MovieChat Forums > Imitation of Life (1959) Discussion > This is horrible....

This is horrible....

posted 15 years ago by rajiv_kuin
25 replies | jump to latest

I watched the movie and absolutely fell in love with the movie... with the obvious problems we humans create with our greed and expectations from life, there was a story of a human who has no clue about what she did wrong and how can she fix it... it was our poor lady annie... Juanita Moore played the role to more than just perfection and i was absolutely in love with her performance... first thing i was sure after watching the movie was that she won an oscar for her performance as an supporting actress.. but when i looked on IMDB i was shocked to find out that she did not.. and it went to Shelley Winters for her performance in The Diary of Anne Frank... so i was delighted that i can watch that movie and would get a great performance to see..

It took me two weeks to find the DVD and now when i saw the movie... i want to ask the question to you guys.... if you have seen the movies....

What on earth can beat Junita Moore performance... i dont see shelly winters coming even miles close to it... What made academy give prize to Shelly and guesses...?

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Dear rajiv kuin, while I don't share your love for this movie, I can address your question - Both Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner, who portrayed her daughter, were nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category and cancelled each other out. Regarding Shelly Winters, personally I enjoyed her performance but of course, it's a matter of personal taste.

[–] rajiv_kuin 15 years ago

Some things we all agree while we have our own taste, like we breath oxigen... her performance in this movie as clear as that... specially compared to The diary of Anne Frank... honestly if you watch the movie and sit back... even though love the movie you will not notice anything exceptional in the performance of lady... it was a good movie though... the difference in performance of the two was few million miles and was quite clearly evident.. i am sure its racism of those days that clearly influenced the outcome...

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Hi rajiv_kuin,

As you noted, it is a matter of taste. At the time it was released this version of Imitation of Life was dismissed by many as another Douglas Sirk melodrama. In all honesty, it is incredibly melodramatic and personally, as a woman of color, I find it to be embarrassing in its heavy handiness. Hollywood was still under the sway of the Production Code and the idea that a light skinned young woman could find success in the white world and possibly marry a white man violated its dictates. By the way, in the original novel, the daughter does marry a white man and leaves for South America. The Diary of Anne Frank was based on an actual event rather than a novel by Fannie Hurst, had received kudos on Broadway. Personally, I think it was a superior film but once again, it is a matter of taste.

[–] rajiv_kuin 15 years ago

Here is what people say that Cate winslet said i have to work in a holocaust based movie to get an Oscar and she did get it for the reader later.. Honestly i would love to agree on this issue of matter of taste but its not true... the movie as a piece of art is far more superior... yes people had their sentiments attached to the movie "... Diary of..." but that should have gone as far as giving best movie award... then i could simply agree on matter of taste... the woman who got supporting actress award actually not at noticeable in the movie... this kind of characters exist in every third movie in hollywood.. i watch one movie a day so i can very safely say that it was more than just taste which got her the award... but as you mentioned those were not easy times for colored people in america and so it is easy to understand...

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Hi rajiv,

Yes, of course, it is a matter of taste but the works of the director, Douglas Sirk, have garnered a second look from many critics. In addition, Juanita Moore is still alive and makes personal appearances whenever Imitation of Life is screened. She even has a fan page on facebook. Both the original version and this, the second have been released together which shows people are still interested.

[–] rajiv_kuin 15 years ago

Oh she has a page on facebook... good i would become a fan right away... you got a good nick name here.. are you a real diva... just kiddng...:)

[–] morticia021358-1 15 years ago

Ms digitaldiva-

I, too, am a woman of color, having lived long enough to remember when good, well written roles for Black actresses were so few and far between, it was a major event to see a Black actress get the attention she deserved for her hard work. I highly disagree with you: It was neither embarrassing nor heavy-handed. What it was, was a critical, watershed role for a Black actress written and directed by Caucasians who had no clue about what life is like for a light, bright & damn-near White girl living in the 50's. They no more knew how to write meaty, substantive roles for Black characters than Sidney Tolar knew how to portray the fictional Asian detective Charlie Chan. The heavy-handedness you mentioned: Do you really believe the writers actually consulted with Black mothers who gave birth to children light-complected enough to pass for a member of another race? The harsh reality of "passing" has been a dirty little secret in the Black community since slavery. And Annie's insistence that Sara Jane not lie about her origins was obviously borne of her concern that the charade would be impossible to maintain indefinitely; what would Sara Jane do if sh married a White man, got pregnant and then had what the old people called a "throwback child"- a child who picked up the dominant genes for darkened skin tone? She would be in constant fear of running into someone who knew her and knew she was Black and could blow her cover. You saw the movie, you saw what happened every time Annie revealed her relationship with Sara Jane: She too embarrassed to return to her school; she lost her boyfriend (& got slapped around for her carefully orchestrated deception); she lost her dancing/singing job at that dive. This is a veritable mine field of problems; for every one that is solved, 2 more are generated, and I sincerely doubt that the writers who scripted this movie were armed with this information.

