Imitation of Life Two-Movie Special Edition

IMITATION OF LIFE [1934 – 1959] [2 Classic Movie Collection] [Blu-ray] Digitally Re-mastered and Fully Restored from High Resolution 35mm Original Film Elements!Based on the 1933 best-selling novel, “Imitation of Life” is one of the most beloved and respected stories of all-time. This emotionally charged drama chronicles the lives of two widows and their troubled daughters as they struggle to find true happiness in a world plagued by racism. The ‘Imitation of Life’ 2 Classic Movie Collection includes both versions of the film, the original 1934 Best Picture nominee starring Claudette Colbert and the 1959 masterpiece starring Lana Turner. With storylines tackling racism, romance, family, success and tragedy, Imitation of Life is a powerful story that still resonates with audiences today.FILM FACT: 1934 ‘Imitation of Life’ Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Picture. Nominated: Best Assistant Director for Scott R. Beal. Nominated: Sound Mixing for Theodore Soderberg. Child actress Jane Withers has a small part as a classmate of Peola, her fifth film appearance.FILM FACT: 1959 ‘Imitation of Life’ Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Susan Kohner. Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Juanita Moore. Golden Globes® Award: Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Susan Kohner. Nominated: Best Supporting Actress for Juanita Moore. Directors Guild of America Award Nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Douglas Sirk. ‘Imitation of Life’ [1959] Title Song and Credits were written by Sammy Fain and Paul Thomas Webster and vocals by Earl Grant.1934 Cast: Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson (Age 18), Ned Sparks, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington (Age 19), Juanita Quigley (Age 3), Alan Hale, Henry Armetta, Wyndham Standing, Alyce Ardell (uncredited), William Austin (uncredited), Dorothy Black (uncredited), Edna Bowdoin (uncredited), Daisy Bufford (uncredited), Norma Drew (uncredited), Jean Fenwick (uncredited), Reverend Gregg (uncredited), Sebie Hendricks (uncredited), Stuart Johnston (uncredited), Marcia Mae Jones (uncredited), Marilyn Knowlden (uncredited), Henry Kolker (uncredited), Curry Lee (uncredited), Bessie Lyle (uncredited), Claire McDowell (uncredited), Edgar Norton (uncredited), Teru Shimada (uncredited), Madame Sul-Te-Wan Libby Taylor (uncredited), Martin Turner Hazel Washington (uncredited), Clarence Wilson (uncredited), Jane Withers (uncredited) and Franklin Pangborn ("Mr. Carven") (uncredited)1959 Cast: Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner, Robert Alda, Dan O'Herlihy, Juanita Moore, Karin Dicker, Terry Burnham, John Vivyan, Lee Goodman, Ann Robinson, Troy Donahue, Sandra Gould, David Tomack, Joel Fluellen, Jack Weston, Billy House, Maida Severn, Than Wyenn, Peg Shirley, Mahalia Jackson, Frank Baker (uncredited), George Barrows (uncredited), Chuckie Bradley (uncredited), Teddy Buckner (uncredited), Steve Carruthers (uncredited), Paul Cristo (uncredited), Joe Darensbourg (uncredited), Mike De Lay (uncredited), Elinor Donahue (uncredited), Alphonso DuBois (uncredited), Cicely Evans (uncredited), George Ford (uncredited), Paul Gustine (uncredited), Shep Houghton (uncredited), Lynne Hunter (uncredited), Nelson Leigh (uncredited), Eddie Parker (uncredited), Cap Somers (uncredited), Ted Thorpe (uncredited) and Napoleon Whiting (uncredited)1934/1959 Directors: John M. Stahl and Douglas Sirk1934/1959 Producers: Carl Laemmle Jr., Henry Henigson and Ross Hunter1934/1959 Screenplay: William J. Hurlbut, Allan Scott, Eleanore Griffin and Fannie Hurst (novel)1934/1959 Composers: Heinz Roemheld, Sammy Fain, Frank Skinner and Henry Mancini1934/1959 Cinematographers: Merritt B. Gerstad and Russell MettyVideo Resolution: 1080p [Black-and-White and Eastman Color]Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 and 2.00:1Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Mono and English: 2.0 Dolby DigitalRunning Times: 111 minutes and 125 minutesRegion: All RegionsNumber of discs: 1Studio: Universal StudiosAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: In the 1934 ‘Imitation of Life’ sees Bea Pullman and her daughter Jessie have had a tough time making ends meet since Bea’s husband died. Assist comes in the form of Delilah Johnson, who agrees to work as Bea’s housekeeper in trade for a room for herself and her daughter Peola. Bea comes up with a plan to market Delilah’s pancake recipe so making Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers quickly change into becoming very wealthy, especially as they start up a pancake business collectively which rapidly turns into a big hit and as the years go on, their friendship also deepens. Their relationships with their daughters, nonetheless, turn into strained. Ashamed of her mom, Peola seeks a brand new life by passing for white.Bea’s love for her daughter is examined when she and Jessie fall for a similar man. It is a very powerful film, regardless of its reflecting the naivety of the occasions. Like ‘A Star is Born,’ the story of ‘Imitation of Life’ is inherently shifting: a white girl befriends an African-American woman, who has a pale-skinned daughter that unbeknown to her mom has been passing for white. But there’s solely a lot that loving friendship and motherhood can accomplish. This is the original version, extra homely than the fifties one. Bea [Claudette Colbert] is a single mother