This drama, claimed to be melodramatic, is much more. The racial angst and disparity and Hollywood's use of owning a star is revealed brilliantly by the actors portraying the allegory of imbalanced life. I was caught up in the story. What else could be the goal of a movie?

Lana Turner is dreamy and touching as an aspiring actress. German director Douglas Sirk's romance melodrama Imitation of Life (1959) is a beautiful picture. I think that Sirk's lush Technicolor style with gorgeous sets, costumes, hair, and glamour are all dressing to get American audiences comfortable with his cozy directorial style, so that he can guide them into difficult topics like racism, sexism, passing, poverty, romance, parenting, motherhood, and careers for a truly moving tragedy. Douglas Sirk was a phenomenal director with many brilliant films I've loved like Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind, and Imitation of Life. It's a sincerely romantic film that has very modern and progressive ideas about women, work, and society. Author Fannie Hurst created a complex story with very modern ladies. I found it empathetic towards women's struggles and perspective in a way that still feels fresh today. Hurst actually deals with race, class, and gender with a consideration towards black people, passing people, poor and working class women. Screenwriters Eleanore Griffin and Allan Scott bring a warmth and understanding to race relations and class divides with a very modern script. Lana Turner as a lovely white widow Lora Meredith, who takes on Juanita Moore's kind black mother Annie Johnson as her maid. Lana Turner is gorgeous, glamorous, and unaware of her own daughter's feelings. Turner is quite sympathetic when she's getting harassed by sleazy men in the entertainment industry. I thought her motherhood scenes show Lora's care, but inability to really see others. Juanita Moore is fabulous as the nurturing and hard working mother Annie, who basically raises both girls. John Gavin is excellent as the kind, but often controlling photographer love interest Steve Archer. Sandra Dee is aloof and spoiled as 16 year old Susie. Susan Kohner is chaotic and spiteful as the resentful 18 year old Sarah Jane, who has been passing as white for her entire life out of hatred for her own mother being black. Jo Ann Greer's dubbed singing for her is amazing. Robert Alda is so sinister and creepy as the sleazy agent Allen Loomis. Likewise, Dan O''Herlihy is underhanded and sleazy as playwright David Edwards. Karin Dicker is very frustrating and bitter already as 8 year old Sarah Jane, already trying to pass as white. Terry Burnham is a spoiled little monster as 6 year old Susie. Mahalia Jackson cameos with her powerful vocals as the choir soloist in the end. Editor Milton Carruth's smooth cuts let all the melodrama play out for an engaging dramatic film. I loved cinematographer Russell Metty's sleek and steady camera movements. Art direction from Alexander Golitzen and Richard H. Riedel make lovely and detailed sets with vibrant colorful furniture and walls from set decorators Russell A. Gausman and Julia Heron. Composers Henry Mancini and Frank Skinner craft a gentle film score with a tender sound. Costume designer Jean Louis's gowns for Lana Turner are to die for with lush pinks, blues, whites and ornate detailing. Makeup artists Del Armstrong, Bud Westmore, Lynn F. Reynolds, and Nick Marcellino ensure each actress' skin tones are reflected, but also sparkle. Hairstyling from Larry Germain, LaVaughn Speer, and Pat Westmore do wonderful curls and flowing tresses for the lavish haircuts on Lana Turner and the other actresses. In all, Imitation of Life is a slick 125 minutes with plenty to say and much to feel.

The greatest actors for an amazing drama movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Douglas Sirk refashions the 1934 black-and-white classic, perking it up not only with colours but also with a meatier story of the two pairs of dysfunctional single mothers and daughters struggling with conflicts and all in the glory of his baroque visual style.

The times, how they change. What I'm sure was a mind-blowingly racially progressive movie for the time now comes across as rather cringy- the message seeming to be that black people are worth caring about so long as they are unfailingly subservient and take care of your kids and clean your house. My favorite character was the daughter, Sarah Jane, the only one of them who seemed to have any idea how horribly the deck was stacked against her and was determined to take the only way out she could take - "pass" as white. Interestingly, the part that came across as most progressive these days is that Lana Turner, clearly in her 40s, not only has no plastic surgery or Botox (didn't exist then) but is treated as a sex symbol through the entire movie. The 50s might have been problematic in many ways, but at least it didn't worship little girls and allowed middle-aged women to be desirable.

