Rating: 
Summary: MELODRAMA - MELO TRANSFER!
Review: If Douglas Sirk were alive today he'd be directing episodes of "Guilding Light". The term soap opera might very well have been coined for Sirk's unique blend of intense women's dramas with more than just a touch of the schmaltz laden in. Here, Lana Turner stars as a rich socialite who's daughter becomes the best of friends with a little black girl, whose mother becomes Lana's maid. As puberty kicks in the girls run wild. The little black girl passes for white and breaks her mother's heart. Mahalia Jackson crops up at the end to do a rousing spiritual that really brings tears to the eyes.
Unfortunately, so will Universal's really lousy transfer - bring tears to the eyes, that is! The film is anamorphic widescreen but so full of digital grit, film grain, scratches, chips and tears inherent in the original camera negative that one wonders why Universal went to the trouble at all to give us this Sirk classic. Some scenes appear quite sharp while others are so soft, blurry is an accurate description of the type of image quality you are in store for. Colors are inconsistent and not very well balanced. Blacks are muddy and indistinguishable from dark browns, blues or dark grays. Flesh tones are entirely too, too orange. The sound is a depressing mono and is strident, scratchy and "ho-hum" down right boring. No extras either. BOTTOM LINE: Wait for Criterion to get their hands on this film as they've done with Sirk's "Written on the Wind" and "All That Heaven Allows".
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Quality DVD - Melodrama At It's Finest
Review: Imitation of Life is a movie that had perfect timing in the changing world of 1950's Americana. The oppression of legal segregation had taken its toll and a prime example of this burnout is Susan Kohner's Sara Jane. This character had the perfect mother, but society told Sara Jane at a very young age that her mother would NEVER be good enough because of her black skin color. Sara Jane chafes at the limitations society places on her. She doesn't want to be associated with maids, chauffeurs or going through back doors. She wants more, and as a 'white woman' she can get it. Many viewers who watch this film will be angry at Sara Jane, however, one must remember that 'black' was not yet beautiful, and this is the pre-civil rights era. Lana Turner's Laura Meredith asks Sara Jane, 'have I ever treated you differently?' The movie makes this answer abundantly clear although Sara Jane answers 'no.' The audience sees Turner's pigeonholing of Sara Jane and Annie. Even after years of living together - she actually says to Annie, 'I didn't know that you had any friends.' Laura Meredith is a character that represents society as a whole in this film. She is the accepted race and therefore, pleasantly clueless about matters that doesn't affect her, while aiming for and achieving her dreams. Through the passage of time Laura becomes rich, successful, and a star - and for Annie, well, she remains the maid. The DVD of this movie is extremely poor. The transfer is down right dirty in one scene and grainy throughout the film. There is one scene where Sara Jane is running down the stairs and she freezes in action. Universal didn't even care enough about the viewer to put this common play-pause in a point where it would be seamless. This is a classic film that has been given anything but classic attention - extremely sloppy work from Universal.
Rating: 
Summary: 1934 Version Best Starring LOUISE BEAVERS/CLAUDETTE COLBERT
Review: I saw the 1934 version of this film on TV when I was a teenager, and it is superior to this latter 1959 version. The first is in classic B&W and I must say the performances onscreen depicting the relationships between the four females - two mothers, two daughters - are far superior to this remake. There is an endearing warmth and sincerety in the performances on that old classic that is amiss somewhere within this latter version. So...when will the superb 1934 version be remastered & reissued on DVD format?
Rating: 
Summary: An Important Film
Review: "Why do we always have to live in the back?" a young Sarah Jane asks her mother. In Douglas Sirk's Imitation of Life, "living in the back" is what blacks must do if they are to be good people. But Sarah Jane DOESN't want to live in the back and this is what makes her bad.
One thing I could never understand about this movie was why Sirkes seemed to make poor old Sarah Jane the villian. After watching this film again tonight, I realize that Sarah Jane did not want to be white, but rather, she wanted to have the benifits that white people had; and this, in my opinion, made her "bad."
