Imitation of Life (1959 film)
Appearance
Imitation of Life is a 1959 film about an aspiring white actress who takes in an African American widow whose mixed-race daughter is desperate to be seen as white.
- Directed by Douglas Sirk. Written by Eleanore Griffin and Allan Scott, adapted from Fannie Hurst's 1933 novel.
Lora Meredith
[edit]- [to Sarah Jane] You weren't being colored, you were just being childish.
- Well, I'm going up and up and up - and nobody's going to pull me down!
Annie Johnson
[edit]- How do you tell a child that she was born to be hurt?
- Miss Lora, we just come from a place where... where my color deviled my baby. Now, anything here has gotta be better.
- Our wedding day, and the day we die are the great events of life.
Other
[edit]- Sarah Jane: Miss Lora, you don't know what it means to be... different...
Dialogue
[edit]- Lora: Now, just a moment, young lady! It's only because of my ambition that you've had the best of everything. And that's a solid achievement that any mother can be proud of!
- Susie, age 16: [tearfully] And how about a mother's love?
- Lora: LOVE? But you've always had that!
- Susie, age 16: Yes, by telephone, by postcard, by magazine interviews... you've given me everything... but yourself!
- Lora: You're aiming high.
- Steve: Why not? It doesn't cost any more. Don't you believe in chasing rainbows?
- Lora: It never occurred to me that you had many friends. You never have any visit you.
- Annie: I know lots of people. Oh, hundreds.
- Lora: Really?
- Annie: I belong to the Baptist church. And I belong to several lodges too.
- Lora: I didn't know.
- Annie: Miss Lora, you never asked.
- Steve: Your bones...
- Lora: What about my bones?
- Steve: They're perfect. My camera could easily have a love affair with you.
- Lora: If Steve really means that much to you I'll give him up. I'll never see him again.
- Susie: Oh, Mother. Stop acting!
- Annie: I'd be happy knowin' you're meetin' nice young folk...
- Sarah Jane: Busboys! Cooks! Chauffeurs! Like Hawkins. No thank you; I've seen your "nice young folk".
- Annie: I don't wanna fight with you, honey. Not tonight. I don't feel too good. While I get started on the anchovies, will you take this tray in to Miss Lora and her friends?
- Sarah Jane: [sarcastic] Why, certainly. Anything at all for Miss Lora and her friends.
Cast
[edit]- Lana Turner - Lora Meredith
- Juanita Moore - Annie Johnson
- John Gavin - Steve Archer
- Sandra Dee - Susie, age 16
- Susan Kohner - Sarah Jane, age 18
- Robert Alda - Allen Loomis
- Dan O'Herlihy - David Edwards
- Karin Dicker - Sarah Jane, age 8
- Terry Burnham - Susie, age 6
- Sandra Gould - Annette
- Mahalia Jackson - Funeral singer
- Than Wyenn - Romano
- Troy Donahue - Frankie
- Jack Weston - Tom
- Ann Robinson - Showgirl
External links
[edit]- Imitation of Life quotes at the Internet Movie Database
- Imitation of Life at Rotten Tomatoes
- Imitation of Life at Allmovie