Imitation of Life (1934)

Director:

John M. Stahl

Writers:

Fannie Hurst (novel)
William Hurlbut (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

26 November 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Brought Back to thrill you again! Fannie Hurst's stirring drama of a mother and a daughter in love with the same man. (re-release)

Plot:

Bea Pullman and her daughter Jessie have had a hard time making ends meet since Bea's husband died. Help comes in the form of Delilah Johnson...

Plot Keywords:

Housekeeper | Passing For White | Pancake | Friendship | Friendship Between Women

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman
Warren William	...	Stephen 'Steve' Archer
Rochelle Hudson	...	Jessie Pullman, Age 18
Ned Sparks	...	Elmer Smith
Louise Beavers	...	Delilah Johnson
Fredi Washington	...	Peola Johnson, Age 19
Juanita Quigley	...	Baby Jessie Pullman, Age 3 (as Baby Jane)
Alan Hale	...	Martin, the Furniture Man
Henry Armetta	...	The Painter
Wyndham Standing	...	Jarvis, Beatrice's Butler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monya Andre	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Alyce Ardell	...	French Maid (uncredited)
William Austin	...	Englishman at Party (uncredited)
Dorothy Black	...	Peola Johnson, Age 35 (uncredited)
Edna Bowdoin	...	Black Secretary (uncredited)
Tyler Brooke	...	Tipsy Man at Party (uncredited)
Daisy Bufford	...	Black Waitress (uncredited)
Joyce Compton	...	Young Woman at Party (uncredited)
William B. Davidson	...	Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
Norma Drew	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Noel Francis	...	Mrs. Eden (uncredited)
Paullyn Garner	...	Mrs. Ramsey (uncredited)
Reverend Gregg	...	Black Minister (uncredited)
Sebie Hendricks	...	Peola Johnson, Age 4 (uncredited)
G.P. Huntley	...	James (uncredited)
Stuart Johnston	...	Black Undertaker (uncredited)
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
Tiny Jones	...	Funeral Spectator (uncredited)
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Jessie Pullman, Age 8 (uncredited)
Henry Kolker	...	Dr. Preston (uncredited)
Lenita Lane	...	Mrs. Dale (uncredited)
Curry Lee	...	Black Chauffeur (uncredited)
Bessie Lyle	...	Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
Claire McDowell	...	Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)
Julius Molnar	...	Footman (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Dance Extra at Party (uncredited)
David Newell	...	Party Guest Saying Goodbye (uncredited)
Barry Norton	...	Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
Edgar Norton	...	Butler at Party (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)
Franklin Pangborn	...	Mr. Carven (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi	...	Jackson's Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
Hayes Robinson	...	Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Gay Seabrook	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Teru Shimada	...	Japanese Customer in Pancake Shop (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan	...	Black Cook (uncredited)
Ethel Sykes	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Libby Taylor	...	Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
Alma Tell	...	Mrs. Craven (uncredited)
Martin Turner	...	Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Walter Walker	...	Hugh (uncredited)
Bruce Warren	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Hazel Washington	...	Black Maid (uncredited)
Clarence Wilson	...	Mr. Bristol, Landlord (uncredited)
Jane Withers	...	Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)

Directed by
John M. Stahl

Writing credits
Fannie Hurst		(novel)
William Hurlbut		(screenplay)
Finley Peter Dunne		(additional dialogue) uncredited and
Victor Heerman		(additional dialogue) uncredited
Finley Peter Dunne		contributing writer (uncredited) and
Walter Ferris		contributing writer (uncredited) and
Bianca Gilchirst		contributing writer (uncredited) and
Victor Heerman		contributing writer (uncredited) and
Sarah Y. Mason		contributor to treatment (uncredited) and
Samuel Ornitz		contributing writer (uncredited) and
Arthur Richman		contributing writer (uncredited) and
Preston Sturges		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Carl Laemmle Jr.	....	producer
Henry Henigson	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Heinz Roemheld		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Merritt B. Gerstad		(as Merritt Gerstad)

Film Editing by
Philip Cahn
Maurice Wright

Art Direction by
Charles D. Hall

Makeup Department
William Ely	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jane Roman	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
M.F. Murphy	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott R. Beal	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Fred Frank	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ernie Smith	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jack Bolger	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Gilbert Kurland	....	sound supervisor (uncredited)
Joe Lapis	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Fred Buckley	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul Hill	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Alan Jones	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Warren Monroe	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Murray Rock	....	best boy (uncredited)
George Schuman	....	grip (uncredited)
Jerry Vernon	....	grip (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Maurice Pivar	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Heinz Roemheld	....	musical director

Other crew
Carl Laemmle	....	presenter
Emily Bolman	....	stand-in: Rochelle Hudson (uncredited)
Barbara Boone	....	stand-in: Juanita Quigley (uncredited)
Bernice Boone	....	secretary (uncredited)
Archie Hall	....	technical director (uncredited)
Alameda Johnson	....	stand-in: Sebie Hendricks (uncredited)
Alma Johnson	....	stand-in: Sebie Hendricks (uncredited)
Etta McDaniel	....	stand-in: Louise Beavers (uncredited)
Cora Palmatier	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Mary West	....	children's welfare worker (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (A John M. Stahl Production)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1934) (USA) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Realart Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Legacy Series)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #412)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Although cast as the daughter of Louise Beavers (Delilah), 'Fredi Washington' (Peola, age 19) was in reality less than two years younger than her onscreen mother. She was, however, considerably slimmer than the matronly Beavers, which enabled the pair to "pass" as mother and daughter.

Quotes:

Delilah Johnson: What's my baby want?
Peola Johnson, Age 19: I want to be white, like I look.
Delilah Johnson: Peola!
Peola Johnson, Age 19: [gesturing to mirror] Look at me. Am I not white? Isn't that a white girl?

Movie Connections:

Version of "Imitação da Vida" (1960)

Soundtrack:

Home, Sweet Home

An excellent film; perhaps better than the re-make. I love it!

This has long been one of my favorite movies. Although the remake is in color, (and excellently done, I might add), this one has special attractions for me. For one thing, it has the incomparable Claudette Colbert at her peak, and a heart-rending performance by Louise Beavers. Of course it is a bit of a tear jerker, but it is a wonderful movie. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would not hesitate to give it an 8.