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Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life

7,4 /10 (324 Votes)
1959 EN 125 min

Overview

In 1940s New York, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway has a chance encounter with a black single mother, who becomes her maid.

Stream

Powered by JustWatch via TMDB

Release date

09/04/1959

Votes

324

Popularity

3.1

Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!

Genres

Status

Released

Language

EN

Runtime

125 min

Lana Turner

Lana Turner

Lora Meredith

John Gavin

John Gavin

Steve Archer

Juanita Moore

Juanita Moore

Annie Johnson

Sandra Dee

Sandra Dee

Susie (16)

Susan Kohner

Susan Kohner

Sarah Jane (18)

Robert Alda

Robert Alda

Allen Loomis

Dan O'Herlihy

Dan O'Herlihy

David Edwards

No photo

Karin Dicker

Sarah Jane (8)

Terry Burnham

Terry Burnham

Susie (6)

No photo

John Vivyan

Young man

No photo

Lee Goodman

Photographer

Ann Robinson

Ann Robinson

Showgirl

Troy Donahue

Troy Donahue

Frankie

Sandra Gould

Sandra Gould

Receptionist

No photo

David Tomack

Mr. McKenney

Joel Fluellen

Joel Fluellen

Minister

Jack Weston

Jack Weston

Stage manager

Billy House

Billy House

Fat Man on Beach

Maida Severn

Maida Severn

Teacher

Than Wyenn

Than Wyenn

Romano

Peg Shirley

Peg Shirley

Fay

Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson

Choir Soloist

Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

Geraldine Moore (uncredited)

Frank Baker

Frank Baker

Party Guest

No photo

Alex Ball

Audience Member

George Barrows

George Barrows

Furniture Mover

Chet Brandenburg

Chet Brandenburg

Man at Coney Island (uncredited)

No photo

Teddy Buckner

Marching Band Member

George Calliga

George Calliga

Security

Steve Carruthers

Steve Carruthers

Actor at Audition

Richard Collier

Richard Collier

McKinney

No photo

Paul Cristo

Show Spectator

No photo

Joe Darensbourg

Marching Band Member

No photo

Robert Darin

Waiter

No photo

Mike De Lay

Marching Band Member

Elinor Donahue

Elinor Donahue

Lora's Friend

Adolf Eichmann

Adolf Eichmann

Himself (Archive Footage)

Cicely Evans

Cicely Evans

Louis Morton

Myrna Fahey

Myrna Fahey

Iris Dawn

No photo

George Ford

Show Spectator (uncredited)

No photo

Tedd Hadfield

Cop

No photo

Lynne Hunter

Teacher

Nelson Leigh

Nelson Leigh

Doctor

No photo

Paul Levitt

Waiter

John McNamara

John McNamara

Doctor

Joseph Mell

Joseph Mell

Watchman

Eddie Parker

Eddie Parker

Cop at Funeral

No photo

Waclaw Rekwart

Restaurant Patron

Cosmo Sardo

Cosmo Sardo

Audience Member

Jeffrey Sayre

Jeffrey Sayre

Audience Member

Cap Somers

Cap Somers

Truck Driver

No photo

Ted Thorpe

Dog Owner

Napoleon Whiting

Napoleon Whiting

Kenneth, Lora's Butler

No photo

Rodney Bieber

Moulin Rouge Dancer

Original Soundtrack

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CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

2023-01-24

⭐ 7

Whilst Lana Turner is great in this family drama, the plaudits really ought to go to the sparing appearances of the hugely charismatic Juanita Moore. The latter woman is very much down on her luck, with her daughter "Sarah Jane", when she rescues the young "Susie", separated at the beach from her mother "Lora" (Turner). Not that she has much better prospects, but "Lora" takes in the destitute couple and that seems to act as her good luck charm. A budding actress, she finds herself slowly but surely - with the aide of the less than scrupulous "Loomis" (Robert Alda) - climbing up the greasy pole…

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griggs79

griggs79

2024-09-23

⭐ 9

Imitation of Life is a masterpiece that explores race, class, and privilege in 1950s America. Douglas Sirk's final Hollywood film masterfully contrasts the lives of Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) and Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), using their intertwining stories to expose the stark divides of the era. The emotional depth of Annie's relationship with her daughter, who chooses to pass as white, is super-emotional and heart-wrenching. Sirk's use of heightened drama not only serves as a critique of 1950s society's blind spots but also enlightens today's audience about the issues of the time. In the …

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