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Feb 04, 2014ManMachine rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Even though I'm pretty immune to having my emotions easily manipulated by the sad, heart-rending events that may take place within the story-line of any given movie, I figured that since Imitation Of Life actually managed to coax genuine tears to well-up in my eyes then it quite rightly earned itself a 3-star rating. Yes. It's true. Imitation Of Life was, indeed, a very slick & polished "Lana Turner" vehicle, but, in my opinion, she was not this film's real star. Turner was simply just the fluff & frosting on the cake of this otherwise well-crafted, emotionally-charged, melodramatic soap opera. Under all of the pretentious glitz & glamour of this Lana Turner showpiece, it was the high-voltage relationship that took place between black housekeeper, Annie, and her light-skinned, teenage daughter, Sarah-Jane, who, time and again, stole the show and put an amazing emotional spin on 1950's racism and the bitter selfishness of denying one's own heritage. When re-evaluated by today's standards, Imitation Of Life is actually quite a remarkable film in that its subplot (that focuses in on Annie and her tormented daughter) allows this picture's story to transcend well beyond being that of just a shallow, predictable, little "Chick Flick". All-in-all - This lush, glossy, Technicolour melodrama, which was masterfully directed by Douglas Sirk, certainly packed a considerable punch. It was the 4th most successful movie of 1959. *Note* - While watching Imitation Of Life, please be sure to have a box of tissues close at hand (just in case).... Well, hey, you never, never know when the dam's gonna burst.