Rating: 
Summary: A word on Imitation
Review: In 1959, Universal couldn't have been happy when Douglas Sirk's last film was released, becoming one of the studios' largest money makers. Imitation of Life, a beautifully shot and nearly perfect aesthetically, isn't merely just another 1950s tear jerking melodrama with pretty actors and love affairs. Its roots run deep with social commentary. Sirk targeted relationships, stereotypes, and racial discrimination.
The film's narrative surrounds the relationships of four women; two mothers and two daughters. The two mothers are Lora Meredith, played by Lana Turner, and Annie Johnson, played by Juanita Moore. Lora, a white woman with a daughter named Susie, is an actress who is able to sky rocket her fame to Broadway and eventually Hollywood. Sirk portrays this character as a parody of herself. Lora is very melodramatic, almost achieving soap opera status. She is a "typical" movie star. She neglects her daughter for her career and materials. Annie, on the other hand, a black woman with a light skinned daughter named Sarah Jane, is a loyal, hardworking, and very ethnic character. Annie is portrayed as a completely different stereotype than Lora. Annie is also a step down in the social ladder below Lora clearly because of her race. Then there is Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane, who is played by Susan Kohner, is Annie's light skinned daughter, and who resents Annie because of her heritage. Sarah Jane tries to pass herself as a white woman to avoid the racism and prejudices present in the 1950s. Sarah Jane, like Lora, turns to show business, but in the mask of a white identity. Unlike Lora, she performs in seedy bars, dives, and lounges; success seems unreachable to her. This is a very interesting part of the film because Sirk objectifies Sarah Jane in a similar fashion to how he objectified Lora earlier in this work; in flashy colors and limb dominated shots.
Imitation of Life is a film that explores and exploits relationships and stereotypes quite well. It is an interesting film with interesting subject matter. It is intriguing how audiences survey these female characters in the film according to how Douglas Sirk presented them. This film is a must see for its salty comments on 1950s society and its "ultra-dramatic" treatment.
Rating: 
Summary: An Imitation of Life
Review: In 1959 Douglass Sirk directed a parody of the 1934 film, Imitation of Life, and that is truly what it was. By playing on issues in our society such as race, gender, class, and mother-daughter relationships, Imitation provides a unique and comical illustration of society and the stereotypes that exist.
Annie and Lora are two widowed single mothers who meet at the beach when Lora's daughter Suzie is missing. The women decide that Annie and her daughter Sara Jane will live with Lora and Suzie. Lora is white and Annie is black. In somewhat of a fake manner, using Gestik acting that quotes an emotion or character, the film presents the intersection of the two women's race, class, and gender. Although Lora makes Annie feel comfortable in her home, there is no escaping the fact that she is of a lower social position. This is presented when Lora says "Have we ever treated you differently?" Sirk uses height, such as staircases, or chairs to play on these social positions. Additionally, after living together for ten years, Annie still addresses Lora as "Miss Lora." Essentially, Annie parodys blackness, and her daughter Sara Jane is struggling with this. Sara Jane resents the fact that her mother is black. She is light skinned and passes as a white girl, enjoying the privileges that her mother never did. Sara Jane is primarily the source of racial tension in this film, bringing up the issues of race that had never before been spoken of. She wants to escape her mother's heritage and their racist society, and be treated the same way as Suzie and Lora. Lora Meredith seems in many ways to represent Barbie. "Barbie is white, blond, slim, sexy, attractive, and a conspicuous consumer" (Pasoonen). Sirk's presentation of her heterosexual femininity is obvious throughout the film in her encounters with Steve, the clothes she wears, the cigarettes she smokes, her hairstyles, and her behavior. Much like Barbie, Lora is an "icon of successful womanhood" (Pasoonen). As a middle aged-single mother, she uses her good looks and her talent to become a successful actress and make her way to the top of the social scale. In her conquest for fame, Lora neglects her daughter Suzie, introducing once again the issue of mother-daughter relationships in this film. Just as Sara Jane wishes to have Lora as her white mother, Suzie yearns for a mother as affectionate and caring as Annie. Throughout the film Lora is away pursuing her career while Annie cares for her Suzie. She knows more about her life than Lora does, and is clearly more of a mother figure than Lora ever was.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique Imitation!
