Imitation of life was originally a popular but unremarkable romantic potboiler novel by fannie hurst. A historia foi refilmada em 1959 por douglas sirk, com lana turner, john gavin e sandra dee nos papeis principais. Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal international. But what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. Claudette colbert at her finest in imitation of life. Imitation of life trailer 1934 trailer for imitation of life. Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana turner. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. Claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks, louise beavers, fredi washington. Stahl starring rochelle hudson, claudette colbert, ned sparks genres. Mar 25, 20 imitation of life trailer 1934 trailer for imitation of life. Adapted from activist and protofeminist fannie hursts 1933 novel, the remake is generally regarded as superior despite veering sharply in many respects from the novel and first film, but it was the bigger boxoffice success.
Other articles where imitation of life is discussed. However, for every leap forward in asserting a positive relationship between a white woman and a black woman, there are two massive steps backward. Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959. Imitation of life novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and. Things turn for the better when delilah johnson a devoted young mother and. Aug 29, 2014 imitation of life 1934 a very good film nominated for best picture of the year by the academy with one of my favorite actresses the beautiful claudette colbert as a struggling woman who teams with her friend played by louise beavers to succeed with a pancake recipe and using her aunt jemimalike likeness.
It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Universal remade imitation of life in 1959 starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, juanita moore and susan kohner in the colbert, william, hudson, beavers and washington roles. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and fredi washington. 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. The presentation of both versions, provided myself with a richer nourishing experience of the fannie hurst story. The lives of a widow and her housekeeper are united first in mutual need, then success and ultimately, in heartache in this academy awardnominated best picture. Imitation of life 1934 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Imitation of life 1934 was a wellmounted adaptation of hursts drama about racism and single parenthood, as told through the friendship of two womenone white claudette colbert, the other african american louise beavers. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. The 1934 version won academy award nominations for best picture and best sound while the 1959 version garnered best supporting actress oscar nominations for juanita moore and susan kohner.
Claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks, louise beavers, fredi washington, juanita quigley, alan hale, henry armetta, wyndham standing, franklin pangborn. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Read the full synopsis of imitation of life, 1934, directed by john m. Claudette colbert, louise beavers, fredi washington, warren william. Little house on the prairie tribute videos by me 1,720,166 views 9. With claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks. Stahl, with claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, at turner classic movies. I was most familiar with the lana turner 1959 version. Consequently, when i was informed by armchair marxists in the 70s that the film was a work of. Lora meredith turner is a widow struggling to make it as an actress as well as take care of her little daughter susie. It reached number six on the uk singles charts, giving r. Imitation of life did get the honor of a best picture nomination, losing to colberts other 1934 release, it happened one night, a comedy.
The screenplay by william hurlbut, based on fannie hursts 1933 novel of the same name, was augmented by eight additional uncredited writers, including preston sturges and finley peter dunne. Like most of hursts novels, imitation of life became a popular screen success as well in both of its versions. Butler presumes otherwise, proposing that the film ridicules delilahs inability to grasp. It was also very successful in italy, poland and spain, reaching the top three in these counties, as well as in norway, where it peaked at number four and became the bands third topfive single, after losing my religion and drive. The great director douglas sirks imitation of life, a spectacular, sprawling melodrama, follows a widowed aspiring actress lana turner and a homeless single mother juanita moore who raise their daughters together. Photograph by everett for his last hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. In alabama, this isnt called brechtian, its called scaredycat. The book was made into a hollywood film in 1934 and 1959. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette. This is the america that warmly greeted douglas sirks imitation of life in 1959, and when i saw it in a whitesonly alabama theater, this was with sobbing white matrons responding to the films deeply conservative message about knowing your place. 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. A bestseller in 1933, and subsequently adapted into two beloved and controversial films, imitation of life has played a vital role in ongoing conversations about race, femininity, and the american dream. The 59 version changes a few plot points the turner character isnt a jewish businesswoman, and theres no pancake batter and a big business success for the two women.
