On I List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)


Imitation of Life (1934)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 1/18

Imit1
1/18: Far ahead of its time, Imitation of Life is a classy picture with great performances by Claudine Colbert, Louise Beavers, and Warren William.

This long forgotten picture is among the more interesting ones because it deals with a white girl who has a black mother but wants to pass for a white person, regardless, which was a big topic back then.

However, the second parallel thread, which doesn't have much depth, is sometimes a detraction from the main thread: the relationship between a white female adult and a black female adult. That's why I view Imitation of Life as a film of two tales: one strong and the other weak.

At the same time, it's hard to stomach the servile portrayal of a black maid who's played by Louise Beavers. The lowest point is when she was willing to give her white boss a foot massage. Oh, come on...have some pride. Another reason why Imitation of Life was ahead of its time is the idea of a successful female entrepreneur. It's not something I see often in films back then; the only one I can think of that comes close is Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford in 1945.

By the way, the featured movie poster is interesting and therefore embarrassing when the movie ironically deals with race with good intentions. All I see is white faces and the names of white thespians (Henry Armetta...Alan Hale...uh, who?) despite the fact that Louise Beavers and her young African American, actual or otherwise, co-stars (most especially Fredi Washington) had bigger parts.

All in all, it's easy to see why Imitation of Life was considered socially groundbreaking in 1934.