who fortuitously bumps into good-hearted Delilah [Louise Beavers], who’s keen to forgo a salary so as to merely have a loving dwelling.The friendship between Bea and Delilah is the heart of the film, though the characterisation of Delilah as a mammy type is a bit too patronising and Bea is on the whole condescending in direction of Delilah. The bond of motherhood can also be a really significant theme: Peolas heart-breaking rejection of Delilah is contrasted with the relative lightness of Jessie (Beas daughter) crush on her mother’s boyfriend Stephen [Warren William]. Rochelle Hudsons portrayal of Jessie is significantly better than Sandra Dees, but then the Jessie character of this film is written better and is more interesting and her exchanges with Stephen are significantly comedic.Louise Beavers portrayal of Delilah (renamed Annie in the later film) is the mammy stereotype but with a soulful edge. She takes the subservient function due to her spiritual beliefs somewhat than as a result of she believes that black folks must be inferior. The difference between this and the Douglas Sirk film is that this film is saying that there are variations between black people and white folks whereas the latter film isn’t. I couldn’t say which is a more political correct portrayal of the African-American expertise, especially in a post-civil rights world; many would be inclined to favour the latter choice. Nevertheless, there is a powerful soulfulness about Delilah that probably overcomes the racial stereotypes. This 1934 film affords a number of fascinating themes: enterprise; society’s angle to race; friendship; motherhood, and many others.To put it simply, the writing in ‘Imitation of Life’ 1934 makes sense. As a consequence of that, the director gets his priorities settled and knows how to direct your attention to the central dramas that truly matter. And I believe you’ll wind up being more genuinely moved than the 1959 film, which I also get great joy out of watching.In the 1959 ‘Imitation of Life’ and Twenty-five years after the 1934 film was released, along comes a picture of the same title, based upon the then popular Fannie Hurst novel and Lana Turner as its star. With this 1959 film it happens to be in vivid colour, and a few details in the story have been changed. But otherwise this modernised remake of Miss Hurst's tale is much the same as its predecessor and it is the most shameless tear-jerker ever.There are two mothers in the situation and no fathers, but despite this, you still have the rich flow of mother love. One is a lovely young widow who aspires to a theatrical career and somewhat neglects her growing daughter in gaining great success in that field, especially as you know in the former film and in the novel, she was a tycoon in pancake flour, but the point was the same: She concentrated on a self-absorbed career.The other mother is an African-American and is the first mother's loyal maid. She doesn't neglect her daughter, but she has a serious of problems on her hands. Her daughter is markedly light-skinned and, as she grows up, she wants to pass for white, so much so that she repudiates her mother and eventually runs away. Thus the poor woman's heart is broken, in the midst of her employer's lush success. The contrast of the mother's compensations from their differing daughters is the story's irony.As you may sense from this outline, the emotional potentialities are strong, and no reluctance, restraint or artful prudence has been exercised in banging them across. The screenplay by Allan Scott and Eleanore Griffin puts the issue positively, and, to make sure there's no vagueness in the dialogue, it is written in basic clichés.As for the Juanita Moore funeral near the end of the film, which is the climactic episode, it is a splurge of garish ostentation and sentimentality. Mahalia Jackson is recruited to do a full-voiced wail of "Trouble of the World," while a church is packed with principals and extras who sob noisily and dab at their eyes. And, of course, the wayward daughter who wants to be white shows up at the end and throws herself on the coffin, crying for mama’s forgiveness.Under Douglas Sirk's direction, we get to see Ms. Lana Turner as the actress, Sandra Dee as her daughter (at 16), Juanita Moore as the African-American mother, Susan Kohner as her daughter (at 18), John Gavin as a suitor of Miss Turner, Robert Alda as her agent in the theatre and Dan O'Herlihy as a doting playwright, does not give an imitation of life, they instead give an imitation of film acting that has a slightly less graceful level, than we got see twenty-five years ago in the classic 1939 film.Blu-ray Video Quality – Both films were originally given rather lacklustre releases, especially multiple times, on the inferior NTSC DVD format and I wasn’t really expecting a whole lot of effort into these old films being put on this Blu-ray disc, especially with both films being put onto one disc. The 1934 film will make your eyeballs pop out of your head, as the film has been completely restored and looks incredible in Black-and-White. There is a nice heavy layer of natural film grain over the entire film, and the black and white photography looks simply magnificent. Deep black levels dominate the picture and give the film its dimensionality with excellent detail. The contrast levels are well done and while there are some minor speckles and a light flickering due to the film stock, the image presented today is light years better than anything that has been shown before and is 5 stars all the way. As to the 1959 film, the Blu-ray presentation is another night and day difference as the colour levels are bright and well saturated with tons of blues, reds, pinks and other 1950’s colouring to give a warm and pleasing image. Detail is fantastic as the natural film grain shines through and so does all the little details that can be seen in a cinemascope picture. There is a hint of softness to the picture, but I don’t detect any DNR [Digital Noise Reduction] or major tampering with the image so I can only assume it is the film source. Another 5 star brilliant ratings job.