Imitation of Life (1959)

My Mother's Favorite Movie...

I bought this movie for my mother as a surprise because I know how much she loves it-and she truly loved it lol. My mother likes the remake better than the original version and it made her day when she saw it in DVD format.

I also really like this movie. It doesn't make me cry, but the funeral scene always gets to me. Great movie for children which teaches them to accept your family unconditionally. Also teaches them that tomorrow is not promised so cherish each moment before it's too late.

Oh, and the delivery was a little slow, but this movie still gets 2 thumbs up from me. July 2, 2008

Imitation of Life

This version of the movie is great! My family and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even my nine year old son, who normally has no interest in this type of movie, viewed with interest. June 11, 2008

Imitation of Life

There's nothing I wanted to know before I purchased the movie, just that I wanted it because I think it's one of the best tear jerker movies ever made.
Thank You for having it available for me to purchase. You're the best! June 2, 2008

DVD: Imitation of life

I grew up watching this movie with one of my older sisters and we were just recently turned on to Amazon and and figured because they fetured everything under the sun,"let's look for all of our old favorites" and this movie was one of many. We totally enjoy the old stuff because it's clean, fun and the entire family can learn good life lessons. May 17, 2008

Actually hurts to watch this one

************* SPOILER ALERT! DON'T READ BEFORE SEEING THIS FILM! *********
Actually, I envy anyone who hasn't seen this one yet - they get to see it for the 1st time & it is amazing. Guaranteed to make anyone cry like a baby. Its really an unusual film in that its ostensibly a star vehicle for Lana Turner as Lora - & it is. But the centerpiece of the whole movie is the relationship between Annie(Juanita Moore) & Sarah Jane(Susan Kohner). Lora rises to stardom & makes maybe a 100 costume changes along the way. Her acting gets criticized a lot, but she's perfect for this part - a glamorous, self-absorbed but well-intentioned drama queen totally focused on her career & oblivious to all those around her. There's a brief but telling scene when she blurts out that she never realized that Annie had any friends (or by extension a life outside of being her maid). The 2 women lock eyes for an instant but another character interrupts & the moment is lost forever.

Like I said, this film is really about Annie & Sarah Jane & their scenes together (with both versions of Sarah Jane) are literally unbearably painful to watch. Sarah Jane is furious at the cruelty of segregation & prejudice & takes out her resentment at white people on poor Annie. She also has an escape hatch which she discovers early & uses at every opportunity - she can pass as white. But Annie can't & her actual presence repudiates Sarah Jane's lie & her daughter despises her for that fact. So by definition she must also despise herself.

Both women richly deserved their Oscar nominations, & as noted their scenes together are incredibly hurtful to watch. The last 2 scenes are particularly brutal. The 1st one is when Annie catches her daughter dancing at a strip club. Annie begs her to come home & talk to her but Sarah Jane turns her back on her & walks away with no intention of ever seeing her mother again. The 2nd one is the goodbye scene when Annie senses she's going to die soon & goes to LA to see Sarah Jane for one last time & is the ultimate tear-jerker. In the motel room when Sarah Jane refuses to let her mother sit down because she only wants to get rid of her as quickly as possible - & we can see how ill & distraught Annie is - this moment will rip the heart right out of your chest no mattter how tough you think you are. The rest of this scene, although brief, is no less painful & will make anyone cry no matter how many times you see it.

It then becomes apparent that Annie's illness is actually her heart having been broken by her daughter's behavior as well as her constant & merciless abuse. So she dies & she's only in her late 30's or so at the most. But she always wanted a special funeral & had saved up for it over the years. And she gets it - Mahalia Jackson giving her all & an elaborate funeral cortege. We also get a glimpse of Annie's life away from Lora's house. Many people are there & they obviously think very highly of Annie. When Sarah Jane shows up & begs forgiveness much too late - this is one of the all-time great movie endings. In fact, the last 30 minutes or so of this film are extremely difficult to take & I know people who have seen this movie once & refuse to watch it again because its so painful. May be the ultimate chick flick - I can't recommend it highly enough in spite of being a man.

The transfer itself is awful. Its apparent that a lot of care went into the colors, set designs, clothes & cinematography but everything just looks washed out. Hopefully this classic will get the restoration it deseves some day.



February 14, 2008

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