I would recommend you read "Our Kind of People", by Larry O. Graham, about the Black elite in this country. There is a very educational chapter in the book about passing and the lengths Black people will go to in order to deny their racial heritage. You will see that the writers didn't have a clue.

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Hi morticia021358-1,

I'm a bit confused by your post. My issue with the movie was the writing, not the acting. We both agree that the writing was misguided, over-the-top and melodramatic. It was very typical of the kind of films Douglas Sirk did well with, glossy and in my opionion of little substance. This version of Imitation of Life has very little to do with the novel which if you haven't read, is also over-the-top and melodramatic and not in my humble opinion racially relevant. The Hollywood Production Code did not allow miscengenation on screen which is one of the reasons the producers went with a white actress raather than casting a light-skinned African American actress. I personally find the story distasteful but as noted before that's my opinion. By the way, have you read Passing and One Drop, excellent books.

[–] morticia021358-1 15 years ago

Thanks, digitaldiva (cool handle, btw)

Sorry, sometimes I mix my metaphores (!), & I had just watched it again Tues morning. Yes, my big issue was with the writing, even though I am aware no one bothered to take a straw poll vis-a-vis what life is like for a high yella gal in a White world. No, I haven't read the book the movie is based on, nor am I familiar with this particular director's work. And obviously, we both agree that the Hollywood Production Code was, at best, the entertainment world's manifesto for making sure the viewing public only saw the white way of life. I was less concerned about the casting than I was about the ongoing habitual practice White writers have of presuming to write from the Black viewpoint, especially when the White writer has no frame of reference; that's all I was trying to say. And let us not forget the era in which this movie is set: This is well before James Brown & "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud". It's easy to be critical of Annie's behavior and mannerisms and subservience when looking back from 50 years in the future, set after Affirmative Action, after Open Admissions, after the Woman's Movement.

I have watched this movie enough times, after much critical analysis, to evaluate and critique its wardrobe, set design and cinematography, to be able to say that I still experience your classic body wracking, snot generating, can't catch my breath good old fashioned cry every time I watch it. I will look for the books you mentioned; I also enjoy a good read.

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Hi morticia021358-1,

You think this version is badly written, look at the original from 1934....embarassing beyond belief but they did use light skinned African American actresses and didn't tart up the daughter. By the way, her name in the novel was Peola and her mother was named Delilah...at least they changed that.

I agree with you morticia021358-1, both versions are real tear jerkers and I don'thave issues with the visual style and elegance of the second version. Mahalia was fabulous and I agree, the tears and snot do flow but I still have problems with the writing and the point of view. By the way, Fanny Hurst, the writer of the novel was close friends of Langston Hughes and he gave her hell about it.

[–] morticia021358-1 15 years ago

Hello digitaldiva-

Funny you should mention the b&w movie... I did catch it about 3 months ago VERY early in the morning (okay, late at night; I'm a bit of a vampire), and you are right, the performances were abysmal, even Claudette Colbert's. I did notice the character's names were changed, and , thankfully, they eliminated the "Pancake Queen" angle (much to my relief) for Delilah, and making Lana Turner the career focus of the 1959 movie.

I'm not surprised about Langston Hughes' friendship w/ Fanny Hurst; he tended to surround himself and associate with other novelists of merit, Carl Sandburg and Arna Bontemps among them. For a couple of years, writers like Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston and a few others in the Writer's Stable were sponsored by a White patron of the arts, Charlotte Mason, who promoted Black artists and made sure they got exposure (some say she also held her funds over the artists' heads to keep them in line and encouraged the artists to spy on each other).

If you haven't read them already, check out the two volume set, "The Life and Times of Langston Hughes" by Arnold Rampersad. And if you want to actually handle a piece of Harlem Renaissance history, there are autographed copies of "The Big Sea" and "I Wonder As I Wander" at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Hi morticia021358-1,

Thank you for the suggestions. I haven't read the Hughes bio and will look into it. One of the things I love about this site, is meeting intelligent, well-read film buffs like yourself.

I actually liked Fredi Washington as Peola in the original and think that if it wasn't for the Breen code she might have had a shot at a film career, probably as a best friend of a white actress. By the way, Fanny Hurst was great friends with Zora Neil Hurston and even was her room mate for a while. I adore Langston Hughes though his play, The Mulatto is extremely weak. He lampooned Imitation of Life with a one act entitled Limitation of Life. It woudl have been fascinating to see what would have happened if they filmed the movie exactly like the book but of course, Breen wouldn't let them. He tried to stop Paramount from making the film and cut the content so much this is what we have. Oh well.

