Imitation of Life (1934 film)

Infobox Film
name = Imitation of Life (1934)


image_size = 225px
caption = theatrical poster
director = John M. Stahl
producer = Carl Laemmle Jr.
writer = William Hurlbut
Novel:
Fannie Hurst
Uncredited:
Finley Peter Dunne
Walter Ferris
Bianca Gilchirst
Victor Heerman
Sarah Y. Mason
Samuel Ornitz
Arthur Richman
Preston Sturges
starring = Claudette Colbert Warren William Rochelle Hudson
music = Heinz Roemheld "(uncredited)"
cinematography = Merritt B. Gerstad
editing = Philip Cahn Maurice Wright
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = November 26, fy|1934
runtime = 111 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget =
gross =
imdb_id = 0025301

"Imitation of Life" is a 1934 American drama film directed by John M. Stahl. The screenplay by William Hurlbut, based on Fannie Hurst's 1933 novel of the same name, was augmented by eight additional uncredited writers, including Preston Sturges and Finley Peter Dunne. [imdb title|0025301|Imitation of Life (1934)] The film stars Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Rochelle Hudson and features Louise Beavers and Fredi Washington.

The film was released by Universal Pictures on November 26, fy|1934, and later re-issued in fy|1936. A 1959 remake with the same title stars Lana Turner.

In 2005, "Imitation of Life" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, and it was named by "Time" in 2007 as one of "The 25 Most Important Films on Race". [http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1709148_1709143_1709634,00.html "Imitation of Life" in "Time"] ]

Plot

White widow Bea Pullman (Claudette Colbert) and her daughter Jessie (Juanita Quigley as a toddler, Marilyn Knowlden as an eight-year-old) take in black housekeeper Delilah Johnson (Louise Beavers) and her daughter, light-complexioned Peola (Fredi Washington) — exchanging room and board for work, even though Bea is struggling to make ends meet herself. Delilah and Peola quickly become like family to Jessie and Bea. They particularly enjoy Delilah's pancakes, made from a special family recipe.

When Bea is unable to make a living selling pancake syrup (as her husband had done), she comes up with the idea to open a pancake restaurant on the boardwalk (with Delilah cooking in the front window). Later, at the suggestion of Elmer Smith (Ned Sparks), she sets up an even more successful pancake flour corporation, marketing Delilah as an Aunt Jemima-like figure.

As a result, Bea becomes a wealthy business woman, but all is not found to be well as the story advances fifteen years. Eighteen-year-old Jessie (Rochelle Hudson) falls in love with her mother's boyfriend, Steven Archer (Warren William), who is unaware at first of her affections. Meanwhile, Peola (Fredi Washington), ashamed of her African-American heritage, attempts to pass as white, breaking Delilah's heart.

Peola eventually runs away from home. While she is away, Delilah falls ill and dies. With her part of the business profits, Delilah had set aside money for a large, grand funeral, complete with a marching band and a horse-drawn hearse. Just before the processional begins, a remorseful, crying Peola appears, begging her mother to forgive her. The film ends with Bea breaking her engagement with Steven because of the situation with Jessie.

Cast

*Claudette Colbert as Beatrice "Bea" Pullman
*Warren William as Stephen "Steve" Archer
*Rochelle Hudson as Jessie Pullman, Age 18
*Ned Sparks as Elmer Smith
*Louise Beavers as Delilah Johnson
*Fredi Washington as Peola Johnson, Age 19
*Juanita Quigley as Baby Jessie Pullman, Age 3
*Alan Hale as Martin, the Furniture Man
*Henry Armetta as The Painter
*Wyndham Standing as Jarvis, Beatrice's Butler

Cast notes:
*Child actress Jane Withers has a small part as a classmate of Peola, her fifth movie appearance.
*Franklin Pangborn appears uncredited as "Mr. Carven"

Production

Fannie Hurst's inspiration in writing her novel "Imitation of Life" was a road trip to Canada she took with her friend, the black short-story writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. The novel was originally to be called "Sugar House" but was changed just before publication. [Stafford, Jeff [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=79028&category=Articles "Imitation of Life" (TCM article)] ]

Universal borrowed Warren William from Warner Bros. for the male lead, but the studio had first wanted Paul Lukas for the part. The actress playing "Jessie" as a baby changed her name from "Baby Jane" to "Juanita Quigley" during production of the film.

Universal had difficulty receiving approval from the censors at the Hays Office for the original script they submitted for "Imitation of Life". Joseph I. Breen objected to the elements of miscegenation in the story, which "not only violates the Production Code but is very dangerous from the standpoint both of industry and public policy." They also objected to some language in the script, and a scene where a black boy is nearly lynched for approaching a white woman who he believed had invited his attention. Breen continued to refuse to approve the script even up to July 17, when the film had already been shooting for two weeks.TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=79028&category=Notes Notes] ]

"Imitation of Life" was in production from June 27 to September 11 fy|1934, and was released on November 26 of that year. [TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=79028&category=Overview Overview] ]

All versions of "Imitation of Life" issued by Universal after 1938, including TV, VHS and DVD versions, feature re-done title cards in place of the originals. Missing from all of these prints is a title card with a short prologue that apparently was included in the original release. It reads:

Atlantic City, in 1919, was not just a boardwalk, rolling-chairs and expensive hotels where bridal couples spent their honeymoons. A few blocks from the gaiety of the famous boardwalk, permanent citizens of the town lived and worked and reared families just like people in less glamorous cities. [ [http://www.tcf.ua.edu/classes/Jbutler/T440/ImitationOfLife1934Illustrations.htm Imitation of Life (1934) screenshots] ]

The scene in which Elmer approaches Bea with the idea to sell Delilah's pancake mix to consumers refers to a legend about the origins of Coca-Cola's success, and has been credited with solidifying into popular consciousness the (untrue) secret of Coke's success — that is, to "bottle it". [ [http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/bottleit.asp Urban Legends Reference Pages: Coca-Cola in Bottles] ]

Awards and honors

"Imitation of Life" was nominated for three Academy Awards - Best Picture, Best Assistant Director for Scott R. Beal, and Sound Mixing for Theodore Soderberg.

In 2005, "Imitation of Life" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, and it was named by "Time" in 2007 as one of "The 25 Most Important Films on Race", as part of the magazine's celebration of Black History Month

DVD

Both the original 1934 film and its remake were issued in 2003 on a double-sided DVD from Universal Home Entertainment.

References

Further reading

*cite web
last = Courtney
first = Susan
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Picturizing Race: Hollywood's Censorship of Miscegenation and Production of Racial Visibility through "Imitation of Life"
work =
publisher = "Genders"
date=1998
url = http://www.genders.org/g27/g27_pr.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-04-02

Notes

External links

*imdb title|0025301|Imitation of Life (1934)
*tcmdb title|79028|Imitation of Life (1934)
*amg movie|1:96320|Imitation of Life (1934)
* [http://www.tcf.ua.edu/classes/Jbutler/T440/ImitationOfLife1959Illustrations.htm Screen shots from both versions]