Are there 2 versions of Imitation of Life?
Imitation of Life, one of the most beloved and respected stories of all-time, is now available in a 2-movie Special Edition! The Imitation of Life: 2-Movie Special Edition includes both versions of the film: the original 1934 Best Picture nominee starring Claudette Colbert and the 1959 masterpiece starring Lana Turner.
What is the movie Imitation of Life 1934 about?
Widow Bea Pullman (Claudette Colbert) and her daughter, Jessie, take in a fair-skinned black girl and her mother, housekeeper Delilah Johnson (Louise Beavers). Struggling to make ends meet, Delilah shares her family pancake recipe with Bea, and the two decide to start a business on the Atlantic City boardwalk. Together, the women find great success and considerable fortune, but they also encounter family hardships and some deep-seated identity and racial problems.
Imitation of Life/Film synopsis
What is the message of Imitation of Life?
While the title Imitation of Life on the surface seems to be referring to the artificiality of Lora’s glamorous career that takes her away from her daughter, the title is perhaps more of a sly comment on how racism in 1950s America denied African American people the life that white people took for granted.
How many versions of Imitation of Life are there?
It was adapted into two films, the first of which came out in 1934, starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, and the second of which came out in 1959, starring Lana Turner and Juanita Moore.
Who was the black actress in Imitation of Life?
Juanita Moore
NEW YORK – Juanita Moore, a groundbreaking actress and an Academy Award nominee for her role as Lana Turner’s character’s black friend in the classic weeper Imitation of Life, has died. Actor Kirk Kelleykahn, her grandson, said that Moore collapsed and died Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles.
Is Aunt Jemima based on Imitation of Life?
A novel and Hollywood film borrowed the Aunt Jemima backstory in the 1930s. In 1933, a novel entitled Imitation of Life appeared, written by feminist and civil rights advocate Fannie Hurst. The novel generated both controversy for its depiction of Black stereotypes by some, and critical acclaim from others.
Who was Sarah Jane’s father in imitation of life?
Paul Kohner
Meanwhile, Sarah’s father was played by Paul Kohner who was Lana Turner’s agent (Kohner got an Oscar nomination for the part, but would retire from acting five years later after marrying German fashion designer John Weitz — “About A Boy” writer-directors Chris & Paul Weitz are their children).
Is imitation of life about Aunt Jemima?
The 1933 novel Imitation of Life by Fannie Hurst features an Aunt Jemima-type character, Delilah, a maid struggling in life with her widowed employer, Bea. Their fortunes change dramatically when Bea capitalizes on Delilah’s family pancake recipe to open a pancake restaurant that attracts tourists at the Jersey Shore.
Why was the imitation of life made in 1934?
“Imitation of Life”, the 1934 version, reflected the attitude in the country toward blacks. This movie wouldn’t have had a chance of being made in the present climate of political correctness. This movie shows how Hollywood dealt with the racial issues back in those years.
How did the movie Imitation of life differ from the book?
Ultimately the ending of the film differed from the novel. While in the novel Peola leaves the area never to return, in the film she returns, going to her mother’s funeral and showing remorse. A scene stated by Hiro to be “virtually identical” was used in the second film adaptation.
What happens at Delilah’s funeral in imitation of life?
Delilah is heartbroken and takes to her bed, murmuring Peola’s name and forgiving her before eventually succumbing to heartbreak. Delilah has the grand funeral she always wanted, with marching bands and a horse-drawn white silk hearse, and all the lodges processing in a slow march.
When was imitation of life re-released on DVD?
When the film was reissued by Universal in 1938, the title cards were changed, and the prologue card was removed. All current prints of the film, including those used for the VHS and DVD releases, are struck from the 1938 re-release version. Box it!