Tweet. Watched it again and realised that this really was ahead of its time with the racial content which I think was handled carefully. ...Imitation of Life (1959) (Blu-Ray). When Lora is signed to star in an Italian motion picture, she leaves Steve to watch after Susie. As she wished, Annie is given a lavish funeral in a large church, complete with a gospel choir (featuring Mahalia Jackson singing "Trouble of the World"), followed by an elaborate traditional funeral procession with a band and horse-drawn hearse. The issue of Susie's crush on Steve becomes serious when Susie learns that Steve and Lora are to be married. All Movies of Dan O'Herlihy The Rat Pack (TV) 1. He was the brother of director Michael O'Herlihy (1929–1997) and the father of actor Gavan O'Herlihy, visual artist Olwen O'Herlihy, and architect Lorcan O'Herlihy. A Blu-ray with both films was released in April 2015;[17] this edition has been re-mastered, and is not identical with earlier DVD releases. Issue 3541 24 October 1991 Page 94 BBC One is a television service which began broadcasting on 20 April 1964. The film's top-billed stars are Lana Turner and John Gavin, and the cast also features Sandra Dee, Dan O'Herlihy, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda and Juanita Moore. Imitation of Life is without question one of my all-time favorite movies. Melodrama. Douglas Sirk was nominated for the 1959 Directors Guild of America Award.[13]. I remember watching this as a youngster and was overwhelmed by the content (in tears) and loved it so much. Learn more about Import fee deposit here. I was looking for this recently to show my daughter and couldn't remember the title and a friend told me. [8] Sirk later said that he had deliberately and subversively undercut Turner to draw focus toward the problems of the two black characters. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2017. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 September 2018. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2020, Fantastic film always makes me cry at the end highly recommended excellent value for money, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2016. The story of Annie Johnson and her daughter Sarah-Jane was far more compelling than Lana Turner's self indulgent character. The original 1934 version of Imitation of Life was added to the National Film Registry in 2005.[5][6]. Surprisingly the neglected white daughter gets on with life much better than the one who loved and cherished. User Ratings (0) Your Rating. At the show's after-party, she encounters Steve, whom she has not seen in a decade. Buy Imitation of Life (1959) (Blu-Ray) from Amazon's Movies Store. Sarah Jane begins dating a white teenager (Troy Donahue), but he beats her in an alleyway after learning she is black. My mother showed it to me when I was a tween and it marked the beginning of my love of old movies--particularly the black and white ones from the 40s & 50s. The tall, distinguished-looking university graduate boasted a rich, resonant voice, which enabled him to easily find work in radio plays, as well on the stage. Annie, becoming weaker and more depressed by the day, flies out to see her daughter one last time and say goodbye. The two slowly begin rekindling their relationship, and Steve is reintroduced to Annie and the now-teenaged Susie (Sandra Dee) and Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner). As it happened, regardless of his Best Actor Oscar nomination Dan O’Herlihy would continue to play supporting roles in A productions (e.g., The Virgin Queen, Imitation of Life) or, in rare instances, leads in minor fare like Compton Bennett’s 1957 British crime drama That Woman Opposite and, in a double role opposite Glynis Johns, the 1962 remake of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. Approved third parties also use these tools in connection with our display of ads. Cast: Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Dan O'Herlihy USA, 1959, rated NR, two hours and five minutes. The Imitation of Life 2-Movie Collection includes both versions of the film, the original 1934 Best Picture nominee starring Claudette Colbert and the 1959 masterpiece starring Lana Turner. Featuring. Film. Losing track of her young daughter Susie (portrayed as a child by Terry Burnham) at a crowded Coney Island beach, she asks a stranger, Steve Archer (John Gavin), to help her find the girl. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2015. Johnson too has a daughter, who is light-skinned enough to pass for white. Synopsis: Aspiring actress Lora Meredith meets Annie Johnson a homeless black woman at Coney Island and soon they share a tiny apartment. USA. Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven (2002) is an homage to Sirk's work, in particular All That Heaven Allows (1955) and Imitation of Life. Sarah Jane's roommate interrupts them, presuming Annie is the maid, to which Annie says that she is a former nanny of "Miss Linda," Sarah Jane's new name. starring Lana Turner, John Gavin with Sandra Dee, Dan O'Herlihy, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda, Juanita Moore Lana Turner stars as an actress forced to weigh career against personal happiness in this adaptation of a best-selling novel by Fannie Hurst which is also concerned with one of America's foremost problems of today - the colour question. Each woman has an intolerable daughter, though Annie's little girl Sarah Jane, is by far the worse. Genome BETA Radio Times 1923 - 2009. song, "Imitation of Life," are based upon this film. One mother is an actress in pursuit of her career, who doesn't have much time for her daughter, while the other who truly loves her daughter is pushed away by her, because having white father she even doesn't know, she wants to be considered as a white person, while her other is black. Annie tells Lora of the girl's crush. Gospel music star Mahalia Jackson appears as a church choir soloist. