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Imitation of Life

  • 1934
  • Approved
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
Claudette Colbert and Warren William in Imitation of Life (1934)
A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter; the two women start a successful business, but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.
Play trailer1:16
1 Video
99 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance

A struggling widow and her daughter take in a Black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter; the two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along ... Read allA struggling widow and her daughter take in a Black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter; the two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.A struggling widow and her daughter take in a Black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter; the two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.

  • Director
    • John M. Stahl
  • Writers
    • Fannie Hurst
    • William Hurlbut
    • Preston Sturges
  • Stars
    • Claudette Colbert
    • Warren William
    • Rochelle Hudson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    6.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John M. Stahl
    • Writers
      • Fannie Hurst
      • William Hurlbut
      • Preston Sturges
    • Stars
      • Claudette Colbert
      • Warren William
      • Rochelle Hudson
    • 117User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:16
    Teaser Trailer

    Photos99

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    Top cast70

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    Claudette Colbert
    Claudette Colbert
    • Beatrice Pullman
    Warren William
    Warren William
    • Stephen Archer
    Rochelle Hudson
    Rochelle Hudson
    • Jessie Pullman
    Ned Sparks
    Ned Sparks
    • Elmer Smith
    Louise Beavers
    Louise Beavers
    • Delilah Johnson
    Fredi Washington
    Fredi Washington
    • Peola Johnson
    Juanita Quigley
    Juanita Quigley
    • Baby Jessie Pullman
    • (as Baby Jane)
    Alan Hale
    Alan Hale
    • Martin the Furniture Man
    Henry Armetta
    Henry Armetta
    • The Painter
    Wyndham Standing
    Wyndham Standing
    • Jarvis the Butler
    Monya Andre
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Alyce Ardell
    Alyce Ardell
    • French Maid
    • (uncredited)
    William Austin
    William Austin
    • Englishman at Party
    • (uncredited)
    Dorothy Black
    • Peola at 10
    • (uncredited)
    Edna Bowdoin
    • Black Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Tyler Brooke
    Tyler Brooke
    • Tipsy Man at Party
    • (uncredited)
    Daisy Bufford
    Daisy Bufford
    • Black Waitress
    • (uncredited)
    Curry Lee Calmes
    • Black Chauffeur
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John M. Stahl
    • Writers
      • Fannie Hurst
      • William Hurlbut
      • Preston Sturges
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews117

    7.56K
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    Featured reviews

    7jotix100

    Box it!

    "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. John Stahl directed the film, which stands in stark contrast with the Douglas Sirk's take in 1959 which presents a glossier vision of the Fanny Hurst novel, in which it's based.

    Between the two versions, this one seems to make more sense, in spite of the incredible jump from rags to riches Bea Pullman experiences. Claudette Colbert makes Bea more accessible to us, in contrast with Lana Turner's blonde goddess looks. This Bea Pullman is easier to take because the way she makes her money by going into business, capitalizing on Delilah's idea about the marketing the perfect blend for pancakes.

    Warren William plays Steve Archer, the man who falls in love with Bea while not suspecting the effect he causes in young Jessie, Bea's daughter. Louise Beavers is Delilah; she is made to speak broken English to show her ignorance, which was the thing expected every time black characters were shown in movies of that period. Ms. Beavers' role was made bigger in the 1959 remake, but Juanita Moore, who played the part, was not subjected to her predecessor's fate. Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks and Fredi Washington round up the supporting cast.
    9customer-2

    Wonderful Movie.

    I find the movie aptly named. My motivation for responding is due to an earlier opinion on this movie, specifically: "the central character of Delilah is the worst kind of racial stereotype; a relentlessly cheerful mammy, perfectly satisfied to spend her life tending to the needs of her white employer". I am an American Black (African-American) and I do not find Delilah offensive. In fact I applaud the reflection of honesty that this 1934 film attempts. The "mammy" of that time period had very few choices. That she was happy to help her very nice white employer for the safety provided does not make for a hate figure by Blacks. It makes for a reminder of the intense level of crap Black folks went through and how they dealt with the pain of it to stay honest, kind and helpful people. Should Delilah lived in the streets and hated white people the rest of her life? Should she have not had the fortitude and insight to find a situation with another caring human being, albeit this other human was white? And for this she is lauded as a the worst kind of racial stereotype? No. The answer is a resounding NO. Now if Delilah was beaten and raped on a regular basis and still wanted to please her white employer while denying her race the previous poster would have had a point.

    Okay, I really didn't like the mournful gospel music, R&B would have made this movie perfect to me but that's just me. Live and Love. There is no shame in being a good person.
    Jalea

    It Was Nice to See the Original

    Although I liked the remake with Lana Turner, it does not compare with the original. The remake represents a slicker Hollywood formulaic version, yet, I really liked Juanita Moore's heartfelt performance in the 1959 version.

    Some may find it was hard to believe that a Beatrice (Cobert) in the 30's could make money from a Delilah's (Beavers) secret recipe. It would have been quite a challenge (but, not impossible) for Delilah; a poor, black woman the 30's to make a fortune as a business woman! Also, people make fortunes on other people ideas all the time.