There are two stories in the movie: one about an aspiring white actress, Lora, and the other about a black woman, Annie who becomes her maid. Both are widows, have daughters and are looking for a job. Lora aspires to become a star. Annie wants a roof over her head. The first story is more straightforward. Fame versus love. What do we really want from life? Lora takes her time to make up her mind, and Steve is somewhat unyielding at least at first. Ten years of this back and forth: the movie can get a bit flat. The second story is more convoluted. It's always unfortunate to see how race was an issue not so long ago. This story is a bit contrived. Annie's daughter who appears white doesn't want to be seen as black. I guess in efforts to perform racial labeling, she was considered black. And the daughter wants to be white. The conflict between the mother and daughter goes beyond race. Annie was comfortable in her role as maid, whereas her daughter wanted more. As much as Annie's daughter can be rather cruel, her point of view still transpires. Lora doesn't really get to know Annie as we'd know a friend, but this doesn't seem to come out of racial issues but rather their social standing. Nonetheless, of note, as Lora gets more staff, the staff are all black. Annie has her victory at the very end, in a time when any equality would only be reached after death. The two stories don't mesh very well, but kudos for touching on racial injustice, at a time when that conversation was difficult. The second story is a bit too melancholic, almost with a touch of neo-realism. Or just melodramatic. Annie who could well be Lora's age fall ill and for most part of the movie is either crying or at the verge of doing so. The performances are at times somewhat too theatrical, but overall captivating. John Gavin's I love you is really worth millions. But there's much more than a love story. In fact the second part of the movie is more of Annie than about Lora.

Not as engaging as the 1934 version but definitely worth watching.

Melodrama masterpiece by movie making maven Douglas Sirk.

Imitation of Life has an undeniable capability to make the audience squirm by forcing them to face unfortunate sides of society endemic to the supposedly serene 1950's United States, but also feels leaky as a result of simply trying to address too much. The film starts out so strongly with its exploration of race in society, and as the exploration of these themes continues it only solidifies itself, with Moore and Kohner delivering a resonant message of the conflict between family ties, personal ambition, and widespread prejudices. However, the less impactful subplots (absent mother), Horatio Alger-esque rapid success of a plucky but talented figure, and tendency to devolve into shameless melodrama weigh heavily on the film's overall impact. Still, some of the cinematography is surprisingly interesting and worthy of mention. (3.5/5)

Remake...Love Douglas Sirk films

This movie is fantastic, theres big stars and it always makes me cry when I watch it.

Powerful and beautifully acted.

I first saw this movie in the '70's and was shocked and horrified by the brutal slapping scene where she cries and begs his forgiveness. It is and always will be one of the most sickening scenes in movie history.

No one with a brain could take this seriously.

this movie is about at good as a 50 year old movie can get I suppose but honestly is lack lust at best and I will never understand why an almost homeless jobless woman is screwing around at the beach and find another homeless jobless woman WTF are they doing at the beach instead of finding work

The best movie ever made!

Great movie!!! Good story to go along with the times!!!

Despite the melodrama,the cast is top notch and give great performances. The performances help the film deal with delicate subject matter without exploiting it.

Of director Douglas Sirk's many fine films, this may arguably be his best (though I still think "All That Heaven Allows" is my favorite). The film follows aspiring actress Lana Turner on her way to the top in the acting world, while also being a single mother and her close relationship with her black housekeeper, Juanita Moore. Much of the film's drama revolves around Turner and Moore's daughters. Sandra Dee plays Turner's pretty blond daughter, but it's Susan Kohner as Moore's daughter who is mixed race and can pass for white who manages to steal the film. "Imitation of Life" tackles racism head on in way that was rarely done in major Hollywood films of this time. As someone who is mixed-race themself, this film does have a lot of moments that I found very identifiable with through Kohner's character, which is interesting that film on this topic made almost 70 years ago is still relevant today. Kohner was nominated for a Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, but unfortunately lost out. I wasn't all that familiar with Kohner's biography, but I was fascinated to learn that she was the daughter of Lupita Tovar and Paul Kohner, the star and the producer of the famous Universal Picture Spanish language version of "Dracula." She's also the mother of Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, who wrote wrote some fine films including "In Good Company" and the new Star Wars film, "Rogue One." But back to the Sirk film, this is a true Hollywood classic that is a must see for all film fans!

This is a a very well made melodrama from Douglas Sirk, who knew the genre well. It tells the story of a single mother, played by Lana Turner, who is a struggling actress that takes in a black widow and her young daughter who is very light skinned and often tries to pass for white. Through this set-up, Sirk is able to tackle several social topics including race, ambitions, and family relationships. The film is obviously very manipulative, but it is also well executed with admirable intentions. Two of the actresses were nominated for Supporting Actress Oscars. The film looks fantastic as well. It's an emotional journey well worth taking. Check it out.