Imitation of life 1934 imitation of life 1934 user. In two different versions from different years, these feature films tell the story of two widows and their troubled daughters. Imitation of life was more successful internationally. Jun 10, 2012 imitation of life 1934 directed by john stahl renowned for its early westerns and horror films, universal also laid substantial groundwork for the melodrama in a series of films directed by john m. Tear jerker indeed, this is the original film from 1934, also bought the 1959 later version imitation of life lana turner, john gavin 1959 all region dvd 2 people found this helpful helpful. Jul 06, 2017 english, 2016, movie, full, 2017 movie trailers, action movies,\r\r\r\rsubscribe to trailers. Based on fannie hursts novel, a white woman gets rich with her black housekeepers pancake recipe. While the actresss rise to broadway stardom at the cost of true love gives the first half of the film a romantic arc, the relationship between. The life of laura ingalls wilder tribute little house on the prairie tv show theme song duration.
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. Bea pullman, a white single mother, and her african american maid, delilah johnston, also a single mother, rear their daughters together and become business partners. Imitation of life is a song recorded by american alternative rock band r. M it was released on april 30, 2001 in the united kingdom and the united states on may 8, 2001 as the lead single from the bands 12th studio album, reveal 2001. A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter. The song peaked at number 83 on the billboard hot 100 and number 22 on the billboard modern rock tracks chart.
Oct 12, 2008 but what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. Up next i know why the caged bird sings 1979 diahann carroll constance. Though the pairing lacks the context offered by commentary or documentary segments, it does allow the viewer an interesting opportunity to compare each directors approach towards the source material, in particular how. Imitation of life 1934 a very good film nominated for best picture of the year by the academy with one of my favorite actresses the beautiful claudette colbert as a struggling woman who teams with her friend played by louise beavers to succeed with a pancake recipe and using her aunt jemimalike likeness. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee. Mar 15, 2017 i know why the caged bird sings 1979 diahann carroll constance good maya angelou duration. By being introduced to the claudette colbert 1934 version, i am now a fannie hurst fan. Film class wednesdays winds down with the last three movies of the semester. Imitation of life, a 1981 album by steve beresford and tristan honsinger imitation of life, a song by anthrax from the 1987 album among the living imitation of life song, a 2001 song by r.
Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934 s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette colbert, one black louise beavers. Style and the domestic melodrama, an article originally published in jump cut, no. Today, imitation of life has been reevaluated by critics and is now held up as a masterpiece of douglas sirks directing style. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of. Jul 30, 2007 in 2004, universal repackaged the classic 1934 melodrama, imitation of life, along with the 1959 remake directed by douglas sirk on dvd. Beatrice pullman claudette colbert was widowed early in life, and left to bring up her. Things turn for the better when delilah johnson a devoted young mother and servant offers her service to pullan. Widow bea pullman claudette colbert prepares her girl jessie for day nursery. Feb 04, 2016 the life of laura ingalls wilder tribute little house on the prairie tv show theme song duration. Stahl e estrelado por claudette colbert e warren william. The film was so famous among blacks that peola, the name of one of the main characters, was still a byword for selfhating.
Though the pairing lacks the context offered by commentary or documentary segments, it does allow the viewer an interesting opportunity to compare each directors approach towards the source material, in particular how sirk. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. This weeks film is 1934s imitation of life, a landmark picture for its friendlyish view of africanamericans. During the search for success as an actress, lora neglects her daughter.
May 07, 2014 film class wednesdays winds down with the last three movies of the semester. Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana. It was the only hollywood film of the 1930s to view race as a serious issue. A widow and her housekeeper go into business together but almost lose their daughters. However conflicts arise as the women age and their. Imitation of life stands as sirks masterpiece and perhaps the greatest hollywood melodrama ever made. 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. This is imitation of life 1934 vs 1959 by chris wallace on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
Juanita moore played annie and lana turner, sandra dee, and john galvin were the other main players. Imitation of life 1934 directed by john stahl renowned for its early westerns and horror films, universal also laid substantial groundwork for the melodrama in a series of films directed by john m. Colbert is a working girl who yearns to operate her own business, which she does. In 2004, universal repackaged the classic 1934 melodrama, imitation of life, along with the 1959 remake directed by douglas sirk on dvd. Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. Stahl, three of which made such a strong impression that they were remade by douglas sirk in the 1950s imitation of life, magnificent obsession. Imitation of life is without question one of my alltime favorite movies. Imitation of life 1933 is a book written by fannie hurst, a oncefamous american writer.