Imitation of Life

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Douglas Sirk directs. Russell Metty behind the camera. Frank Skinner scores. Milton Carruth cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 167 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
• 2Directed by Douglas Sirk, shot by Russell Metty. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Frank Skinner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Milton Carruth shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Lana Turner and John Gavin and Sandra Dee carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!".
• 7IMDB entry: tt0052918 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Russell Metty

Original score

Frank Skinner

Editing

Milton Carruth

Makeup / hair

Larry Germain

Runtime

125 min · 2h 5m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

NR

IMDB

Imitation of Life (1959) ↗

Also by

Douglas Sirk

• 
  La Chanson du Souvenir

  1937 · ★ 10.0
• 
  New Year's Eve

  1978 · ★ 8.5
• 
  Final Accord

  1938 · ★ 8.5
• 
  Meet Me at the Fair

  1953 · ★ 7.7
• 
  Slightly French

  1949 · ★ 7.5
• 
  The Lady Pays Off

  1951 · ★ 7.5

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Imitation Of Life ≣ 1959 ≣ Trailer

  Trailer
• 

  ▶
  Dan Ireland on IMITATION OF LIFE

  Featurette
• 

  ▶
  Imitation of Life Official Trailer #1 - Lana Turner Movie (1959) HD

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• CinemaSerf2023-01-24
  ★ 7/10

  Whilst Lana Turner is great in this family drama, the plaudits really ought to go to the sparing appearances of the hugely charismatic Juanita Moore. The latter woman is very much down on her luck, with her daughter "Sarah Jane", when she rescues the young "Susie", separated at the beach from her mother "Lora" (Turner). Not that she has much better prospects, but "Lora" takes in the destitute couple and that seems to act as her good luck charm. A budding actress, she finds herself slowly but surely - with the aide of the less than scrupulous "Loomis" (Robert Alda) - climbing up the greasy pole - without, it has to be said, compromising her integrity. The four march on as her star rises, but of course there is no pain, no gain. "Sarah Jane" (by now Susan Kohner) is of mixed-race, and as she struggles to fit in socially, she goes off the rails. Meantime, "Lora" has an on/off relationship with "Steve" (John Gavin) to whom, also, her daughter takes a bit of a shine too! It's not a melodrama, this film - it's a well crafted characterful drama that mixes comedy, aspiration, racial tension and love - in many different guises; and it delivers a thought provoking but still very entertaining look at 1950s America. Success always comes at a price, and much of Turner's excellence here comes from the fact that she plays a woman who almost glides through life without really appreciating how or why it impacts on her. It's only when the tragedies - yes there are a few - start to hit her square on, that she has to adjust to real life. Gavin was never really any better than eye candy, but here he does have an extra gear and there are strong contributions from both Kohner and Sandra Dee as the sixteen year old "Susie". Henri Mancini had a hand in the score of this lavish and complex story that really does allow the talent on screen to deliver some solid writing well and engagingly. Two hours just flies by.

  Read full review ↓
• griggs792024-09-23
  ★ 9/10

  Imitation of Life is a masterpiece that explores race, class, and privilege in 1950s America. Douglas Sirk's final Hollywood film masterfully contrasts the lives of Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) and Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), using their intertwining stories to expose the stark divides of the era. The emotional depth of Annie's relationship with her daughter, who chooses to pass as white, is super-emotional and heart-wrenching. Sirk's use of heightened drama not only serves as a critique of 1950s society's blind spots but also enlightens today's audience about the issues of the time. In the final act, with Mahalia Jackson's moving performance, the film delivers an emotionally shattering experience that cements its status as a timeless work of art. Flawless.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Universal International Pictures

  US

Key crew

• ProducerRoss Hunter
• Visual EffectsClifford Stine
• EditorMilton Carruth
• SoundLeslie I. Carey
• Costume DesignerBill Thomas
• NovelFannie Hurst
• Art DirectionAlexander Golitzen
• HairstylistLarry Germain
• Art DirectionRichard H. Riedel
• Set DecorationJulia Heron
• Theme Song PerformanceEarl Grant
• Makeup ArtistBud Westmore
• Music SupervisorJoseph Gershenson
• SoundJoe Lapis
• Costume DesignerJean Louis
• Set DecorationRussell A. Gausman
• Assistant DirectorFrank Shaw
• SongsSammy Fain
• SongsPaul Francis Webster
• Camera OperatorEddie Pyle
• Makeup ArtistLynn F. Reynolds
• Makeup ArtistDel Armstrong
• Assistant CameraLedge Haddow
• Wardrobe MasterMartha Bunch

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• family
• motherhood
• passing for white

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere1959-03-17NR

Also known as

International titles

• Imitação da VidaBR
• Zolang Er Mensen ZijnNL
• Mirage de la vieFR
• 슬픔은 그대 가슴에KR
• Odeio Minha MãeBR