Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!
In 1940s New York, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway has a chance encounter with a black single mother, who becomes her maid.
Imitation of Life (1959) is a drama and romance film directed by Douglas Sirk, released on April 9, 1959 with a runtime of 2h 5m. It stars Lana Turner, John Gavin, Juanita Moore and Sandra Dee. Viewers rate it 7.4 out of 10 across 328 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Imitation of Life before you stream it.
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Imitation of Life.
Trailer
Trailer
Featurette
Lana Turner
as Lora Meredith
John Gavin
as Steve Archer
Juanita Moore
as Annie Johnson
Sandra Dee
as Susie (16)
Susan Kohner
as Sarah Jane (18)
Robert Alda
as Allen Loomis
Dan O'Herlihy
as David Edwards
Karin Dicker
as Sarah Jane (8)
Terry Burnham
as Susie (6)
John Vivyan
as Young man
Lee Goodman
as Photographer
Ann Robinson
as Showgirl
Directed by Douglas Sirk, written by Eleanore Griffin, Allan Scott and Fannie Hurst, produced by Ross Hunter.
Average viewer score of 7.4/10 from 328 ratings.
Whilst Lana Turner is great in this family drama, the plaudits really ought to go to the sparing appearances of the hugely charismatic Juanita Moore. The latter woman is very much down on her luck, with her daughter "Sarah Jane", when she rescues the young "Susie", separated at the beach from her mother "Lora" (Turner). Not that she has much better prospects, but "Lora" takes in the destitute couple and that seems…
Reviewed on January 24, 2023
Imitation of Life is a masterpiece that explores race, class, and privilege in 1950s America. Douglas Sirk's final Hollywood film masterfully contrasts the lives of Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) and Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), using their intertwining stories to expose the stark divides of the era. The emotional depth of Annie's relationship with her daughter, who chooses to pass as white, is super-emotional and…
Reviewed on September 23, 2024
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Imitation of Life (1959) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
The main cast of Imitation of Life (1959) includes Lana Turner, John Gavin, Juanita Moore, Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner. The film was directed by Douglas Sirk. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Imitation of Life was released on April 9, 1959 and runs for 2h 5m.
Imitation of Life (1959) holds an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from 328 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama and romance films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Imitation of Life trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
