

Imitation of Life
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.
TMDB
7.4/10
332 votes
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- English
- family
- motherhood
- passing for white
Top billed cast














Behind the camera
Director
Writers
Produced in
United States of America
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereNR17 Mar 1959
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical129 Apr 1959
BrazilBR
- Physical12Rep. Arrais mj.gov.br14 Jul 2009
FranceFR
- TheatricalU2 Oct 1959
IrelandIE
- Theatrical1226 Jun 1959
South KoreaKR
- Theatrical128 May 1999
SwedenSE
- Theatrical155 Oct 1959
Frequently asked questions
Imitation of Life was released on 9 April 1959.
Audience reviews
2- C7/10
CinemaSerf
1/24/2023
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 to…
- G9/10
griggs79
9/23/2024
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 hea…
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