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Both Films are presented in the 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Mono sound, and both also sound like they’ve been given a fantastic facelift as well. The dialogue is clean and clear with crisp vocals and a nice front soundstage to manage the effects. There isn’t a whole lot of action going on in the drama, but you hear a fair amount of hustle and bustle in the city environment, whether that be a time at the beach for the 1959 version, or the honking of city traffic in the Claudette Colbert rendition. Clarity is spot on and both show incredible fidelity. There is a mild bit of recording hiss in the early 1939 film, but that’s mainly due to the microphones and recording equipment used during the 1930s. It is very minimal and only noticeable as a background noise rather than as a distraction. There is no surround usage, especially in the 1959 film, as one would expect from a 2.0 Dolby Digital track, but the restored audio files sound simply magnificent considering it is only 2 channels of use. Another brilliant 5 star rating job.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Imitation of Life [1934]:Audio Commentary: Commentary with African-American Cultural Scholar Avery Clayton: At the start of this particular audio commentary Avery Clayton introduces himself that he is the Director of the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum of Culver City, California, and is an expert on African-American Cultural Affairs. Avery informs us that he is totally thrilled to have these two versions of ‘Imitation of Life’ released in this 2 Movie Collection Blu-ray disc and especially this 1934 version which he is commentating on, and also feels the 1934 version was an important milestone in American filmmaking. He also feels that people in the 21st Century viewing this film will say, “Oh my god how stereo typical, how bad view of blacks,” but he feels the 1934 film was a stepping stone for progress and has glowing praise for Claudette Colbert and the little girl actress Juanita Quigley [Baby Jessie Pullman, Age 3] who he felt would have been good competition to Shirley Temple. He also mentions that Claudette Colbert was a very accomplished actress and prior to this 1934 film, had completed to major Hollywood films entitled ‘It Happened On Night’ and ‘Cleopatra,’ and was one of the highest paid actress of her time. When Louis Beavers lets slip that her husband was a “Light Coloured Gentleman” and if she mentioned he as “White,” it would have caused a great controversy in 1934. One important aspect of this 1934 film that Alvin Clayton points out, is that it was the first film to show the emotional life of an African-American, whereas before these actors would have been marginalised. But when we are in the shop at the start with both Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, Avery Clayton points out a “Light Bulb” moment when we get the start of the “Delilah Johnson Pancakes” and the beginning of both the female characters emotional bonding and friendship that lasts to the very end of the film. Avery Clayton also comments that he feels Louise Beavers was a wonderful actress throughout the film and especially where Louise Beavers is very sick on the bed and Claudette Colbert is with her in the bedroom and he feels it is an extraordinary performance from both women and is also so very heart warming. But as we near the end of the film with the funeral of Louise Beavers, be prepared to get the tissues handy, as it is a very emotional scene that really made this film what it was and a again a definite firm favourite of Avery Clayton. But what no one points out is that the white casket coffin is the same one used in the 1959 film. So all in all, this is a totally brilliant audio commentary, as Avery Clayton is a very intelligent person and gives very informative information on this 1934 Classic Hollywood film. A totally must view.Theatrical Trailer [1934] [1080] [4:3] [1:14] For today’s audience, seeing this particular trailer will be seen as not very PC, as I was slightly taken a back and surprised when I see the word “colored” mentioned several times from the critics wording, praising the films African-America actress. Despite this, I am very pleased and proud that Universal Studio has decided to allow this particular 1934 original trailer to be included in this special double Classic Movie Collection.Imitation of Life [1959]:Audio Commentary: Commentary with Film Historian Foster Hirsch: As soon as the film starts Foster Hirsch claims that he is a huge fan of this 1959 Classic Hollywood film, like me. He also mentions as the rhinestone diamonds descend to the bottom of the screen, that is Earl Grant singing the Title song and was compared as an imitation Nat ‘King’ Cole. He also informs us that he has done