Based on the real life story of alan turing played by benedict cumberbatch, who. Imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie, imitation of life 1959 fullhd movie, imitation of life. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Imitation of life is the second film adaptation of fannie hursts novel of the same name. Imitation of life is a long film, full of faithful detail, but often slow and often dull. Download pdf copies of the entire list of registry titles sorted alphabetically or by year of release. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee. Nov 06, 2014 based on the real life story of alan turing played by benedict cumberbatch, who is credited with cracking the german enigma code, the imitation game portrays the nailbiting race against time by. 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. Imitation of life is a 1959 film directed by douglas sirk, starring lana turner, juanita moore, john gavin, susan kohner, and sandra dee the story opens in new york in the late 1940s. 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. In a funeral sequence, mahalia jackson, vocal, with a group which includes ed montudi garland, andrew blakeney, teddy buckner, george.
Sep 27, 2016 the plot of the 1959 version of imitation of life was significantly altered from the original book and the 1934 film version. These videos show my appreciation and to help introduce in order to watch the fullhd and complete. Directed by douglas sirk starring lana turner susan kohner new 4k restoration text. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v. The motion picture academy of arts and sciences, according to california graphic magazine, could not recognize miss beavers. A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter.
Imitation of life twomovie special edition universal legacy. Imitation of life remains the toughestminded movie about. Dec 16, 2015 imitation of life 1959 film melodrama comes in many variations, but director douglas sirks style of domestic melodrama is marked by stylized interiors and use of mirrors, where the role of photography is crucial, with exquisite use of primary colors and camera angles to convey emotion and mood. A white single mother in show business struggles to maintain her relationship with her daughter as she strives for stage fame. Two single mothers join together to form a successful business, but find that material success does nothing to stabilize their personal lives. Imitation of life 1933 is a book written by fannie hurst, a oncefamous american writer. Stahl original were both followups to previous moneymakers. Imitation of life dvd, 2008, 2disc set for sale online. Imitation of life novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. Tear jerker indeed, this is the original film from 1934, also bought the 1959 later version imitation of life lana turner, john gavin 1959 all region dvd read more 2 people found this helpful. Imitation of life dvd, 2003 1959 film remake of a 1934 claudette colbert film. From the time of the creation of the first films, films have reflected the values society holds at the time of the films creation.
Imitation of life two movie collection dvd, 2008, 2. Doctors imitation of life tv episode 2008 full cast. Traders at the chicago mercantile exchange despairing early in the financial crisis. Lora meredith, a white widow who dreams of being on broadway, has a chance encounter with annie johnson, a black single mother. Lora meredith turner is a widow struggling to make it as an actress as well as take care of her little daughter susie. Now they set out to make a movie about four friends making a movie. 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. Imitation of life its a sin to be ashamed of what you are. Empty arms by frederick herbert, arnold hughes, sung by susan kohner.
These 2 chick flicks are single mother soap operas that not only focus in on the personal dramas of troubled teenage daughters but, they also tackle. The colours boldly indicate the emotional state of the characters, the music is suitably sweeping to clearly indicate the emotional response required from the audience and the themes of love, death, social standing, loose. A twodisc set of the films was issued by universal in 2008. When the movie starts to mirror their real lives and problems envelop. Imitation of life by paul francis webster, sammy fain, sung by earl grant. Michael boughen, producer of the tv series, tomorrow when the war began 1 the subject here is imitation of life, but its important to be clear about one point from the start. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. Aug 24, 2009 imitation of life 1933 is a book written by fannie hurst, a oncefamous american writer. Director douglas sirk is now recognised as one of the great masters of hollywood cinema. The film was nominated at the academy awards for best actor and best film editing, which were two aspects of the film that particularly stood out. The film imitation of life is no different, in two films adaptations it is easy to see the society and ideals reflected in both movies. Imitation of life 2007 lora meredith lana turner, a white single mother who dreams of being on broadway, has a chance encounter with annie johnson juanita moore, a black widow. Released january 22nd, 2007, imitation of life stars lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, dan oherlihy the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 5 min, and received a score of out of 100 on.
Film imitation of life remains the toughestminded movie about race in america by charles taylor. 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. When the movie starts to mirror their real lives and problems. Theyre childhood friends, creative partners, and now coproducers of a new reality film spun off of their last tv project.
Jan 09, 2012 imitation of life trailer directed by douglas sirk and starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner, robert alda. All three are a fascinating window on race in the usa. Stahls imitation of life movie was certainly the shameless. Imitation of life 2007 stream and watch online moviefone. Complete national film registry listing sort films by title, year of release, and year inducted into the registry by using the up and down arrows at the top of each column. Screen siren lana turner stars as lora meredith, an aspiring actress and single mother battling to survive in the lean years of late 1940s new york. Douglas sirks imitation of life senses of cinema film.
If you are a fan of old movies, imitation of life delivers the main course. 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. The imitation game is a 2014 historical drama directed by morten tyldum, based on the life of alan turing. The story is a look at early 20th century american race relations. If anything, this movie at least attempted to show two women in business being rewarded for their efforts and hard work. It was the only hollywood film of the 1930s to view race as a serious issue. Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal international. Douglas sirks imitation of life senses of cinema film journal. 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 film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and fredi washington. With lili allenfranco, mark booker, theresa cassiday, owen cleasby. Lana turner plays lora, an ambitious and tough single mother and juanita moore is annie, another single mother who is.
