Review of Imitation of Life (1959) by Kevin R — 31 Dec 2014

No one is all right about anything. No one is all wrong.

Two struggling single mothers in New York, one a black maid and one an aspiring white actress, decide to share an apartment until they accomplish their goals and while they raise their daughters. The black maid's daughter is light skin and often thought to be white. When people find out she's not white, they make fun of her and exclude her from activities. She resents her mom for this and tries to live a life without her black mother. The actress focuses so much on her career she neglects true love and her daughter in the process. She will face her own pitfalls as she chases her career goals.

"You're asking me to give up something I've wanted my entire life.".

Douglas Sirk, director of Magnificent Obsession, Written on the Wind, All that Heaven Allows, The Tarnished Angels, Meet Me at the Fair, and A Scandal in Paris, delivers Imitation of Life. The storyline for this picture is very well done and thought-out. The dialogue is wonderful and the acting is perfect. The cast includes Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner, and Juanita Moore.

"I guess you'll have to marry me.".

"You'd be foolish.".

"At least we'd be foolish together.".

I grabbed this off Netflix because it came up under classics, had a high reviewer score, and seemed to have a fascinating plot with strong female performances...this lived up to my expectations. The premise is very well presented and the female leads deliver captivating performances. This is an underrated gem that is definitely worth a viewing.

"My baby goes where I go.".

Grade: A.