Few films inspire the devotion of Imitation of Life, By Lang Thompson Yet despite her competency as actress, her career never regained its footing, and she appeared in only a few television movies later on: The Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1972), Fantasy Island (1977). "Oh, Mama, stop acting. In a passionate and witty behind-the-scenes expose, Sam To these two roles Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner bring a The Douglas Sirk revival started in 1968 when film critic Andrew Sarris placed him in his second ranking of directors, just behind such geniuses as Orson Welles and Charles Chaplin, in The American Cinema. The drama of Annie that is rejected by her daughter, in a time when color of people was a watershed, is heartbreaking and the best subplot. One cold day, Annie brings Sarah Jane's galoshes to school, where she discovers that her daughter has been trying to conceal her race from her classmates. Along the way, Quinn also dabbled in professional boxing (he quit after his 17th match, the first he lost) and street-corner preaching. "If the dramatist's club want to eat and sleep with you, you'll eat and sleep with them. "I think it's impeccably made Hollywood trash - a watchable, laughable, More than 40 women were considered for the role of Annie (Delilah in the original), including Pearl Bailey and classical singer Marian Anderson. But she was deeply in debt, and she needed to work. Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven (2002), starring Julianne Moore, is a pastiche of scenes and themes from Sirk's films. Quinn divorced DeMille's daughter and married the costumer. initial U.S. release, placing number five on the year's list of top box-office Carroll O'Connor - who died June 21st at the age of 76 - will be best remembered for portraying Archie Bunker on TV's All in the Family but his career actually was much more extensive. In Missing (1982), directed by the uncompromising Costa-Gavras, Lemmon played a patriotic father searching for his kidnapped son in Latin America. wayward daughter. Natalie Wood was producer Ray Stark's first choice for the starring role, but he changed his mind after reading the script and instead offered the . Lemmon waived his salary to act in Save the Tiger (1973), the 'great American tragedy' of a businessman at the end of his rope. Troy Donahue claimed that after the film's release, blacks actually came up to him and thanked him for beating up Kohner on screen. African-American actress Juanita Moore Pauline Kael, who died September 3rd at the age of 82, was one of the handful of film critics who made a noticable impact on the way we view movies. We strive to provide reliability in our movie trivia database, and we . A year after the film came out, Brazilian television presented a telenovella based on the book. "You know I still have you in my blood, don't you?" Whether playing a cross-dressing jazz bassist or a bickering roommate, Lemmon has kept his fans in stitches for fifty years. Cinematography: Russell Metty Mama, I love you. He was a fixture in movies during the 1950s, playing an assortment of heartthrobs and borderline tough guys. Viva Zapata! The idea for remaking Imitation of Life came up in 1956, when Hunter was looking for a follow-up to All That Heaven Allows (1955), a hit romance co-starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson in the romance of an older woman and younger man. Susie, who has suffered from her busy mother's lack of attention despite the material advantages Lora has provided her, looks forward to taking a trip with Steve and Lora, but the plans are canceled when Lora excitedly accepts a coveted role in an Italian film. Then she panicked and tried to return the $5,000 advance Harper & Bros. had paid for the book rights. In It Should Happen to You, Holliday plays a struggling actress who soon wins fast fame as the product of promotion. She then returned to the set and completed the scene perfectly. Produced - inevitably - by Ross Hunter. While Lora is filming in Italy, Steve looks after Susie, and the eager teenager soon falls in love with him. Hunter offered a first-class production, with Jean Louis gowns and Laykin et Cie jewels, the leading women's director, Douglas Sirk, and a chance to make a lot of money, if Lana would work for a small salary plus half the net profits. Ross Hunter wanted to update the story, making the leading character an actress instead of a businesswoman, but keeping the race issue and the conflicts between mothers and daughters. She even arranged a special advance screening for the girl so she could get her tears out of the way with the first screening and look her best for the critics at the premiere. In 1988, O'Connor took the role of a Southern sheriff in a TV series based on the movie In the Heat of the Night and found himself in another hit, this one lasting until 1995. TCM REMEMBERS CARROLL O'CONNOR 1924-2001 Writer Nolbert Brown Jr. See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo More like this 7.5 Imitation of Life Watch options 7.8 Imitation of Life CIP-Kurztitelaufnahme in der Deutschen Bibliothek. Two mothers, one white, one black, face problems with their rebellious daughters in Douglas Sirk's Imitation Of Life (1959) starring Lana Turner. Cast & Crew Read More Douglas Sirk Director Lana Turner Lora Meredith John Gavin Steve Archer Sandra Dee Susie Meredith, age sixteen Susan Kohner Sarah Jane [Johnson], age eighteen Robert Alda Allen Loomis Photos & Videos View All Katalog Catalogue. Later, Lemmon claimed that he learned more about comic technique by watching these Chaplin, Keaton and Harold Lloyd two-reelers than acting school could have ever taught him. Strmungen zu ermglichen: So werden pfingstliche Strmungen hufig als Paradebeispiel eines globalisierten Christentums angefhrt. He also had a reputation for pampering his female stars. O'Connor even auditioned for the part of the Skipper in the TV series, Gilligan's Island, but it was his role as Archie Bunker in a 1971 sitcom that made him a star. He went to Columbia University and started acting in small theatrical roles which eventually led to film appearances, the earliest ones uncredited. Quinn divorced DeMille's daughter and married the costumer. He combined elements of screwball and slapstick comedy with his own self-deprecating humor to create satiric portraits of the contemporary American male. Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting In 1979, Kael made a detour to Hollywood by the urging of Warren Beatty. Meredith. He continued the same mix of classics and best-forgotten quickies throughout the 1960s and '70s. Miss Lora, I killed my mother." Despite the film's success with black audiences, there also were African-Americans who resented the sympathetic depiction of Annie's (Moore) subservient nature and the casting of a white actress as her daughter. is black." Although she has the second largest role in the film, Juanita Moore was billed seventh, behind actors with much smaller roles. But she was deeply in debt, and she needed to work. Imitation of Life became Universal's top-grossing film to that time, and Turner's most successful film ever. After Quinn's birth, the family soon moved to East Los Angeles (after a quick Texas detour) where Quinn grew up in the shadow of Hollywood. He always used real flowers on the sets, and the jewelry was the real thing, too, supplied by Laykin et Cie. As Steve looks on, the three women join hands in a gesture of comfort and love. Imitation of Life. By the time she was 10, she was one of the top child models in the country, and by age 13, she met producer Ross Hunter, who signed her to a seven-year contract for Universal. By Lang Thompson Eve, Close-Up On Sunset Boulevard, and When The film was a major box office success. The film is. Fannie Hurst's novel, Imitation of Life, was the story of two single mothers, one white and one black, who join forces and become successful businesswomen. Director Douglas Sirk's last film; he returned to the theater in Europe. It was made into a film in 1934, starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, directed by John Stahl. Imitation of Life - Trivia - notstarring.com TCM REMEMBERS JACK LEMMON 1925-2001 Imitation of Life Premiere 1959 - YouTube In this part, take pleasure in our galleria of Natalie Wood near-nude photos as nicely. Susan Kohner - Wikipedia But she was deeply in debt, and she needed to work. Imitation Of Life (1959) - (Movie Clip) A Maid To Live In one of the most popular films of the '50s--a split Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. previous biographies of movies: All About All About By Cino Niles & Jeff Stafford He lives in Dallas, Texas. The funeral scene hit a little too close to home for Turner. The outcome of this boycott is not known. Lana Turner in Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of At the age of 11 he won a sculpture award and shortly after began studying architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright. 2023 Turner Classic Movies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Imitation of Life (1959) - Trivia - IMDb She still kept up with movies though, loving such smaller films as Vanya on 42nd Street and actors like Jim Carrey (who "has practically kept movies alive the past few years" she said in 1998). This picture, Douglas Sirk's last feature, was a remake of the 1934 Universal film of the same title directed by John M. Stahl and starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40). ( ) ( : ampas) . Directors Michael Anderson Vincente Minnelli Writers Rosamond Marshall Robert Thom Stars Robert Wagner Natalie Wood Susan Kohner As Ensign Pulver, a deckhand who avoids work whenever possible, Lemmon won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar®. Illicit love and the corruption of big business might not seem to be the stuff of hit comedies, but Wilder and Lemmon found humor in the most unlikeliest of places. She was all I had." When no arguments could convince her to return to the church and shoot the scene, her makeup woman slapped her in the face, breaking her out of her hysterics. This is life as they would like to believe it, and it makes good movie You name it, it's got it!" Although the killing was ruled justifiable homicide because Cheryl was defending her mother, the scandal rocked Hollywood, and many people thought Lana's film career was over. Although the killing was ruled justifiable homicide because Cheryl was defending her mother, the scandal rocked Hollywood, and many people thought Lana's film career was over. Natalie Wood - Trivia - notstarring.com Both Kohner and Moore won Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Susanna "Susan" Kohner is an American retired actress who worked in film and television. Archie became such an icon that his chair is now preserved in the Smithsonian. Heartbreaking Details About Natalie Wood's Life - Grunge By Margarita Landazuri. Lemmon won his second Academy Award for the film. (1954), another lightweight romantic comedy. These Natalie Wood massive butt photos are positive to depart you mesmerized and awestruck. At the time, Hollywood didn't release films to black theatres until they had played out in other markets. In New York, the film premiered at the Roxy, the same theatre at which the 1934 version had opened. Helping boost the success of Imitation of Life was the studio's unprecedented decision to release it simultaneously to both white and black theatres in the South. AWARDS & HONORS continually counterpointed by an