- Country: USA
- Genres: Drama
- Release: 1959-03-20
- Director: Douglas Sirk
- Writers: Eleanore Griffin , Allan Scott , Fannie Hurst
- Language: English
- Stars: Lana Turner , John Gavin , Sandra Dee , Susan Kohner , Robert Alda , Dan O’Herlihy , Juanita Moore , Karin Dicker , Terry Burnham , John Vivyan
- Runtime: 125 min
- Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars. 3 wins & 6 nominations total
- AKA: Suurinta elämässä (Finland) , Αυτή είναι η ζωή μου (Greece) , Den stora lögnen (Sweden) , Zolang er mensen zijn (Netherlands the) , Imitación de la vida (Argentina) , Opprør mot livet (Norway) , Imitation of Life (United States of America) , Imitacja życia (Poland) , Imitación de la vida (Venezuela) , Látszatélet (Hungary) , Imitation of Life , Imitação da Vida (Portugal, Portuguese Republic) , Imitation of Life (Canada) , Imitacija zivljenja (Slovenia) , Lad andre kun dømme (Denmark) , Zwierciadło życia (Poland) , Solange es Menschen gibt (Germany) , Afti einai i zoi mou (Greece) , Solange es Menschen gibt , Imitación a la vida (Spain) , Имитация жизни , Mirage de la vie (Belgium) , Zehirli hayat (Turkey) , Imitation of Life (United Kingdom) , Imitação da Vida (Brazil) , Imitación de la vida (Uruguay, Eastern Republic of) , Odeio Minha Mãe (Brazil) , Lo specchio della vita (Italy) , Mirage de la vie (France, French Republic) , 春風秋雨 (Taiwan) , Beelden uit het leven (Belgium) , Solange es Menschen gibt (Austria) , 悲しみは空の彼方に (Japan) , Imitation of Life (Australia) , Le Mirage de la vie (Canada) , Kanashimi wa sora no kanata ni (Japan) , Mirajul vieţii (Romania) , Imitacija života (Serbia) , Imitación de la vida (Mexico)
- Plot:
Lora Meredith, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway, has a chance encounter with Annie Johnson, a black single mother. Annie becomes the caretaker of Lora’s daughter, Susie, while Lora pursues her stage career. Both women deal with the difficulties of motherhood: Lora’s thirst for fame threatens her relationship with Susie, while Annie’s light-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane, struggles with her African-American identity.
- IMDB:tt0052918
Imitation of Life Cast · · · ALL
Douglas Sirk
Director
Lana Turner
Lora Meredith
John Gavin
Steve Archer
Juanita Moore
Annie Johnson
Sandra Dee
Susie (16)
Susan Kohner
Sarah Jane (18)
Robert Alda
Allen Loomis
Dan O’Herlihy
David Edwards
Karin Dicker
Sarah Jane (8)
Terry Burnham
Susie (6)
Lee Goodman
Photographer
Ann Robinson
(I)
Showgirl
Troy Donahue
Frankie
Sandra Gould
Receptionist
Joel Fluellen
Minister
Jack Weston
Stage manager
Billy House
Fat Man on Beach
Maida Severn
Teacher
Than Wyenn
Romano
Peg Shirley
Fay
Mahalia Jackson
Choir Soloist
Bess Flowers
Geraldine Moore (uncredited)
Frank Baker
(I)
(1892–1980)
Party Guest
George Barrows
Furniture Mover
Chet Brandenburg
Man at Coney Island
George Calliga
Security