Juanita Moore is wonderful as Annie Johnson but she inhabits a role full of stereotypes and cliches. She is the good suffering black woman who is the ideal servant to her white mistress. Thus, she is nonthreatning, unlike Sarah Jane who, because she wants all the things that whites get, is a rebel and a threat to white society. Thus, Sarah Jane must be punished and ultimately humiliated.
This movie is beautifully filmed and I enjoyed the title song sung by Earl Grant at the beginning. Sirk does innovative camerawork with mirrors and his colors are very lush. Sandra Dee as Susie is annoying and while Lana Turner can be over the top, this movie is most notable for the performances by Susan Kohner and especially Juanita Moore, two actresses who earned Best Supporting Oscar Nominations for their performances.
A remake of the Preston Sturges 1930s film with Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, and Freddie Washington (who is dynamic) as Sarah Jane, this new Imitation of Life is much more aware of the society it is commenting on than the original could ever be. In any case, this is a movie that should be applauded for its attempt to address racial inequalities and as a time capsule of its period.
The DVD has nothing new to offer. But there is a widescreen version of the film so that you can appreciate all the lush colors, and there is also the original theatrical trailer and langauge options. While two of Sirk's films -- "All That Heaven Allows" and "Magnificent Obsession" have been released on the Criterion label, I only wish this film had also been issued by it. Then, I think, we would have had a more polished transfer and commentary. Still, this is a great DVD if you are a movie buff and want to see an important film in its original aspect ratio.
Rating:
Summary: Film classic & Lana Turner, Hollywood's premier glamour girl
Review: My five star rating is for the film itself, not the quality of the DVD transfer. This film is a true classic and though it has some script and scene flaws it still exemplifies the kind of film that Hollywood "used" to make so well: Strong believabe plot (single mother yearns for success in the theatre and will do just about anything to achieve it), Sudden romance that gets in the way of career goals, sub plot involving a black domestic with a daughter who has serious identity problems, sudden fame and fortune and ever degenerating family problems and finally realization that fame and fortune are empty achievements when family and love is sacrificed. This film closely parallels star Lana Turner's own private and public life, at the time, and was a better screenplay than IMITATION. That fact might be the main reason she was chosen for the role and the film scored so
big at the boxoffice. In addition to the glitzy cast, Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee and Robert Alda, relative newcomers Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner round out an impressive cast. This undoubtedly was Turner's biggest and most successful role, revitalizing a waning film career. The film, under Ross Hunter's direction, will show younger audiences what "real glamour" and "star power" is all about. Lana was the epitome of the "star", always carried herself like a queen and commanded the attention on the screen in every scene she was in (Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz note). The sets, wardrobe, jewels and makeup are sumptuous. The romantic interludes suggest rather than hit you in the face, graphically. The last thirty minutes of the film will leave the most hardened viewer emotionally drained. My family has seen it countless times, we enjoy it each time and are tear filled at the end. The lesson it conveys is timeless and the film exemplifies great movie making of a bygone era magnificently. Dick Bobnick
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films ever!
Review: Okay so I haven't seen the DVD specifically but I have seen the film and for a person who thinks filmmaking didn't even exist prior to Star Wars (I'm a 70's baby what can I say), I have to say I found this film both entertaining, thoughtful and downright aggravating. Anything that can make me feel all that is definitely worth recognition.
Juanita Moore is wonderful as the mother, Annie Johnson, who only wants her daughter to accept her. Susan Kohner portrays the hateful Sarah Jane, a bit too well, as she rejects everything being Black means in 1950's America and tries to pass herself off as White.
If you don't want to slap Sarah Jane and scream at her at the top of your lungs, then you might want to check your pulse. If Juanita's peformance as the dismissed mother doesn't touch your heart, then you might not have one. Imitation of Life is definitely a misnomer because there is no film out there that is more original.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate 1959 Chick Flick now on WideScreen DVD!!!
