Friday, September 25, 2015

Imitation of Life 1959


Imitation of Life   This film is loosely based on a novel by Fannie Hurst.  Lora Meredith takes her young daughter to the beach in Los Angeles.  She meets Annie Johnson and her young daughter.  The girls start to play and Lora learns that Annie and her daughter don’t have a place to live.  Lora invites them to come to their apartment to spend the night.  Right away, Lora gets a call for a modeling job.  She has been filling envelopes to help get money for the rent.  Lora asks Annie if she would watch Susie until she gets back from the job.  Annie has a very positive attitude and Lora finally gets a big break in becoming the actress she has always wanted to be.  Annie and Sarah Jane are able to live permanently with Lora and Susie now that Lora has a steady income.  Annie is such an asset in taking care of the things Lora doesn’t have time for now.
     Even though the blended family isn’t worrying constantly about money and shelter, there are other problems.  Susie feels she doesn’t get enough time with her mother.  Sarah Jane doesn’t want to have an African American mother because she wants to be white like Susie.  I thought this was interesting and I especially liked the attitudes, clothing, hair and cars of the period.  It was the casting couch era with ‘certain’ requirements mentioned for stardom in entertainment!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

125 min, Drama directed by Douglas Sirk with Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda, Dan O’Herlihy, Juanita Moore.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, 83% critic 92% audience on Rotten Tomatoes,  Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 500 reviews.
Special Note:  This film is a remake of a 1934 film that featured Lora setting up a successful pancake business with Annie’s recipe while she waited for stardom.  This film starred Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, 111 min,  Imdb 7.6 out of 10.

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