two tributes to this 1959 film, one was at the American Cinematic in Hollywood and the other was at the Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences in New York and the guest of honour at both venues were Juanita Moore and Susan Khoner, who were of course Oscar nominated for their extraordinary performance in the film and the audiences at both venues went wild with enthusiasm for both actresses at the screening. Foster Hirsch points out that when Juanita Moore informs us of her daughter’s circumstances relating to her father, most Americans in 1959 were totally shocked and disturbed by this information. We also find out that Ms. Lana Turner only made another film, which was entitled ‘Madame X’ and totally disappeared off the radar, but received 50% of the profit from the 1959 film. Another interesting fact we find out that Juanita Moore and Lana Turner got on really well together in the film, so much so, Lana Turner was very helpful towards Juanita Moore, who was very nervous making the film. Foster Hirsch also points out that the 1959 film is like a glossy “Soap Opera,” but Douglas Sirk wanted the film to reflect the critique of the glossy “Soap Opera,” indicating a swipe at American Capitalism, American Consumerism and the institution of being a “Movie Star” and making you feel there is two films going on at the same time, so making the film is filled with irony and in doing so made the film a massive Box Office hit and has also gained in the 21st Century critical success, especially in France and also the American Critics, who could see what Douglas Sirk was saying about this film and has become a cult classic among feminist and the gay audience. A lot of people have branded the film “racist,” but Foster Hirsch feels totally the opposite, as well as me, because it pictures a time in America that one had to pass oneself off as white and the film also reflected a social reality. Foster Hirsch also points out as you go through the film; Douglas Sirk shows different shades of colour, and you see red is very dominant colour throughout the film. But one disturbing fact we find out about the film is the scene where Susan Kohner meets her boyfriend Troy Donahue and admonishes her for being black, Douglas Sirk told Troy Donahue to really hit Susan Kohner really hard and was really hurt and had to go home to recover, but Douglas Sirk placates her and sends her a load of roses to apologise. When get to the scene at the Moulin Rouge club, it was the actually one that is on Sunset Boulevard. But when we see Juanita Moore confronts Susan Kohner, when Foster Hersch showed the film to an audience in an Indian cinema, the whole audience wept with that scene. When we get to near the end of the film with the funeral, Foster Hersch points out that it was filmed on the hottest day and had to re-shoot scenes several times and again when Susan Kohner runs towards her mother’s white casket and embraces it, is again the same one that was used in the 1934 film. But one interesting fact that Susan Kohner mentions to Foster Hersch, that since that shot with the gardenias, she has hated that flower. So to finally sum up this brilliant audio commentary, Foster Hersch gives a brilliant in-depth information on this 1959 film and is well worth the listen and gets a 5 star rating from me.Special Feature: Lasting Legacy: An Imitation of Life [2008] [1080p] [16:9] [31:40] Academy Award® nominee Juanita Moore and other respected historians reflect upon making of the two films and examines the enduring themes of race, family and identity in this retrospective documentary. Plus we get other informative contributions from people like Dr. Drew Casper [USC Professor/Author]; Donald Bogle [Author/Film Historian]; Steve Haberman [Screenwriter/Film Historian]; Foster Hirsch [Author/Film Historian]; Jessica L. Funches [Producer/Director]; Caroline A. Streeter [UCLA Professor/Author]; Avery Clayton [Chief Executive Officer of Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum] and Juanita [“Annie Johnson” for ‘Imitation of Life’ (1959)]. So anyone who appreciates these fine films will surely enjoy this well-made and entertaining and informative documentary.Theatrical Trailer [1959] [480i] [4:3] [2:18] What a shame they could not of found the original 2.00:1 aspect ratio trailer, as it is of very poor quality and I suspect this particular 4:3 trailer was used to promote this 1959 film on American Television.Finally: I suspect you are wondering which version I think is the better of the two? That has been wildly debated by critics over the many years, but I have to say I know which one I’m giving my vote to, because both films are extremely good, and both have their distinct advantages. With the 1934 version you have the most likeable characters ever to grace the screen, but with the 1959 film being so much more lavish and over the top production, much like many films during the 1950s. Both films have been lovingly restored for the Blu-ray format and the audio and video scores certainly are a huge appeal for classic film lovers. With both features together in the same package it is a must buy for anyone who is interested in Classic Hollywood movies and definitely deserves a watch and ‘Imitation of Life’ was a totally ideal perfect story of its time. Both adaptations have their virtues, and both remain relevant even with today’s modern audiences. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film FanLe Cinema ParadisoWARE, United Kingdom