Review: Universal Pictures brings us this very controversal 1959 Technicolor picture to Anamorphic WideScreen DVD. The picture I agree is not the best quality but still delivers an acceptable Widescreen presentation for Home Theatre Systems. "Imitation of Life" is an outstanding motion picture with very strong subject matter especially for 1959. The emotional rollercoaster ride we the audience take with Lana Turner & Juanita Moore two widows with daughters struggle together to find true happiness & over come the worlds racial prejudice. Homeless Moore is truely outstanding as the Black devoted mother who has an 8 year old very light skinned daughter who is ashamed of being Black & her Black mother. Turner a struggling actress with a 6 year old daughter befriend Moore, take them in and begin a life long friendship. The acting of all the stars supports very stongely the emotional journey these characters had to endure. I guarantee this will bring a tear to many of eyes so keep a box of tissues handy for this very heart filled story. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: FAUX PASS!
Review: LANA TURNER dominates this Douglas Sirk remake of the Claudette Colbert original with great style, charm and always, always unforgettable beauty. One of the last Hollywood Immortals. SANDRA DEE? Not quite what she says - good though that is, but what she does not say - splendid subtext here, quite intentional too - another fine actress - so rarely seen today. BUT, the movie really belongs to the SPLENDID JUANITA MOORE - supported by Susan Kohner - stellar performances. The guys? Great looking - John Gavin, slightly in Rock Hudson's shadow, but unique in his own way - even Troy Donahue in a small cameo as Susan Kohner's abusive boyfriend - just pre "A Summer Place".Sure, the subjectmatter is melodramatic; but the performances still hold. PITY that the DVD quality is so poor - bad sound and color transfer - especially the sound!! One can only hope that future direct Unviersal Classic releases will be better.
Rating: 
Summary: Film's great - DVD transfer not worth purchasing....
Review: Thanks, David Durbin. Your review made me pull this order from my shoppiong cart. "Imitation" is a real "tear-jerkin'" classic in the old mold. I ran it as a Theater Projectionist in it's original 1959 theatrical release. The last reel was about a 12 minute run. I could step out of the Projection Booth after the chnage-over, and regular as clockwork it would happen. I would hear the start of a swell of sniffles, and tears come up like a rising tide in theater in that last reel every night. That was when audiences showed emotion openly. I won't buy any bad DVD transfers. I strongly bad-mouth bad transfers to all my film buff friends to also not buy. With the quality of DVD's, why buy garbage. Most of my DVD purchases have been with Criterion for that reason. Sure hope Criterion get their hands on "Imitation", and a lot more classics!
Rating:
Summary: The Real Stuff
Review: Lana Turner was the reason for this 50's Universal remake of the Fannie Hurst perennial tearjerker, IMITATION OF LIFE. She was fresh from daughter Cheryl Crane's trial for the murder of thug Johnny Stampanato, and producer Ross Hunter found the prospect of starring Lana in a saga of mother/daughter conflict commercially irresistable. Ironically, to today's audiences, Lana's the least interesting element of the picture. She gives her all as the Broadway star who's Too Busy With Her Career to really know daughter Sandra Dee (in a suprisingly fresh and thoughtful performance; Dee, so often better than you think she's going to be, is probably due for a critical reevaulation someday soon). But Lana's all is too carefully lacquered to be of much interest. Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner, both supporting-actress Oscar nominees for their work here, are the real deal. Moore, as the long-suffering, too-good-to-be-true black maid, and Kohner, as her tragic daughter Sarah Jane, determined to ditch her mother and pass as white, take roles conceived (in this version, anyhow) in cardboard and elevate them to art. Aided by Douglas Sirk's sympathetic direction, the mother/daughter scenes here are primal and heartrending. Moore's California farewell to her daughter and subsequent death scene, and Kohner's guiltridden reappearance at the picture's end, would move a stone to tears. Moore's subtle, shattering underplaying on her deathbed stands in sharp contrast to Lana's carefully-filtered histrionics. Like Sirk's other 50's UI masterpieces, IMITATION is unafraid of melodrama, and its direct emotionalism still packs quite a punch. Thanks to Lana, not the best of the Sirk bunch, but still essential viewing for students of popular culture or anyone who enjoys a three-hankie movie.
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