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. Complete national film registry listing film registry. For his last hollywood film, released in 1959, the german director douglas sirk unleashed a melodramatic torrent of rage at the corrupt core of american lifethe unholy trinity of racism. Imitation of life two movie collection dvd, 2008, 2disc. Imitation of life film anyone would have to experience this movie at least five times in their lives. The final masterpiece from hollywoods king of melodrama, imitation of life is among the most admired films the american film industry has produced. Imitation of life, lana turner, juanita moore, terry burnham, 1959. Remtv is a sixdisc dvd box set collecting appearances by american alternative rock band r. In this movie, lana turner plays the lead as lora meredith, an aspiring single, broadway actress with a. As imitation of life is both sirks final film and, arguably, his masterpiece, a reexamination of its actual achievement is long overdue. Once a pancake, a reference to a line in the first film. Imitation of life is a 1959 american romantic drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by.
Imitation of life 2movie collection comes to bluray. There was probably some imitation of life to the movie when it was made, no matter how silly or stereotypical it might have been, even for its time. You would think that in any film with both sandra dee in the same month as gidgets release and lana turner that one or both of them would produce the mostenduring impression, but susan kohner as the black girl passing for white, and, above all, juanita moore as her saintly, longsuffering mother absolutely steal this film. The presentation of both versions, provided myself with a richer nourishing experience of the fannie hurst story. Apr 01, 2015 film imitation of life remains the toughestminded movie about race in america by charles taylor. In this movie, lana turner plays the lead as lora meredith, an aspiring single, broadway actress with a nineyearold daughter, susie. With claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks. The book was made into a hollywood film in 1934 and 1959. I was most familiar with the lana turner 1959 version. Stahl and starring warren william, ned sparks, alan hale, henry armetta, wyndham standing. Lana turner full interview phil donahue 1982 duration.
Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of any. Imitation of life two movie collection imitation of life 1934 imitation of life 1959 dvd 02519242332 moviesincludes the 1934 and 1959 versions of imitation of life. Annie becomes the caretaker of loras daughter, susie, while lora pursues her stage career. We are not selling tickets at this time, but we are hopeful that we will show all of our upcoming films in the near future, possibly at other dates than originally announced. Imitation of life 1959 film melodrama comes in many variations, but director douglas sirks style of domestic melodrama is marked by stylized interiors and use of mirrors, where the role of photography is crucial, with exquisite use of primary colors and camera angles to. At the 10th anniversary party for her pancakemix empire, claudette colbert as bea has noted the arrival of handsome warren william as archer, as it turns out induced to attend by her wiseacre marketing genius elmer ned sparks, in imitation of life, 1934, from the fannie hurst novel.
It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Extras include a 2008 documentary, lasting legacy an imitation of life, which. Fiftysix years after it opened, douglas sirks imitation of life playing film. In the original story, the lora character, bea pullman, became famous with the help of her maid delilahs family. Soap operaesque in the absolute best sense, douglas sirks imitation of life is one of the great melodramas of the 50s, steeped in the race and class politics of the era. Oct 12, 2008 12 october 2008 thomas caldwell essay comments off on notes on film. Imitation of life is certainly a great example of melodramatic miseenscene where everything within the film is excessive. Imitation of life two movie collection imitation of life 1934imitation of life 1959 dvd 02519242332 moviesincludes the 1934 and 1959 versions of imitation of life.
Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross. Due to ongoing covid19 concerns, film forum is temporarily closed. These films contained very obvious characters, were full of sentiment. In the original story, the lora character, bea pullman, became famous with the help of her maid delilahs family waffle recipe the 1934 film version features a family pancake recipe instead of a waffle recipe.
The novel imitation of life continues to be highly controversial, as some read. Imitation of life trouble of the world by black in the day tv. Imitation of life 1959 movie clip title song, credits by peter pan. Cast and crew of the imitation game discuss the incredible genius alan turing and his effect on our world today. Though removing the oscar wilde quote was an improvement, i still think the statement, ironically, a central subplot of imitation of life involves a mother and daughters issues involving the mothers boyfriend, is not encyclopedic but rather a pov observation.
Imitation of life should be in any dvd or video collectors kingdom. Louise beavers gave a critically acclaimed performance in the 1934 version of imitation of life. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone. Imitation of life trailer directed by douglas sirk and starring lana turner, john gavin, sandra dee, susan kohner, robert alda. Ditto for any adaptation of a novel or a play or a poem to the screen, large or small. Imitation of life by fanny hurst was published to great success in 1933, made into a film in 1934, and then again in 1959. The imitation of life two movie special edition includes both versions of the film. Douglas sirks film imitation of life sparks another beguiling celebration of old hollywood for staggs, author of all about all about eve. Two single mothers, a downonherluck actress and a homeless woman, attempt to find happiness for themselves and their daughters. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities.
This is probably one of the first films that dealt with race relations in this country. When the movie starts to mirror their real lives and problems envelop them and the production, ryan booker must. See more ideas about classic movies, i movie and old movies. The film was so famous among blacks that peola, the name of one of the main characters, was still a byword for selfhating blacks as late as the 1970s. The 1959 version seemed more sanitized to me as per wikipedia the plot of the 1959 version of imitation of life was significantly altered from the original book and the 1934 film version. Both of the adaptations of the films deal with similar issues, alls of which are depicted differently on screen because of the. With storylines tackling racism, romance, family, success and tragedy, imitation of life is a powerful story that still resonates with audiences today.
550 711 786 1084 1576 564 304 1068 1547 572 736 1591 1177 1534 1225 1261 1565 77 169 100 236 599 164 1024 539 797 1350 157 1364 742 1600 746 906 159 590 1416 570 1331