I went to see the one with Lana Turner many, many years ago, but never knew there was one before then. I enjoyed both of them.

This set contains the original 1934 and the remake of a movie that, in both releases, was considered to be socially groundbreaking.I am not going to review the two movies because the reviews on their respective product pages to which I have provided links are far more articulate than I can ever be. Instead, I am going to compare and contrast the original and the remake and give some reasons why the films are historically significant and groundbreaking.The 1934 movie,  Imitation of Life (1934) , is based on and substantially follows Fanny Hurst's 1933 novel titled  Imitation of Life . The usual Hollywood liberties are taken when transforming a novel into a screen play. The 1959 remake,  Imitation of Life , differs significantly in detail (the original characters have different names, meet under different circumstances, and the successes enjoyed by one of the main characters comes from a different avenue.)However, while the details differ between the two films, the themes are the same, and the context the storylines are closely aligned to the eras in which the movies were made.The basic themes are race relations, the meaning of being Black in American society, and women breaking barriers.The 1934 version was the first film to humanize black Americans by portraying the characters as human beings who have feelings, aspirations and strong family ties (and challenges). Prior to (and after for decades to be honest) movies marginalized African Americans by portraying them as caricatures or stereotypes. More importantly, there was an obvious affection between and among the main characters of both races, which - in itself - was groundbreaking in the era.To be sure, there was racist stereotyping in the movie, including making the main black character into a "mammie" figure, complete with the dialect and mannerisms. Remember that this era was less than 70 years after the abolition of slavery and most white Americans were either blind to the impact on society and the nation as a whole, or were clinging to old illusions about how blacks could not take care of themselves. Considering the fact that the Motion Picture Production Code was trying to prevent the movie from being released the balance between portraying blacks as humans and the racial stereotyping tilts (in my opinion) towards this being a movie that raised consciousness and questions about race relations.The reason the Motion Picture Production Code did not want to release the movie is because of another aspect in the story: the daughter of the black main character was light skinned and made attempts to "pass for white" throughout the story. This implied that she had a white father, which was against most state laws at the time of filming (as unbelievable as it seems today). This aspect of the story adds another dimension to being a black American and is woven into the story. Interestingly, the woman who played the daughter, Fredi Washington, could have had a stellar career had she agreed to pass for white in real life, but refused - the exact opposite of her character, and an admirable stand for the era.For the above reasons, plus the cinematography and other factors, the original version was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2005.The 1959 remake of  Imitation of Life  has major differences in details from the 1934 original, but the storyline is substantially the same. Among the differences in details is the main characters (the mothers and daughters) have different names than in the novel and original screenplay, and the white mother's success comes from some breaks in acting versus being given a secret family recipe by the black main character, which results in a multi-million dollar business. One reason for that change from the original is the era in which this version was made, there had been some major improvements in civil rights (still far short of equal rights), and in 1959 it was possible for a black woman to achieve success in business, making the original plot weak.However, the race relations and the meaning of being black in American society are still major themes. It is interesting to contrast the way those were presented in the original and this remake because there were some substantial differences in the ensuing 25 years. And, of course, the friendship between and among the main characters was still ahead of the time, despite some subtle stereotyping.In both films, too, the fact that a woman had avenues of success on her own were powerful messages. And the mother-daughter relationships in both sets of main characters were also powerful studies in both films.Features: the 1934 film has an interesting commentary, as does the 1959 remake. On the DVD containing the 1959 remake is a feature titled Making of Imitation of Life that is an informative discussion of both movies and their historical significance, as well as some interesting facts that focus on the 1959 remake. Another resource for the 1959 film is  Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life .Please visit the individual product pages for each movie for some excellent reviews.