Review: While most cinematic narratives of passing "so fully naturalize certain givens that they mask a range of contradictions inherent within them," Douglas Sirk's 1959 satiric remake of John Stahl's 1934 Imitation of Life brilliantly denaturalizes the intersections of race, class and gender presented in the film through Brechtian gestik acting-that is melodramatic, over-the-top acting that imitates behaviors rather than truly feeling them (quotation Valerie Smith's). By pursuing the film in this matter, Sirk produces a wonderful alienation effect (known by film connoisseurs as the "Verfremdungseffekt") that distances the filmgoers from the action, allowing them instead to sit back and criticize the main themes of the film. As the film progresses, we begin to wonder why such unnatural actions are considered perfectly natural by the characters, and consequently we begin to analyze the intersections of race, class and gender in America: Why were such racist and materialistic morals audaciously thought as natural and admirable in pre-Civil Rights America? Why does America idolize such stereotypical representation of beauty? Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) is first seen through a male lens-literally, that of Steve's (John Gavin's) camera. The wind blows through her white dress and perfectly-styled blonde hair as she calls for her daughter whom she's neglectfully lost sight of. The camera (both Steve's and Sirk's) moves slowly up her body, capturing what Michel Foucault has termed the "microphysics of power"-dissecting her figure into "spatial, temporal, gestural" fragments that represent the ideal woman (Ingeborg Majer O'Sickey). Even while in alleged distress, she walks daintily, smiling and holding her head up high, leaning gracefully over the boardwalk. Her actions, hair and attire closely resemble those of the 1959 Barbie "symbolic of society's ideal of the perfect woman" (Sage Sohier). We know little about Lora at this point (and neither does Steve), yet we know just by looking at her that she'll be the "successful" person in the story, whatever that means. It is the materialistic characters that Lora represents that make such lines as "you're making me feel cheap" by Lora so comical. Tall, dark and handsome "Prince Charming" Steve suddenly appears at Lora's door shortly after the beach adventure with pictures, finds out she's a widow and quickly moves into her life. The way the two characters passionately throw themselves at each other during love scenes is laughable, especially when followed by Steve proposing marriage right away, then ordering her in his next breath to not go down to the acting studio "because [he] says so." She won't have to worry about getting a job because he'll be "the man," acting out his role as the money-bringer in the house while Lora stays home and looks pretty. The scene becomes especially comical watching it in the 21st century, when not too many women will settle for the machismo "men act, women appear" attitude (John Berger). As Lora becomes "successful," we are brought into her spotless house filled with every material luxury in the world-yet even then the African American family of Annie (Juanita Moore) and Sarah Jane still stay in back rooms. Ironically, both daughters begin to reject their own mothers and practically "switch" them. While Annie and Suzy are sickeningly sweet, Annie's Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner) and Lora are overly dramatic. Even as a little girl, Sarah Jane (Karin Dicker) rejects her "blackness," and tries to pass for white. While she asserts: "I'm white," the camera slowly moves in on her wide eyes as dramatic music plays, allowing us to criticize her selfish actions for denying her race, rather than transcending racial boundaries. Similarly, we criticize Lora's actions as an irresponsible mother as she and Suzy drift further apart. During this tension, we're presented with a great interlude of levity when Suzy shouts "STOP ACTING!" at her mother-we were so used to the overacting to begin with that it became hysterical when another character (who acts over-the-top as well) has picked up on it. While we're constantly reminded that the film is indeed a parodic imitation, we are brought back to the film's serious issues during Annie's lavish funeral scene when Mikaliah Jackson's character poignantly pours her heart out in a beautiful, eulogistic song. While many pull out the Kleenex during this scene, we must remember that it's NOT supposed to be cathartic. Instead, we should step back and think about how realistic it was for an African American female to receive such grand attention at a funeral. Then, we can sit back and cry for a real reason. Unique and progressive for its time, and even funnier in the 21st century, Sirk's remake is a brilliant, provocative film-a gem that transcends generations, but lets us critically view pre- and post- Civil Rights America. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: IMITATION OF LIFE -- COMPREHENSIVE AND ENTERTAINING
Review: As a writer, I read all 95+ customer reviews better to incorporate their comments and to sort out their concerns. WOW seems to be the prevasive adjective. MANY MANY tears (I feel well deserved.) YES, JUANITA MOORE is magnificent. DITTO LANA TURNER. And John Gavin is eminently worthwhile, all things considered. I regret not being able to contact some of these customers. I am espeically impressed by how well written and generally entertaining I find the English-educated audience, with comments from Scotland, UK, Australia. Whatever the message of this film, intended or otherwise, EVERYONE seems to have been affected except that one guy who left after 20 minutes. Just so. We have trouble with the ungrateful (but brilliantly played) Susan but when Mahalia sings, the audience weeps. We are enfolded. -- mike stratton
Rating:
Summary: Filled With Illusions...
