Product Details

• Actors: Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks, Louise Beavers
• Directors: John M. Stahl
• Writers: Arthur Richman, Bianca Gilchrist, Fannie Hurst, Finley Peter Dunne, Preston Sturges
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: August 4, 1998
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0783227647
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,069 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The original, and still the best version, November 20, 2002

By 

D. Movahedpour "doeadear" (CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imitation of Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Most viewers are far more familiar with the campy, 1959 version of this film, starring Lana Turner. But, this is the original version, and I find it far superior to the remake for so many reasons.

First of all, it takes place in the early 1930's, putting us smack dab in the Depression, and a time period which suits the subject matter. Claudette Colbert, a much better actress than Lana Turner, is one of the first reasons I prefer this version. But, mainly, the incredible Louise Beavers is absolutely unforgettable as the black maid, Delilah Johnson, whose light-skinned daughter, Peola, is raised alongside Colbert's daughter, Jessie.

When the girls grow up, Peola realizes that she can "pass" for white, and in the 1930's, with racism and joblessness rampant, her choice makes sense, for the times. When Peola, played by Fredi Washington, completely rejects her mother, it is heartbreaking. To see Louise Beavers sobbing onto the counter in the department store is truly painful.

Peola breaks her mother's heart in order to fit into a world that would not accept her otherwise. In the end, she regrets the pain she causes her mother. This is another time and place, and we don't hate Peola for hurting her mother. Still, our heart bleeds for Delilah.

The acting is top notch, and I will take this more entertaining and serious version of the film over the campy re-make any day.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No other movie was so ahead of it's time!, November 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Imitation of Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers star in this 1930's melodramatic tale of two mothers struggling for their children. Colbert plays Beatrice "Bea" Pullman, a widow with a young daughter. Life is hard for Bea until Delilah Johnson, Louise Beavers,arrives with her daughter and becomes Bea's maid. Delilah cajoles Bea to give her a job as her maid. Bea discovers that Delilah has a delicious pancake recipe. Bea acquires this recipe, and uses it to start her empire; with Delilah getting a not so equal cut. However, this empire has a price for both. For one, the price is happiness in a relationship. For the other, the price is dealing with racial confusion. Ironically, their daughters serve them the check. No movie of it's time dared to go into the deep waters of racism and self sacrifice! This movie is said to be a "imitation", but in fact some of it's scenes parrallel to the sad realities of life. When Bea and Delilah retire for the night, the scene emphasizes the seperation of races during this time. Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers give powerful and underestimated performances in this movie. Colbert has a real and caring presence in the movie. Beavers shows suffering like never before, and she proves that servants have lives outside of serving. With wonderful performances by Warren William as understanding Stephen Archer, Fredi Washington as the misunderstood and confused Peola, Rochelle Hudson as the lovelorn Jessie, and Ned Sparks as the sarcastic Elmer. "Imitation of Life" blazed a trail for movies dealing with the triumph of the self and the power of family love.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars POLITICALLY INCORRECT SENTIMENTAL TEARJERKER..., February 11, 2002

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Imitation of Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Based upon the Fannie Hurst novel of the same name, this 1934 film starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Deavers is a terrific, well acted, sentimental melodrama that should be viewed with a caveat. It is so politically incorrect as to be nearly astounding. It reflects a paternalistic view of African-Americans that was reflective of the time in which this film was written. It is certainly is a view that is jarring in these more enlightened times, as it reflects the nature of the racism that was inherent in our society at that time. Notwithstanding this, it is still a terrific film that was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Claudette Colbert plays the role of Bea, a struggling widow with a young daughter. Louise Deavers plays the part of Delilah, Bea's African-American housekeeper. She, too, has a young daughter. Both women are struggling to survive. Delilah, however, has a pancake recipe that is out of this world. Bea, upon tasting it, decides to market it in hopes of making their fortune. Delilah agrees to this.

Before you know it, they are raking in a fortune with Delilah's pancake mix. Bea offers Delilah a cut of the business which offer Delilah declines, preferring to remain with Bea, living with her and waiting on her, always the perennial mammy.(See what I mean!) While Bea always treats Delilah with affection and care, there is not a level playing field between the two. Bea lives upstairs in their palatial mansion, while Delilah is relegated to her basement room, comforted by her stalwart belief in God.

Meanwhile, the years have passed and Delilah's light skinned daughter, Peola (Fredi Washington), clearly knows the score. She certainly has no intention of being anyone's mammy and wants to pass for white, as she does not wish to be relegated to second class citizenry. She does not try to do this because she wants to be white, but rather, she wants the advantages associated with being white in that time. Hers is not a decision based upon race self hate, but upon a realistic assessment of how she could be all she could be. Still, she breaks Delilah's heart by doing this and when Delilah dies, ostensibly of a broken heart, replete with Negro spirituals in the background, Peola repentently breaks down.

All in all, this is a mesmerizing film, both cinematically and historically, as it is a reflection of another time in which racial conflict was viewed in such a paternalistic way. Claudette Colbert, Louise Deavers, and Fredi Washington all give moving, compelling performances, nothwithstanding the political incorrectness of the script. This sentimental tearjerker is a definite must see by those who enjoy first rate melodramas and those who simply love vintage films.