Wednesday 10 December 2008

More ways to waste time




Imitation of Life was the popular 1933 novel by Fannie Hurst, which was adapted into two successful films for Universal Pictures: a black-and-white film in 1934, and a colour remake in 1959.

Universal Studios, in their infinite wisdom, has both films available as a set. On the the list of must see films, both of these should be near the top.


Imitation of Life (1934)

In this Academy Award-nominated Best Picture, Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers are superb as two women with young daughters who build a fortune together. But success doesn't save them from sorrow with the passing years.
Delilah's light-skinned teenager rejects her mother and her race, while Bea must choose between the man she loves and the daughter who loves him, too. Now all of them will pay the price of love in this spellbinding classic.



Imitation of Life (1934)





Imitation of Life (1959)

Lana Turner heads the outstanding cast with Juanita Moore in the second screen version of this emotionally-charged story about two widows and their troubled daughters.




Imitation of Life (1959) title sequence with Earl Grant singing.




Miss Mahalia Jackson sings Trouble of the World. This alone should be enough to recommend this film.


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Now playing: M People - Colour My Life
via FoxyTunes

6 comments:

An Aesthete's Lament said...

The 1950s remake? Quelle hoot!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

I didn't know there was an earlier one -i only knew about the Lana Turner one!

Visual Vamp said...

I've seen the Lana Turner version a zillion times. In fact I had to design a funeral around the one in the movie! But I have not seen the one with Claudette Colbert, so I will get cracking on that!
xo xo xo

An Aesthete's Lament said...

Oh, the Lana Turner one is insane. It is so over the top, it is not to be believed.

Mrs. Blandings said...

I have sobbed my eyes out over the earlier version more times than I would care to admit. Lana Turner? I had no idea.

Cote de Texas said...

i never knew about the first one! omg W you have no idea the effect this movie had on me and my sister. We would watch it with our nanny and just cry and cry and cry and promise her we would give her a funeral like that one!!!! too funny!!!! omg - the tears!! I'm going to buy that set for her as a surprise!!!!!

and !!! !!!! and !!!! !!!! and one more just for good measure !!!!

why do I always !!!! ? it's really such an obnoxious valley girl habit I have!!!! you know?!!