve Archer

Sandra Dee

Susie - 16

Robert Alda

Allen Loomis

Dan O'Herlihy

David Edwards

Juanita Moore

Annie Johnson

Karin Dicker

Sarah Jane - 8

Terry Burnham

Susie - 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

Frank Baker

Party Guest (uncredited)

George Barrows

Furniture Mover (uncredited)

Chuckie Bradley

Bit Part (uncredited)

Paul Bradley

Preston Mitchell (uncredited)

Teddy Buckner

Marching Band Member (uncredited)

Steve Carruthers

Actor at Audition (uncredited)

Richard Collier

McKinney (uncredited)

Paul Cristo

Show Spectator (uncredited)

Joe Darensbourg

Marching Band Member (uncredited)

Robert Darwin

Waiter (uncredited)

Mike De Lay

Marching Band Member (uncredited)

Elinor Donahue

Lora's Friend (uncredited)

Cicely Evans

Louise Morton (uncredited)

Myrna Fahey

Iris Dawn (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Geraldine Moore (uncredited)

George Ford

Show Spectator (uncredited)

Paul Gustine

Bit Part (uncredited)

Tedd Hadfield

Cop (uncredited)

Shep Houghton

Bit Part (uncredited)

Lynne Hunter

Teacher (uncredited)

Nelson Leigh

Doctor (uncredited)

Paul Levitt

Waiter (uncredited)

Leota Lorraine

Bit Part (uncredited)

John Marlowe

Bit Part (uncredited)

John McNamara

Doctor (uncredited)

Joseph Mell

Watchman (uncredited)

Forbes Murray

Bit Part (uncredited)

Eddie Parker

Cop at Funeral (uncredited)

Waclaw Rekwart

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Eddie Smith

Funeral Onlooker (uncredited)

Cap Somers

Truck Driver (uncredited)

Norman Stevans

Bit Part (uncredited)

Ted Thorpe

Dog Owner (uncredited)

Jeanne Westmore

Bit Part (uncredited)

Napoleon Whiting

Kenneth - Lora's Butler (uncredited)

Did you know?

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).

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The exterior shot of Lora Meredith's lavish ranch style house would later be used for the the exterior shots of the Hart's home in the TV show Hart to Hart (1979).

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Pearl Bailey was originally considered for the role of Annie Johnson.

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Goofs

During Broadway montage sequence set in 1951, theater sign advertising Ricardo Montalban in the musical Jamaica can be seen. It didn't open until 1957.

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The type of desk telephone in Robert Alda's 1947 office was not developed until the mid-1950s.

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Steve's photo of Lora as a 'mother in distress' shows no people in the background, but when we see Lora looking for Susie at the start of the film, the boardwalk is packed with people.

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Quotes

Annie: Miss Lora, we just come from a place where... where my color deviled my baby. Now, anything here has gotta be better.

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Sarah Jane: I'm somebody else. I'm white... white... WHITE!

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Lora Meredith: Well, I'm going up and up and up - and nobody's going to pull me down!

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Faq

Q

What is 'Imitation of Life' about?

A

Two widows -- Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) and homeless black housekeeper Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore) -- decide to share a tiny apartment where they can raise their daughters -- six-year old Susie Meredith (Terry Burnham, later Sandra Dee) and eight-year old Sarah Jane Johnson (Karin Dicker, later Susan Kohner) -- while Lora pursues her dream of becoming an actress. Annie's dream of a good life for her and her daughter is disrupted when Sarah Jane, so light-skinned that she can pass for white, turns her back on her black heritage as well as her loving mother.

Q

How does the movie end?

A

Annie is taken to her bed and dies. During her elaborate funeral procession, Sarah Jane resurfaces and rushes to the hearse. "She's my mother, " she cries. Lora brings Sarah Jane to ride in the hearse with them.

Q

Is "Imitation of Life" based on a book?

A

Yes. Imitation of Life is a 1933 novel by American novelist Fannie Hurst. The novel was adapted for the screen by American screenwriters Eleanore Griffin and Allan Scott. This movie is a color remake of the1934 black-and-white film Imitation of Life.

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