MovieChat Forums > Imitation of Life (1959) Discussion > Ages

Ages

posted 7 years ago by Daisy (3024)
5 replies | jump to latest

Are Susie and Sarah Jane supposed to be the same age? Sarah Jane seems so much older and Susie seems so innocent. I think Sandra Dee was known for playing the innocent type role?

[–] GlenEllyn (21577) 7 years ago

I never really thought about their ages, but assumed they were close in age, although not necessarily the same age. I think Susie was more wrapped up in her own little white world, while Sarah Jane was aware of the discrimination toward blacks and passed herself off as white, making her more aware of the real world.

[–] Daisy (3024) 7 years ago

Susie was 6 and Sarah Jane 8 when they first met I read in a synopsis after I posted here. (Opps!)

[–] liscarkat (18589) 7 years ago

Sarah Jane was half white, half black, and looked white. Saying she was white was "passing herself off", yet saying she was black would have been proper. That's some screwed up thinking.

[–] Satan2016 (25577) 7 years ago

Ages are right in the cast list!

[–] Daisy (3024) 7 years ago

Thanks!

I realized this after I posted, so I guess they were 2 years apart with Sarah Jane being the older one. Maybe it was symbolic of how much easier Susie's life was that she remained so innocent even though she was only 2 years younger than Sarah Jane.