Imitation of Life with Claudette Colbert: VHS Cover

    Imitation of Life Director: John M. Stahl Cast: Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Louise Beavers, Ned Sparks

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    • VHS Release Date: 08/04/1998
    • Original Release: 1934
    • Rating: Not Rated

    Viewer Rating: (9 ratings)

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    Editorial Reviews

    The first of two film version of Fannie Hurst's novel, 1934's Imitation of Life chronicles the friendship between two women--one white (Claudette Colbert), one black (Louise Beavers). Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires Beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. Colbert is a working girl who yearns to operate her own business, which she does thanks to Beavers' special pancake recipe. A family friend (Ned Sparks) suggests that the ladies form a corporation to merchandise the "Aunt Delilah" pancake mix, and within ten years both women are quite wealthy. Colbert's relationship with her teenaged daughter (Rochelle Hudson) is strained when both ladies vie for the attentions of the same man, but these problems are minor compared to the travails of Beavers, who not only must deal with the De Facto segregation of the 1930s but must also contend with her restless daughter (Fredi Washington), who resents being an African-American and attempts to pass for white. The heartbroken Beavers dies, and at her funeral her now-chastened daughter weeps out her apologies for turning her back on her mother. Imitation of Life was remade in 1959, its story glamorized and updated to accommodate star Lana Turner. Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

    Imitation of Lifeby Anonymous

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    September 14, 2003: This movie was not quite as good as the remake starring Lana Turner. I think that it is realistic view of how many people became wealthy in early corporate America. Although, the wealth recieved by Claudette Colbert's character is due to the family recipe for pancakes passed down to the character played by Louise Beavers, Beaver's character was not the principle owner of the company. Probably in 1934, she would have not been allowed to even eat in the restaurant where her pancakes were sold. In the remake, the wealth was all earned by the sole efforts of Turner's character. This was more acceptable to the viewing audience. It made life seem like it is a little more fair, when unfortuately, even today, life is often not fair. Overall, the movie shows that women have an entrprenural spirit and although women can be successful, the burdens (womanhood, single parenthood, and occupational limitations) suffered by women are great and affects all women from different cultures, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

    Imitation of Lifeby Anonymous

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    June 23, 2003: I've seen both version both the 1934 and the 1959 remake. I have loved them from when I stumbled upon them by accident in the late 80's when AMC used to show real classics. Some people are angered by the subserviency portrayed by the black female characters in both films but I always looked at them as breakthrough performances both black actors play strong roles in fact not only to hhave made a movie of this magnatude in the 30's during segregation but to remake it in the 50 after segregation how enormous was that. regardless of how others feel I was moved by the strength of the black character not just as a loving strong woman but a generous nuturing spirit who takes on what the world dishes out nad keeps on going never letting what others say change her idea of self. It was exceptionally hard to be black and alone back them. Not much outside of your community was available except factory work and housekeeping but you know what if it paid the bills and kept food on the table you did whjat you had to to survive my gran did and provided for all of us did she regret it no could she have done more with her life most definitely but she did the best and that for me is the quiet strength of character that I receive fromthese movies.


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