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2017. A two-disc set of the films was issued by Universal in 2008. Annie pleads to Sarah Jane that if she ever needs help, she will reach out to her, and the two share one last embrace. Neurotic and obnoxious, Sarah Jane doesn't like being black; since she's light-skinned (her father was practically white), she spends the rest of the film passing as white, much to her mother's heartache and shame. Annie is bedridden upon her return to New York, and Lora and Susie look after her. Jul 12, 2019 - Explore Jaclyn Waddilove's board "Dan O'Herlihy", followed by 213 people on Pinterest. Story follows two pair of mothers and their daughters tied up to live together. Like the previous film, in this one the Peola (Sarah Jane) character returns, going to her mother's funeral and showing remorse, a scene described by Molly Hiro as "virtually identical" to the previous one, while in the novel she leaves the area for good. Stills must not be reproduced, copied or downloaded in any way. Imitation of Life Year: 1959 USA Lana Turner , John Gavin Director: Douglas Sirk. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2021. A widowed but rising actress, Lora Meredith, hires Annie Johnson as her black housekeeper. In 1947, single mother Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) dreams of becoming a famous Broadway actress. Spain released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Aspiring actress Lora Meredith meets Annie Johnson a homeless black woman at Coney Island and soon they share a tiny apartment. Imitation of Life from Left: John Gavin Lana Turner Dan O'Herlihy Sandra Dee Susan Kohner Juanita Moore 1959. Genres - Drama | Sub-Genres - Family Drama, Melodrama | Release Date - Apr 30, 1959 (USA - Unknown) | Run Time - 124 min. Press the green Edit button. Just before the procession sets off, a bereaved and guilt-ridden Sarah Jane pushes through the crowd of mourners to throw herself upon her mother's casket apologizing and begging for her mother's forgiveness, proclaiming "I killed my own mother!" The 1969 Diana Ross & the Supremes song "I'm Livin' in Shame" and the 2001 R.E.M. Unable to add item to List. Writing in 1997, Rob Nelson said, Basically, we're left to intuit that the black characters (and the movie) are themselves products of '50s-era racism – which explains the film's perspective, but hardly makes it less dizzying. In Stock Usually shipped within 24 hours Released: 6/3/2003. David Edwards: Dan O'Herlihy Sarah Jane (aged 18): Susan Kohner Allen Loomis: Robert Alda . [7] In the original story, the "Lora" character, Bea Pullman, became successful by commercial production of her maid Delilah's family waffle recipe (a pancake recipe in the 1934 film version). Annie persuades Lora to let her stay and look after the household, so that she can pursue an acting career. Sirk's treatment of racial and class issues is also admired for what he caught of the times. "[15], Imitation of Life became a staple of both the American Movie Classics and Turner Classic Movies cable television networks. Imitation of Life is the second film adaptation of Fannie Hurst 's 1933 novel of the same name; the first, directed by John M. Stahl, was released in 1934. Imitation of Life (1959) Tear-jerker about the intertwined lives of two widowed mothers, one white and the other black, and the rebellious daughters they raise, the latter's a light-skinned child claiming to be white. You can edit these details. Sarah Jane's rejection of her mother begins taking a physical and mental toll on Annie. Hiro wrote that in contrast to the novel, this film and the previous film received "far more critical attention", with the second film being "more famous" compared to the first. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. It has been considered a masterpiece of Sirk's American career. After a confrontation with her mother, Susie decides to go away to school in Denver to forget about Steve. Whilst in the original film, the "imitation of life" was just a reference to Peola's (in this film, Sarah Jane) desire to pass for white, in this film, three out of the four main characters have been living their own imitations of life. As each generation passes away, so do bigotries and stereotypes. Select the 'Free delivery on first order' option at checkout. Annie continues to live with her, serving as nanny, housekeeper, confidante, and best friend. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use … Noted gospel singer Mahalia Jackson received "presenting" billing for her one scene, performing a version of "Trouble of the World" at Annie's funeral service. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Golden Globes Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events Introduction. Movie Poster Masterprint (24 x 36): Home: Amazon.com.au Film details. Lana Turner's wardrobe for Imitation of Life cost over $1.078 million, making it one of the most expensive in cinema history at that time.[8]. JOHN GAVIN, LANA TURNER, IMITATION OF LIFE, 1959. Dan O'Herlihy, Actor: RoboCop. Learn more about VAT here. Imitation of Life is the second film adaptation of Fannie Hurst's 1933 novel of the same name; the first, directed by John M. Stahl, was released in 1934. 