Imitation of Life (1959)

Hearts break and tears fall in the audience from the dramatic romance film from 1959, Imitation of Life. With Lana Turner and Juanita Moore, this films carries similar themes to the original film made in 1934, yet executes the plot more relevant to the time period. 

Imitation of Life (1934)

This drama starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers outlines several social issues in a long whirlwind of heart break. I enjoy this version ten times more than the 1959 version starring Lana Turner, mostly becauseLana Turner is a bimbo.

This is one of the first films to stare racism right in the face. I remember watching this film in my Race and Racism in US Cinema class my freshman year, and the film is immediately written off as being incredibly racist. I could never seem to grasp this concept. There is without a doubt exploited stereotypes through the character of Louise Beavers, that is to be expected from a film of 1934.

However, people always finish this film with tears streaming down their faces, and why? Audiences’ hearts ache for Delilah and her very own daughter rejecting her own mother and her race. You see the racial undertones throughout the film, but you are meant to resent them.

My question is: what is believed to be racist? Are we simply appalled by the portrayal of Delilah (for good reason)? It doesn’t surprise me to see performances such as this, but I tend to decide the racism of films based on its message. I always believe this film wants the audience to support Delilah, not support her daughter’s distain for her own background.

But alas, I was just a terrified freshman at the time, so I didn’t speak up in class. Two years later, watching this again for the same class for which I’m now a TA, through all the other film classes I’ve taken, declared a film major, and I still can’t shake the same feeling. Could it be my love for Claudette Colbert? Perhaps I love these old movies, so I do my best to defend their honor and intensions. After everything, it was the time. It doesn’t make it right, but it was the time.