Stahl, adapted by william hurlbut from fannie hursts novel, imitation of life. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william and rochelle hudson. From the time of the creation of the first films, films have reflected the values society holds at the time of the films creation. Director jm stahl first made it into a film in 1934 and by the time sirk brought it to the screen for the second time, the story had been. But, on the whole, a good film, and a thoughtprovoking one. 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 1934 approved 1h 51min drama, romance 26 november 1934 usa a struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter. It wasnt a small feat to get this film into theaters either.
Both of the adaptations of the films deal with similar issues, alls of which are depicted differently on screen because of the vast time difference between the two periods. 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. However conflicts arise as the women age and their children played by. Like most of hursts novels, imitation of life became a popular screen success as well in both of its versions. Protagonistica, koju tumaci claudette colbert je bea pullman, udovica koja od svog muza preuzima prodaju slastica, te koja kao uzima afroamericku kucnu pomocnicu delilah johnson ciji lik tumaci louise beavers koja ce. Butler presumes otherwise, proposing that the film ridicules delilahs inability to grasp. 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. Its not, of course its about motherhood and love, but the fact that were watching parallel stories between a white woman and a. Less well known than the 1959 douglas sirk remake starring lana turner and juanita moore, the first film version of imitation of life 1934, directed by john m. Imitation of life is a 1934 drama film directed by john m. Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana. Imitation of life was in production from june 27 to september 11, 1934, and was released on november 26 of that year.
Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. Watch imitation of life movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. The funeral from imitation of life 1934 complete blu ray cut. R6, why dont you stream the film, and answer your own questions. This video shows clips from the original 1934 film imitation of life directed by john stall. The funeral from imitation of life 1934 complete blu ray. Imitation of life this film is an adaptation from a novel by fanny hurst highly controversial, and it is also the remake of a film of the same title released in 1934. Imitation of life was made in 1934, which means that the hays code, a set of moral policy and guidelines filmmakers were obligated to follow before releasing their work to the public, was still in effect. The 1934 version won academy award nominations for best picture and best sound while the 1959 version garnered best supporting actress oscar nominations for juanita moore and susan kohner. Download pdf copies of the entire list of registry titles sorted alphabetically or by year of release. Imitation of life by paul francis webster, sammy fain, sung by earl grant. Imitation of life 1934 a very good film nominated for best picture of the year by the academy with one of my favorite actresses the beautiful claudette colbert as a struggling woman who teams with her friend played by louise beavers to succeed with a pancake recipe and using her aunt jemimalike likeness.
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. Feb 14, 2020 a scene from the 1934 film imitation of life, featuring louise beavers and fredi washington. Douglas sirks imitation of life senses of cinema film journal. Imitation of life two movie collection dvd, 2004 for. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. A scene from the 1934 film imitation of life, featuring louise beavers and fredi washington. Style and the domestic melodrama, an article originally published in jump cut, no. But what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. It features claudette colbert, louise beavers, and freddie washington and examines the role of race in.
Oct 12, 2008 but what makes imitation of life so interesting is the subversive and ironic touches that sirk includes. The sirk film has more blatantly violent racism the 1934 film has. Wikipedia on imitation of life the novel imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Imitation of life 1934 new sealed dvd claudette colbert. Claudette colbert and louise beavers are superb as bea and delilah, two women with young daughters who build a life and a fortune together selling delilahs pancake recipe. Film class wednesdays winds down with the last three movies of the semester. Reflecting on the film imitation of life during womens. Imitation of life the 1934 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. One of their rules included preventing any form of miscegenation being depicted. The fairskinned black actress who refused to pass in 1930s. It examines racism in a way that was very daring for a film made in the 30s bea pullman colbert is a recent widow who is struggling to raise her toddler daughter jessie and keep up her late husbands business selling maple syrup. These videos show my appreciation and to help introduce in order to watch the fullhd and complete. In a funeral sequence, mahalia jackson, vocal, with a group which includes ed montudi garland, andrew blakeney, teddy buckner, george. Imitation of life two movie collection dvd, 2004 for sale.
Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana turner. Imitation of life is a 1934 film directed by john m. Imitacija zivota je americki crnobijeli igrani film snimljen u reziji johna m. However, for every leap forward in asserting a positive relationship between a white woman and a black woman, there are two massive steps backward. Imitation of life 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Apr 19, 2016 the funeral from imitation of life 1934 complete blu ray cut.
Adapted from activist and protofeminist fannie hursts 1933 novel, the remake is generally regarded as superior despite veering sharply in many respects from the novel and first film, but it was the bigger boxoffice success and today. Aug 21, 2019 these videos show my appreciation and to help introduce in order to watch the fullhd and complete. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. Read the full synopsis of imitation of life, 1934, directed by john m. Imitation of life was originally a popular but unremarkable romantic potboiler novel by fannie hurst.
I have not read the book or seen the movie, so my impressions are based only on production of 1959. 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 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. Empty arms by frederick herbert, arnold hughes, sung by susan kohner. Imitation of life movie trailer and videos tv guide. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of any. It examines racism in a way that was very daring for a film made in the 30s. Imitation of life stands as sirks masterpiece and perhaps the greatest hollywood melodrama ever made. Apr 20, 2005 written during the dismal conditions of the great depression, fannie hursts novel, imitation of life, was adapted to film in 1934 and 1959.
It was sirks final hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Bea pullman colbert is a recent widow who is struggling to raise her toddler daughter jessie and keep up her late husbands business selling maple syrup. Imitation of life is a 1959 american drama film directed by douglas sirk, produced by ross hunter and released by universal international. This movie wouldnt have had a chance of being made in the present. Imitation of life, the 1934 version, reflected the attitude in the country toward blacks. The plot of the 1959 version of imitation of life was significantly altered from the original book and the 1934 film version. The imitation of life 2movie collection includes both versions of the film, the original 1934 best picture nominee starring claudette colbert and the 1959 masterpiece starring lana turner. This movie wouldnt have had a chance of being made in the present climate of political correctness. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst. Imitation of life ends with moores annie johnson being dramatically hoisted into a hearse as an entire black community mourns her passing. Imitation of life 2movie collection comes to bluray.
This weeks film is 1934s imitation of life, a landmark picture for its friendlyish view of africanamericans. Lora meredith turner is a widow struggling to make it as an actress as well as take care of her little daughter susie. 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. Complete national film registry listing film registry. Imitation of life 1934 new sealed dvd claudette colbert for. 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. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. Based on a bestselling novel by fannie hurst, sirks film was the second adaptation of the book, and it strays much farther from the source material than the more straightforward 1934 screen version. Its a valiant, heartbreaking moment, but if you dig beneath the scenes giddy surface sheen, you may see that sirk is asking for an instant moratorium on films that further subjugate the role of. With storylines tackling racism, romance, family, success and tragedy, imitation of life is a powerful story that still resonates with audiences today. 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. The fairskinned black actress who refused to pass in.
The 59 version changes a few plot points the turner character isnt a jewish businesswoman, and theres no pancake batter and a big business success for the two women. 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. This movie shows how hollywood dealt with the racial issues back in those years. Stahl, with claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, at turner classic movies. It tells the story of two widowed mothers, one white and one black, raising their daughters amidst a climate of capitalism and racism.
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