We love Imitation Of Life

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Genre:
Drama

Directed by:
Douglas Sirk

Actors:
Lana Turner
Sandra Dee
Susan Kohner

I am often fascinated by every aspect surrounding a movie. So here you will find a little of what I uncovered.

Turner hesitated about accepting the role, fearing that the combination of the scandal and the recent financial disappointment of Another Time, Another Place (1958) had put her in a very tenuous position. Not only could she not risk another flop, but she wasn't sure she was ready to go back to work. She also thought the plot about a single mother who discovers her teenaged daughter and she are in love with the same man was a little too close to the rumors about a romantic triangle involving herself, her daughter and Stompanato.

Lana Turner took no salary and worked for 50% of the film's profits, which earned her over $2 million(setting a record for an actress at the time).

Although the Sarah Jane role had been played by black actress Washington in the original film version, for the re-make Universal cast white actress Susan Kohner, the daughter of Turner's agent Paul Kohner and Mexican actress Lupita Tovar.

More than 40 women were considered for the role of Annie (Delilah in the original), including Pearl Bailey and classical singer Marian Anderson. The role finally went to Juanita Moore, who had mostly played uncredited roles as African-American domestics to that point. The 36-year-old actress was barely old enough to play 22-year-old Susan Kohner's mother.

Natalie Wood was first considered for the part of Turner's daughter, but eventually Universal went with its own contract player, Sandra Dee, whom they were grooming for stardom. Two other popular releases in 1959, Gidget and A Summer Place, would make her a star and contribute to Imitation of Life's box office success.

Douglas Sirk's last Hollywood film before he retired back to his native Germany.

Taken from, Turner Classic Movies, and IMBd.