Imitation of Life
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Movie Reviews of Imitation of Life
Movie Review: Film classic & Lana Turner, Hollywood's premier glamour girl
Summary: 5 Stars
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
Movie Review: The Real Stuff
Summary: 5 Stars
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.Movie Review: I READ THE BOOK IN 1959 BEFORE THE MOVIE
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book in 1959 I was 11 years old than, this was before the movie. As a matter of fact it was a school project that the pupils (back then) went to our neighborhood libaray to pick out a book about race (i'm an Africia American Women) issues due to the prejudices about this subject wihin our race. This was a huge racial issues amongst our race because blacks who had lighter skin tones could actually live in both worlds- the white and black because they could pass for white, but had dark skinned parents, and other relatives. But this caused a lot of problems for them living in both worlds as individuals. The neighborhood I lived in this type of life was very much alive. I experience this in my own family. All of the actress played their roles to the highest degree in protraying such a touche topic for both the white and black race. I loved and love this move to this date at age 54 I still remember it in my heart because racial issues will cause an individual to turn their back on their own families in order to suceed in a world that is full of hate because of the color of a individual's skin. If they wanted to be accepted in society they had to denounce thier hertigage because their parents skin was darker than theirs. Just the other day (2002) one of my white co-worker and I was discussing this movie but could not remember the actress's name. So thought I would find this real life classic of a movie. Thanks for you help.Movie Review: "A Little Slice of Black Life...Hollywood-style"
Summary: 5 Stars
It wasn't until recently that I discovered that four of my favorite films ("Psycho", "Back Street", "Spartacus", and "Imitation of Life") had one thing in common, other than being produced by the same company, Universal, and that is featured player John Gavin. While the actor never achieved stardom as might have been expected by the powers-that-be who thought him to be the next Rock Hudson, Gavin did serviceable "leading man" support. That said, for many African-Americans around during the late 50's and early 60's, Sirk's "Imitation of Life" offered, though glamorized, a portrait of the common practice of "passing" by lighter-skinned blacks. The fact that the part of the "yella gal" was played by white actress Susan Kohner was not detracting from the realism of that particular convention of black life.
Both Kohner and Juanita Moore were nominated for supporting actress Oscars but were not recipients of the much-hallowed honor. However, their work, along with the tremendous guest appearance of gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, is the reason for the film's success and popularity.
It may not rank in that annuls of great American films, but "Imitation of Life" is a tear-inducing melodrama that never fails to captivate in all its Technicolor glory.
Movie Review: The Best Movie Ever Made
Summary: 5 Stars
I personally rate this movie as a five star movie. This movie was simply the best ever. It covered real life issues that most byracial people are dealing with. With its intreaguing theme and tone, this movie capture's your heart and takes it for a long ride of facing reality. I love how the creater of this movie makes a point and by the end of the movie you completely get it. With its very clear and straight foward message, this movie goes down in history as an all american favorite. Immitation of life is about a young byracial girl and her mother, that has no place to live. She meets a friend and played with her all day. Until it was time to go home and the mother told the other mother that they had no home to go to, but they'll be fine. As generious as the other girls mother is, she takes them in. As time goes on the girls grew up and were very close. The byracial girl starts to reject her mother and pass for all white. More time goes by and her mother dies. she then decides to show up at the funeral and make a big mocary of herself.The other girl and her mother reminds her that it is much too late. This is truely an eye watering film and a heart breaker. The main idea of this movie is to be good to your mother and dont try to act like your something your not.