    This is a well done soap opera. The cast was excellent. Not a beat was skipped in this movie. I am glad that I had the opportunity to see the original. I also think it was a brave move for the 30's. One of my favorite scenes was when at the end of their "girl talk," Beatrice goes upstairs and Delilah goes downstairs to the servant's quarters. That scene said it all. In spite of the fact that these two women were good friends and loved each other, they did not have equal status because of the color of their skin.
    8bkoganbing

    An Understanding Of Racism In Her Time

    When Imitation Of Life came out in 1934, Fannie Hurst was at the height of her literary reputation having had her two best works this one and Back Street, come out back to back as both novels and movies. Both stories are about a women's sacrifice.

    One day before World War I, Louise Beavers comes looking for domestic work and gets the wrong address and comes knocking on Claudette Colbert's door. Colbert is a recent widow with a child and Louise has a child the same age. Colbert can't afford any salary, but Louise is willing to work cheap, just for room and board for herself and her child.

    This starts an unusual partnership both personal and business because Claudette's late husband was a seller of a cooking syrup and Louise makes a melt in your mouth type of pancake. When passing stranger Ned Sparks tells her one day to package the flour, this makes both Colbert and Beavers millionaires overnight. Beavers can't see it however and passes up her own household to stay with Claudette.

    A lot of people today look at Beavers's character and say this is a racial stereotype that Hurst was perpetrating. Taking the racial component out of it, I've seen several people who are just like Beavers in their own way. Clark Gable had a father who could have lived quite well off his son, but couldn't deal with the Hollywood lifestyle and actually told his son they ought to resume their previous occupations as oil roughnecks. Stan Musial when he was making big money as a baseball star had a mother who took in washing back in the little steel mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania where he came from and not because he wasn't willing to provide.

    And I had an uncle who worked hard at Kodak and also built up a milk delivery business of his own and at an age where he could have just relaxed and taken it easy, he was out working at close to 80 at a tool and die plant. There are folks out there who shy away from the outward trappings of success like Beavers. And there are those stubbornly over-committed to a work ethic when they don't have to be.

    Both Colbert and Beavers are just moms with problem daughters on their hands. Daughter Rochelle Hudson is crushing out on Warren William who has his eyes on Colbert. But Beavers has bigger problems.

    Remember these girls were literally raised together with their mothers in business. Fredi Washington sees the white world, she's light skinned enough to pass, she wants what's over in that world. But her denial of heritage hurts Beavers more than my words can describe. But Hurst's words in the novel and the screenplay betray a rare understanding of racism during her time.

    Imitation of Life got three Oscar nominations including Best Picture. It's a dated film, but that fact alone makes it worth watching as a glimpse of the racial picture in America in the Thirties.
    vze23nyc

    Landmark Film

    This is probably one of the first films that dealt with race relations in this country. While "Imitation of Life" centers around the business created by two women, one black and one white, it also take a hard look at the struggles minorities face -- something very rarely seen on the big screen at that time. Most of the films at that time showed blacks as domestic servants and pictured them as "happy" in those roles. This is a classic in that it's one of the first times any medium tackled the issue of black-white relations. It's a must-see, both from an entertainment perspective and, most importantly, a historical one. I think a lot of African-Americans in the entertainment business can look at this film as a trail-blazer in terms of "serious" roles for blacks instead of being cast as "entertainers."

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fredi Washington (Peola at 19) was a light-skinned African-American. After playing this role, she was criticized by some in the Black community who labored under the misconception that the actress herself practiced self-hatred and would rather 'pass' herself off as white. In fact, Ms. Washington was an avid civil-rights activist.
    • Goofs
      When baby Jessie falls into the bathtub going after her rubber ducky, there is an obvious edit between her falling in and the splash of water coming out of the tub as evidenced by the shifting of the towel and the shadows from the light coming in through the window on the tile wall behind the tub.
    • Quotes

      Delilah Johnson: What's my baby want?

      Peola Johnson, Age 19: I want to be white, like I look.

      Delilah Johnson: Peola!

      Peola Johnson, Age 19: [gesturing to mirror] Look at me. Am I not white? Isn't that a white girl?

    • Crazy credits
      End credits titled at the top "A great cast is worth repeating".
    • Alternate versions
      The original theatrical release print of Imitation of Life featured different title cards, including a title card containing a brief prologue, which read: "Atlantic City, in 1919, was not just a boardwalk, rolling-chairs and expensive hotels where bridal couples spent their honeymoons. A few blocks from the gaiety of the famous boardwalk, permanent citizens of the town lived and worked and reared families just like people in less glamorous cities." 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Universal Story (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Nobody Knows de Trouble I've Seen
      (uncredited)

      Traditional Negro Spiritual

      Lyrics by Henry Thacker Burleigh

      Played and sung by an offscreen chorus during the opening credits

      Played as background music often

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 26, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Imitacija zivota
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 51m(111 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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