8 . Since the late 20th century, Imitation of Life has been re-evaluated by critics. Category. He's known for Robocop (1987), Imitation of Life (1959) and The Virgin Queen (1955). Try again. Country. What a great movie. Thought provoking from both sides of the story and a great piece of cinema history. [18], Madman Entertainment in Australia released a three-disc DVD set, including the 1934 film version as well as a video essay on the 1959 film by Sam Staggs. Though it was not well-reviewed upon its original release and was viewed as inferior to the original 1934 film version – many critics derided the film as a "soap opera,"[11] – Imitation of Life was the sixth highest-grossing film of 1959, grossing $6.4 million,[12] and was Universal-International's top-grossing film that year. Personal life. The story was altered so that Lora becomes a Broadway star with her own talents, with Annie assisting her by serving as a nanny for Lora's child. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dan O'Herlihy, as ; David Edwards Troy Donahue, as ; Frankie Karin Dicker, as ; Sarah Jane, age 8 Terry Burnham, as ; Susie, age 6 ... Imitation of Life is a historically interesting movie. Year. Imitation of Life [DVD] $9.91. IMITATION OF LIFE, from left: John Gavin, Lana Turner, Dan O'Herlihy, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner, Juanita Moore, 1959. [7], Director Douglas Sirk and screenwriters Eleanore Griffin and Allan Scott felt that such a story would not be accepted during the Civil Rights Movement amid milestones, such as the Brown v. Board of Education case and the Montgomery bus boycott, but racial discrimination and inequities was still part of it. Prime members enjoy fast & free shipping, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video and many more exclusive benefits. Dan O'Herlihy, Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner, German (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0), Imitation of Life (1959) (Blu-Ray), Imitation of Life (1959). Kohner and Moore received Academy Award nominations for their performances. Imitation of Life (1959) Directed by Douglas Sirk. Tweet. When Annie learns the truth, she goes to the club to claim her daughter; Sarah Jane is fired. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There's a problem loading this menu at the moment. Eleven years later, Lora is a highly regarded Broadway star living in a luxurious home near New York City. © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The film's top-billed stars are Lana Turner and John Gavin, and the cast also features Sandra Dee, Dan O'Herlihy, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda … Upon meeting with Sarah Jane, Annie apologizes for being selfish by loving her too much and wishes her the best. Search the BBC Search the BBC. [16], Both the 1934 and 1959 films were issued in 2003 on a double-sided DVD from Universal Studios. Sorry, there was a problem saving your cookie preferences. Some time later, she again passes for white to get a job performing at a seedy nightclub, but tells her mother she is working at the library. Imitation grabs you by the heart and doesn't let up until the ending credits roll. 1959. Momentary film reaches unbelievable levels of emotions when daughter accuses her black mother of being the source of all her troubles and throws away her love. The teenager develops an unrequited crush on her mother's boyfriend. Single mom and aspiring actress Lora (Lana Turner), embarrassed by Christmas attention from Steve (John Gavin), as housekeeper/roommate Annie (Juanita Moore) takes a call from agent Loomis (Robert Alda), representing Edwards (Dan O'Herlihy), in Douglas Sirk's hit Imitation Of Life, 1959. Show TV Channels Hide TV Channels TV ; Show Radio Channels Buy Imitation of Life (Region ALL, NTSC) from Amazon's Movies Store. Imitation of Life (1959) Lana Turner shines in Douglas Sirk’s moving rags-to-riches tale. And those who do still harbor such thoughts have been very much closeted by the politically correct police. In return for Annie's kindness, Lora temporarily takes in Annie and her daughter. Imitation of Life is a 1959 American drama film directed by Douglas Sirk, produced by Ross Hunter and released by Universal International. Soon after their argument, Annie dies with Lora crying hysterically by her side. I watched this many years ago and I still enjoyed it on Saturday as I did all those years ago. After rejecting David's latest script (and his marriage proposal), Lora takes a role in a dramatic play. It was Sirk's final Hollywood film and dealt with issues of race, class and gender. Fiction. The detective locates her living in California as a white woman under an assumed name and working as a chorus girl. Select media. With struggles along the way, Lora becomes a star of stage comedies, with Allen Loomis (Robert Alda) as her agent and David Edwards (Dan O'Herlihy) as her chief playwright. Dan O\'Herlihy. [2] Following its New York opening, it became number one in the US for two weeks[10] before Universal put the film into general release on April 30. Critics later commented that Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner stole the film from Turner. [7], Both Moore and Kohner were nominated for the 1959 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the 1959 Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress. IMITATION OF LIFE. [19], Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures, "Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress", http://www.boxofficereport.com/database/1959.shtml, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052918/awards, "Passing Time/ Through a Glass, Darkly: Juanita Moore and Lana Turner in Douglas Sirk's 'Imitation of Life", "Imitation of Life Blu-ray Lana Turner Claudette Colbert", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Imitation_of_Life_(1959_film)&oldid=998869363, Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe-winning performance, United States National Film Registry films, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2020, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 January 2021, at 11:24. 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