[–] morticia021358-1 15 years ago

Hi digitaldiva-

Come on, you know good and well that no artist is fully appreciated while they live.

I did read through Mulatto; you know, the original staging called for the rape of the returning daughter by the mob coming to kill her brother, but yes, much more could have been done with that story.

I had the privilege of being able to use the autobiographies for a research paper I wrote for an Independent Study class in college. Hughes is by far my favorite writer and I carry those days at the Schomburg with me still. If I had to pick a favorite piece, I'd be hard-pressed to decide between "Theme for English B" and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers".

[–] digitaldiva 15 years ago

Great posts - Thanks morticia021358-1.

[–] morticia021358-1 15 years ago

You're welcome; perhaps it's time we stopped monopolizing this thread and give someone else a chance. Looking forward to debating you on other subjects.

[–] zigistardusted 12 years ago

Have you ever seen Island in the Sun (with Harry Belafonte, James Mason, et al)? There is some (albeit limited) interracial hooking up going on there, which I understand was highly controversial at the time. Though that film was not as moving as this one, I enjoyed both.

<The Hollywood Production Code did not allow miscengenation on screen which is <one of the reasons the producers went with a white actress raather than casting <a light-skinned African American actress.

[–] digitaldiva 12 years ago

Hi zigistardusted,

Yes, I've seen Island In the Sun. The romances are alluded to but it was quite shocking at the time. By the way, who wouldn't have fallen in love with Dorothy Dandridge? She was stunning in that film. Interesting that in her biography, Joan Fontaine said she had Belafonte had a tryst during the making of that film. Another film that might interest you is the English film, Saphire. The racial elements might make you scream but it is interesting from a social science POV.

[–] zigistardusted 12 years ago

Ms. Digital Diva,

Yes Dorothy Dandridge was a gem in that film...I may have to seek her out in other films.

I looked up Sapphire but could not find any versions of it through my usual channels...Any suggestions? I read the IMDB synopsis and it does sound quite intriguing...

=)

[–] digitaldiva 12 years ago

Hi zigistardusted,

Apparently it is on DVD in a collection of the great British Noir films. I't never shown on tv so I'd check in the DVD section of your library.

[–] andrewwjohnson 12 years ago

Hi digitaldiva

I was just watching Malanga (1960), aka "Moment of Danger", with Trevor Howard and Dorothy Dandridge on You Tube. It was definitely British Noir.

In the story their characters are chasing Howard's partner in crime who stole the proceeds from a jewel robbery and turned him in to the police. As they continue the quest across Britain and Spain, after initially feelings antagonistic, they begin to fall in love with each other.

The thing that struck me is this was a story about an interracial relationship yet they is nothing in the script about it. A white British actress could have played the part and they wouldn't have had to change a word of dialogue.

I'm not sure what the reaction to this movie was in the US when it was released in 1962. A Jet Magazine article from the era, online, suggests it would have a problem in the south (!) it might find a audience in norther urban areas. I remember seeing the film on the early show punctuated by auto dealership and restaurant ads. Now it is, in four parts, on a You Tube channel that claims it is the only place this movie can be seen.

What really makes this movie worth watching is this was Dorothy Dandridge's last movie and she was beautiful in it. If things had been different she could have done so much more.

TAG LINE: True genius is a beautiful thing, but ignorance is ugly to the bone.

[–] digitaldiva 12 years ago

Hi andrewwjohnson,

I haven't seen Dandridge's later films. They aren't shown on television but I working with a movie critic who plans to screen some of works like Island In the Sun in Los Angeles. Dandridge could have had a great career as a nightclub singer but she hated nightcubs and wanted to act. If she was around today, she would had a terrific career. It a shame - like Nina Mae McKinney, she was born decades too early.

[–] franzkabuki 12 years ago

Although well played, it´s a relative one-note performance by that Moore woman.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] XNB 11 years ago

world war two movies, are propaganda movies, propaganda movies always win.

[–] Moon_and_New_York_City 11 years ago

I saw THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK after I had seen Shelley Winters Academy Award winning performance in A PATCH OF BLUE, expecting to be blown away due to the subject nature of the film and to confess, I came away a bit underwhelmed. She was good, but not great - nothing really special. Her performances in A PLACE IN THE SUN and even, THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE were much, much better.

Even so, I think it has been historically hard for someone to win when their co-star is nominated in the same category against them; Ms. Moore did not campaign for the Oscar; and yes - this was four years before Sidney Poiter's historic win. Remember in 1959, the Oscars were over 30 years old and still only ONE African-American had won an acting award!

On a positive note, these two supporting actress nominations for IMITATION OF LIFE guarantee that film lovers and awards buffs the world around, will be watching and appreciating this great movie for years to come.

"the best that you can do is fall in love"