Review: The movie starts off with the somewhat obscure Earl Grant imitating the popular Nat King Cole as he croons the film's theme song. The star of the film is Lana Turner (dismissed by some as a studio invented "movie star") playing a serious stage actress. Then we get gay Troy Donahue, playing a straight guy, beating up the black character Sara Jane (played by white actress Susan Kohner) for pretending to be white in the plot. Annie's (Juanita Moore) death scene is so long it emotionally drains you. Then there's a shot of a very goofy looking photo of Sara Jane at Annie's bedside smirking. This is sort of a wake up call that it's "only a movie" & the last laughs on you for shedding tears & getting wrapped up in all of this. All my observations aside, this is a great melodramatic soap opera. Mahalia Jackson's vocal performance, at Annie's funeral, is a high point! John Gavin is very pleasing on the eyes! My only complaints are 1)That annoying, sickening sweet dimwit character Suzy, played by Sandra Dee. Most, if not ALL, of her scenes are hard to stomach! 2)Sara Jane wanted all the benefits & advantages of being white, yet opted to sing in that "low down dive" Harry's Club for a bunch of leering old goats. That never made any sense to me.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: 'Imitation of Life' is the story of Lora Meredith (Lana Turner), a struggling actress who makes it big, her maid/friend Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), who comes to live with Annie and ends up staying for the rest of her life, and their respective daughters Susie and Sarah Jane. A remake of the 1934 version of the same name, 'Imitation of Life' is still an excellent testimony to the powers of love and ambition. Lana Turner does a decent job with the role of Lora, playing her hard-nosed ambitious character with a decent amount of flintiness. She never seems to be totally believable as a career-driven working mother, though, and this is due to the fact that her scenes with daughter Susie (played with gusto for the most part by Sandra Dee) are tender and beautifully-portrayed. An underrated actress at the best of times, Ms. Turner turns in a beautifully emotional performance at the end of the picture. In her role as Annie, Juanita Moore excels. Although the premise of the film is now sorely dated, and much of the early situations are by now, frankly, unbelievable, Moore brings a depth of emotion and realism to the part that was previously unseen. Her love for her troubled, ungrateful daughter Sarah Jane will strike a chord with parents and children alike, and Moore's considerable talent as an actress prevents any of the character's key scenes from becoming sentimental. Sandra Dee as Susie is decent enough, a somewhat spoiled rich kid with a heart of gold, and she plays the part with an endearing energy and innocence, but it's Susan Kohner as Sarah Jane that is a true revelation. She is a powerful and emotional actress, sultry and seductive with the hallmark of a great talent. Her private exchanges with her Mother in Las Vegas, and her boyfriend in New York, are portrayed with realism and pathos. She's probably one of cinema's early anti-heroes, we can't but help feel sympathy for her at certain points in the picture. It's a rare thing to find such a young actress cast in such a demanding role, and it could so easily have been a monotonous performance (the part of Sarah Jane doesn't really call for a range of emotion) but thanks to Kohner, it becomes something real, something believable. To note, the extraordinary and unusual Mahalia Jackson, credited on the packaging, only has one tiny cameo, but she's astonishing in her scene. Overall, 'Imitation of Life' is an excellent movie, but there is something of a disjointed feel to it, too. It moves from corny to real quite often (this is not the fault of the Principles, rather a script that has not aged well) and the unintentional racism that is prevalent throughout. It's not a pro-Slavery storyline at all, but political messages in all films of this era are bound to now be redundant. If you can overlook this fact, however, 'Imitation' is a marvellous film. Direction is decent enough, the 'plastic-fantastic' feel of the late 1950's-style sets and the sometimes garish technicolour of the movie somewhat detracts from the melodrama, but director Douglas Sirk does a great job in exacting wonderfully photogenic performances from his leading ladies, and this does redress the balance somewhat. The DVD itself is not loaded with special features, but then again it isn't the sort of movie that needs them. Audio and visual quality is decent enough, but the original print is in desperate need of restoration, but there is only a small amount of moments where this is noticable. The only drawbacks with 'Imitation of Life' are the premise, and the racism that it invariably invokes. If you can accept the beginning of the story, and overlook the lack of political correctness so typical of this genre, you'll find a very emotional, beautifully-crafted film that is possibly Ms. Turner's finest hour. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this film or regret it for the rest of your lives!!!