Only watch the Lana Turner / John GavinVerison and it was just as I remember it

Imitation of Life is a classic movie that has stood the test of time, thanks to its powerful storyline, exceptional performances, and stunning cinematography. Released in 1934, the film tells the story of two women, one white and one black, who team up to achieve success in the world of business while navigating the complexities of their personal lives.The performances of the lead actresses, Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, are outstanding, and the film's poignant ending is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers. Overall, Imitation of Life is a masterpiece of its time and a must-watch for anyone who appreciates classic cinema.

Wonderful movie with a haunting and timeless message about the effects of racism on one's psyche and self esteem.

I had watched this movie back in the end of 1959 or in the ‘60’s. This DVD was combined with a 1934 version, which, of course I had never seen!I wasn’t even born then.I was educated on our society choices, feelings, and experiences involved in two era’s of time. I was very glad I was able to see both and absorb the knowledge of these periods of time.

Saw 1966 version when I was very young. Still hits home today. The emotions run rampant for me. It's a heartbreaker that every one should let their children watch. Can't wait to be in the mood for Claudette Cobain version as this DVD was a double feature bonus.

Both movies look incredibly good here and plays fine on my region 2 Panasonic UB820 Blu-ray player. The movies are presented on a single disc, but this does not appear to affect image quality in any way. The 1934 version sports excellent contrast and clarity with no discernible scratches. The 1959 version boasts rich colours, excellent contrast, and sharp close-ups. Special features consist of the original trailers and some interesting feature commentaries; however, they can only be accessed by pressing the pop-up menu button on your remote control during playback of either movie. Claudette Colbert so charming. Very pleased with my purchase.

A brilliant film done justice twice by Hollywood. A light-toned young girl attends a white school in the segregated USA and is embarrassed by her loving African-American Mom when she appears in public. A truly heartbreaking story and one which still resonates in the ugly atmosphere of today's USA. With luck and a little love we will one day look at a film like this and wonder why all the fuss about race?

The blu-ray restoration of both these films is excellent. Anyone with a blu-ray player and interested in the films should not hesitate to invest in this double set. I was already aware of the famous Lana Turner version in which she plays an actress struggling for success. The 1933 Claudette Colbert version was unknown to me. In both films the relationships between the four main characters (white mother and daughter; black mother and daughter) is the same. But the Claudette Colbert version has her as a business woman struggling for success and not an actress. So, she gives an entirely different performance from Lana Turner but is just as good. The exploration of the issues around racial prejudice is interesting in both films and the ending is just as moving in both. Highly recommended.

This is an earlier version of this film. Most people pull know the 1950s version. This film was ground breaking at the time as they used a mixed race actress to play the part of a mixed race daughter, which in 1950s version she was a white actress. The story is different. I enjoyed the film, well acted by all the actors. This is a good film.

Tear jerker indeed, this is the original film from 1934, also bought the 1959 later version  Imitation Of Life - Lana Turner, John Gavin [1959] All Region DVDImitation Of Life - Lana Turner, John Gavin [1959] All Region DVD