Imitation of Life
"Imitation of Life" is a film directed by John M. Stahl, based on Fannie Hurst's 1933 novel that explores themes of racial prejudice and identity. The story centers on two single mothers, Bea, a white woman, and Delilah, an African American woman, who achieve success by marketing Delilah's pancake recipe. Their daughters, Peola and Jessie, face personal struggles that create tension in their relationships with their mothers. Peola, portrayed by Fredi Washington, grapples with her racial identity and ultimately chooses to "pass" as white, reflecting the societal pressures faced by light-complexioned individuals during the era of segregation. The film is noted for its poignant depiction of racism and its impact on familial bonds, culminating in a powerful funeral scene that highlights themes of regret and reconciliation. Originally released in 1934, "Imitation of Life" was groundbreaking for its honest portrayal of race relations and has since been recognized for its cultural significance, including its inclusion in the U.S. National Film Registry. Its 1959 remake, starring Lana Turner, overshadowed the original for many years but has experienced a resurgence in critical appreciation in recent decades.
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Imitation of Life
Identification Film about American racism
Director of film John M. Stahl
Author of book Fannie Hurst
Date Novel published in 1933; film released on November 26, 1934
One of the first big-budget Hollywood films to treat racial discrimination in the United States, Imitation of Life was a box-office success that garnered three Academy Award nominations, including one for best picture.
Directed by John M. Stahl from a script by William Hurlbut, Imitation of Life was based on the best-selling 1933 novel of the same name by Fannie Hurst, which dealt with racial prejudice. Specifically, the film addressed the unsure position of light-complexioned African Americans and the temptation some might feel in the era of segregation to “pass,” that is, deny their African heritage and present themselves as of European descent. Heading the cast was Claudette Colbert, who had a breakthrough year in 1934, appearing in the historical spectacle Cleopatra and the classic screwball comedyIt Happened One Night, for which she won an Academy Award for best actress. Fredi Washington played Peola, a light-skinned young black woman who “passes” for white. Washington had had a varied career, working with such highly respected African American performers as Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, and Paul Robeson.
Imitation of Life deals with two single mothers, Bea, who is white, and Delilah, who is black, who market Delilah’s family recipe for pancakes. The women become successful in business, but their daughters bring them grief, especially Delilah’s daughter, Peola, who rejects her mother and her race. Meanwhile, Bea’s daughter Jessie falls in love with her mother’s fiancé. The climax of the film is a melodramatic but genuinely touching funeral scene in which Bea and Jessie bury Delilah. Peola rushes into the service and penitently throws herself on her mother’s coffin.
Impact
Imitation of Life was revolutionary during the 1930’s for its forthright portrayal of racism. A remake of the film starring Lana Turner was a hit in 1959, overshadowing the original for decades afterward. However, during the early twenty-first century, the 1930’s version came to be reevaluated by critics, resulting in its entry in the U.S. National Film Registry in 2005. In 2007, Time magazine proclaimed it one of the top five films in its list of the twenty-five most important films on race.
Bibliography
Black, Cheryl. “Looking White, Acting Black: Cast(e)ing Fredi Washington.” Theatre Survey 45, no. 1 (2004): 19-40.
Bogle, Donald. Bright Boulevard, Bold Dream: The Story of Black Hollywood. New York: One World, 2006.
Hurst, Fannie. Imitation of Life. New ed. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2004.