Review: I really, really love this film. I really love it. There's only one down side to it. YOU CAN'T GET IT IN PAL FORMAT (VHS) OR REGION 2 DVD. That means that I can't watch it over here in England. I have to wait until it appears on tv (once in ablue moon - usually in the afternoon when I'm at work). I can't even watch it on cable anymore - we don't have it now. So all you American film buffs - BUY IT! You don't know how lucky you are. It is a fabulous film - a good story (a real classic), great acting and such a heart-wrenching ending that I sob everytime I watch it. It breaks my heart. If ever there was a film to have in your collection, this would be it. You will not be disappointed, I guarantee it - and, for such an excellent price, you'd be silly NOT to buy it. You are really lucky over in America. This is one of Hollywood's finest films, though surely massively uderrated. I would have it in my top ten films of all times. Well, I would have it in my film collection - if I could get it on the appropriate format. Kavey x
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: If you are looking for the kind of movie that you can watch over and over again, search no more you have found it!!! This movie makes you laugh, makes you cry, and then makes you cry even harder. This is not just a chic flick...men, women, of all ages can enjoy this and will for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: This Sob Fest Has it ALL
Review: All the reasons to watch this movie are here: -Have you ever SEEN SUCH an endearing creature like the mother (whose love was pushed away by her confusued daughter, as worded by another reviewer)? They just don't make 'em LIKE THAT ANYMORE! -Very VERY sad. Watch this if you want a good sob-fest. Not a good movie to watch while eating or anything. You should give it your full attention. -Beautiful portrayal of instant "family". You will fall in love with everyone. -Even though this is the least, it is worthy of mention that Turner is stunning as usual, with frequent costume changes and a character to admire. She plays the apitome "Bombshell character" with a wardrobe to boot. -You really should idolize these two women, mothers of America, they are just what I wish there were more of, and I'll bet all men, other women and children feel the same way. Compared to the selfish, manipulative, and "lookie here what I do!" type people of today, these two are perfect. It's hard to fall in love with the selfish and manipulative characters of today's flicks once you've had a taste of movies such as "Imitation of Life". GET IT NOW! Your mind will be expanded and if this is your first classics choice, you'd be crazy not to get ADDICTED to "old-movies" after seeing this! HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD I SAY TO CONVINCE YOU!!! GET IT NOW! RUN!
Rating:
Summary: They won't make them like this anymore -- I hope!
Review: Entertaining film. It's not as cringe-worthy as the 1934 version but still has plenty of hard-to-take moments. Juanita Moore did what she could with a stereotypical role of the forever-loyal servant. Susan Kohner's character was the most interesting personality in the movie. This actress, incidentally, is the daughter of a Mexican mother and a Jewish father, so while it's true she's not black I don't know how accurate it is to call her white. If she had chosen to stay in films rather than retire for marriage and family I think she would have had a great career. (If anybody's keeping track, John Gavin's mother was also Mexican.) Sandra Dee's perkiness got on my nerves, and Lana Turner wore her clothes very nicely. At least Annie Johnson wasn't playing Aunt Jemima like poor Louise Beavers had to do in the original, and there was some interaction between Susie and Sarah Jane (but had they done this in the original the huge age gap between the excellent Fredi Washington and Rochelle Hudson would have been too obvious -- Washington was only one year younger than the heavyset Beavers, who played her mother!)
No, they don't make them like this anymore. This is entertaining, but it's also a bit overdone.
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