Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. Bea pullman colbert is a recent widow who is struggling to raise her. The films topbilled stars are lana turner and john gavin, and the cast also features sandra dee, dan oherlihy, susan kohner, robert alda and juanita moore. Imitation of life 1934 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. 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. Butler presumes otherwise, proposing that the film ridicules delilahs inability to grasp. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. Imitation of life was in production from june 27 to september 11, 1934, and was released on november 26 of that year. Even though some classics truly are dated, many address issues that we still wrestle with today. Stahls imitation of life, louise beavers finally had the opportunity to show her acting talent in a role that transcends the mammy stereotype to form a profound portrait delilah cant do anything to solve her conflict. At the time, i imagined we watched the 34 version instead of the betterknown 59 because the 59 was somehow more progressive and. An aspiring actress befriends a black widow, but trouble arises when the latter is rejected by her daughter, who tries to pass for white. Imitation of life imitation of life is a remake of fannie hursts novel of the early 1930s.
Imitation of life 1934 approved 1h 51min drama, romance 26 november 1934 usa a struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter. If youre an old film lover like me, this film will you why you are. At the time, i imagined we watched the 34 version instead of the betterknown 59 because the 59 was somehow more progressive and less suitable to our examination of stereotypes. It examines racism in a way that was very daring for a film made in. Imitation of life is not a perfect film, but considering that it was made in 1934, it deserves recognition. Imitation of life racism, vicious and defensive the. Mar 12, 20 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 letterboxd your life in film. Peolas predicament couldnt help but remind me of inherit the wind, an admittedly verywhite movie about a fictionalized. Stahl, 1934, based on fannie hursts acclaimed novel, was a defining moment in the history of women in film and a watershed moment for africanamerican casting in hollywood. But success doesnt save them from sorrow with the passing years.
The only other douglas sirk film ive seen is part of all that heaven allows but imitation of life is one of those films that epitomises a directors style. Academy award nominee juanita moore and respected historians reflect upon the making of the films and examine the enduring themes of race, family and identity in this retrospective documentary. Less well known than the 1959 douglas sirk remake starring lana turner and juanita moore, the first film version of imitation of life 1934, directed by john m. Mar 02, 2020 it wasnt a small feat to get this film into theaters either. Imitation of life 1934 film wikipedia republished wiki 2. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information. 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. Imitation of life film 1934 wikipedia bahasa indonesia. However, for every leap forward in asserting a positive relationship between a white woman and a black woman, there are two massive steps backward. Jan 09, 2012 imitation of life trailer directed by douglas sirk and starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner, robert alda. One can learn a lot of life lessons from the entire film itself, and the main one being. Reflecting on the film imitation of life during womens. White widow bea pullman claudette colbert and her daughter jessie juanita quigley as a toddler, marilyn knowlden as an eightyearold take in black housekeeper delilah johnson louise beavers and her daughter, lightcomplexioned peola fredi washington exchanging room and board for work, even though bea is struggling to make ends meet herself.
Imitation of life 1959 this glamorized remake of the 1934 film and stars lana turner and juanita moore. Imitation of life 1934 na allmovie en screen shots from both versions. Imitation of life was made in 1934, which means that the hays code, a set of moral policy and guidelines filmmakers were obligated to follow before releasing their work to the public, was still in effect. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Jul 05, 2018 this video shows clips from the original 1934 film imitation of life directed by john stall. Fredericka carolyn fredi washington december 23, 1903 june 28, 1994 was an american stage and film actress, civil rights activist, performer, and writer. Imitation of life is a 1934 drama film directed by john m. Imitation of life is the type of movie which proves that classic film is still relevant in our modern era.
This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette. Imitation of life 1934imitation of life 1959 bluray. Imitation of life trailer directed by douglas sirk and starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner, robert alda. Director douglas sirk is now recognised as one of the great masters of hollywood cinema. Imitation of life 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. It features claudette colbert, louise beavers, and freddie washington and examines the role of race. Jan 09, 2012 imitation of life trailer directed by john m.
The men in the film do not stand out in the way that the women do, but this is very much a womans picture, emphasising female bonds over trying to please men. Imitation of life 1934 in this academy awardnominated best picture, claudette colbert and louise beavers are superb as two women with young daughters who build a fortune together. Imitation of life adalah sebuah film drama amerika 1934 yang disutradarai oleh john m. With lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner. Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. Oct 12, 2008 its a sin to be ashamed of what you are.
Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal international. It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Washington was of european and african american descent, being one of the first people of color to gain recognition for their film and stage work back in the 1920s and 30s. 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. The screenplay by william hurlbut, based on fannie hursts 1933 novel of the same. It examines racism in a way that was very daring for a film made in the 30s. Its a great deal getting both films together like this, but ill only watch the 1934 version again. May 07, 2014 film class wednesdays winds down with the last three movies of the semester. Style and the domestic melodrama, an article originally published in jump cut, no. Imitation of life 1934 trailer turner classic movies.
This movie, released in 1959, features topics that would not be discussed in good company for years. I was only 7 when this movie came out, and i remember when the civil rights movement started and what trouble it caused. His reputation as an innovative storyteller and commander of great visuals is significantly due to his final hollywood film, imitation of life, which was a massive success upon its original. 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. Imitation of life 1934 movie clip the pancake queen. I have just modified 2 external links on imitation of life 1934 film. Skenarionya dibuat oleh william hurlbut, berdasarkan pada novel tahun 1933 bernama sama karya fannie hurst, bersama dengan delapan penulis tambahan yang tak disebutkan, yang meliputi preston sturges dan finley peter dunne. The part that really is heart breaking is the mother daughter dynamics between the maid and her daughter, racism plays a very big part of the film. Every element in a sirk film is on some level a reflection or mockery only of some other element of that same film.
Imitation of life is een amerikaanse dramafilm uit 1934 onder regie van john m. Stahl and starring warren william, ned sparks, alan hale, henry armetta, wyndham standing. Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. Imitation of life u katalogu americkog filmskog instituta imdb imitation of life 1934 na imdbu en imitation of life 1934 na filmskoj bazi podataka tcm.
Imitation of life is a 1934 film directed by john m. Stahl, adapted by william hurlbut from fannie hursts novel, imitation of life. The last film in hollywood of director douglas sirk written on the wind, the 1959. The story is a look at early 20th century american race relations. Motherdaughter relationships are difficult enough to navigate, imitation of life goes to show that this is an ageold difficulty made no easier by also having to deal with death, racial tensions, and heartache along the way. Stahl the first film adaptation of fannie hursts melodramatic novel about two hardworking women and their daughters.
Imitation of life is a remake of a 1934 film, based on a 1933 novel. What is interesting about a mirror is that it does not show yourself as you are, it shows you your own opposite. This weeks film is 1934s imitation of life, a landmark picture for its friendlyish view of africanamericans. I watched the 1934 film in the class african americans in film taught by carmen coustaut when i was an undergrad at the university of arkansas. This video shows clips from the original 1934 film imitation of life directed by john stall. A widow and her housekeeper go into business together but. Stahl, is actually more faithful to the fannie hurst novel and in many ways presents a much more socially progressive viewpoint than the sirk version. Imitation of life 1959 the last film in hollywood of director douglas sirk written on the wind, the 1959 imitation of life an adaptation of fannie hursts novelis an endlessly fascinating film that speaks volumes about the american journey toward materialism and the racial tensions that are inseparable from it.