emphasis upon racial tension and the Both Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore were nominated for Golden Globes for Best Turner agreed, and the film succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Lemmon won his second Academy Award for the film. The book's reviews were mixed, with the best notices going to the depiction of Delilah and the story's racial issues. Quoting the actress herself, she claimed, "I'm . Internationalen Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen Hunter insisted on maintaining a lavish production, despite a tight budget. But there was a serious side too. Among the directors citing Sirk as an influence on their own work are John Waters and the late Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Only producer Ross Hunter was consistently delivering solid box office returns. The result was the story of two mothers, businesswoman Bea and housekeeper Delilah, who find success with a chain of waffle restaurants using Bea's business skills and Delilah's recipes. Universal Pictures was suffering from financial problems in the late '50s. Lemmon entered the world in a completely novel fashion; he was born prematurely in an elevator in Boston in 1925. Turner agreed, and the film succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. - But both women suffer heartbreak caused by their daughters. The following year came was a Best Actor nomination for George Cukor's Wild Is the Wind (1957). In Missing (1982), directed by the uncompromising Costa-Gavras, Lemmon played a patriotic father searching for his kidnapped son in Latin America. Susie (Sandra Dee) and Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner) are now teens, Lora (Lana Turner) now a Broadway star and Annie (Juanita Moore) still her . When no arguments could convince her to return to the church and shoot the scene, her makeup woman slapped her in the face, breaking her out of her hysterics. He returned to the U.S. for his Broadway debut in 1958 and shortly after started to appear on numerous TV shows like The Untouchables and Naked City. His first film was Parrish (1961) though he eventually acted in over a dozen films during the Sixties including Cleopatra (1963), Marlowe (1969), Hawaii (1966) and Point Blank (1967). by Frank Miller, Imitation of Life is one of only two dramatic films to feature gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. As Mahalia Jackson started singing, she lost control and fled to her trailer in tears. picture and a dark commentary on ambition, motherhood, The closer he gets to his goal, the clearer it becomes that a government conspiracy is behind his son's disappearance. But in Quinn's case, it's all true. Problems arise when Lemmon falls for his boss's paramour - it gets even more complicated when she tries to kill herself in his pad! Ross Hunter wanted to update the story, making the leading character an actress instead of a businesswoman, but keeping the race issue and the conflicts between mothers and daughters. It features Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, and Freddie Wa. Born to be Hurt will be available from most major bookstores and online book retailers on February 17th. (The idea for the book was born when Hurst traveled with black author Zora Neale Hurston and encountered racism, although the story was not remotely based on either of their lives.) He also occasionally played Helen Hunt's father on Mad About You. 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. Natalie Wood. Cowboy is based on the autobiography of Frank Harris, and, like the author, Lemmon found himself adapting to the rough and tumble lifestyle on the trail. "Imitation of Life" is Douglas Sirk's last melodrama with an engaging and emotional story with romance, ambition, friendship, love and rejection. 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. The rest of his career might be summed up by the year 1991 when he gathered critical acclaim for his appearance in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, was nominated for a Razzie as Worst Actor in Mobsters, co-starred with Bo Derek in Ghosts Can't Do It, worked beside John Candy and Macaulay Culkin in Chris Columbus' Only the Lonely and made a film so obscure it appears to have never appeared on video. But that's just one of many incidents in a life that can only be described as colorful. "Sirk's last movie in Hollywood is a coldly brilliant weepie, a rags-to-riches Natalie Wood was 42 when she died. (1972), The Front Page (1974) and Buddy Buddy (1981). Billy Wilder and Lemmon's lifelong comic foil Walter Matthau (nine collaborations with Lemmon in 32 years, including their most popular film, The Odd Couple, 1968) brought some of the comedian's finest funny moments to the screen. Director and comic star went on to make five more films: Irma la Douce (1963), The Fortune Cookie (1966), Avanti! In 1965, his relationship with an Italian costumer created a minor scandal when it was revealed that the couple had two children. Fiehn, Anne/Lailach, Christian (Redaktion) Katalog der 69. Natalie Wood, Thelma Ritter. But there was a serious side too. He has acted in everything from lightweight sex farces (How to Murder Your Wife, 1965) to musicals (My Sister Eileen, 1955) to social dramas (Days of Wine and Roses, 1962) to political thrillers (The China Syndrome, 1979). Enter Ross Hunter, producer of lavish women's pictures for Universal, who had breathed new life into the careers of aging stars like Jane Wyman and Barbara Stanwyck. Imitation of Life (1959) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb During her audition, Lora suggests that David rewrite portions of his play, and though angry at first, he soon realizes she is right. The other, St. Louis Blues (1958), actually gave her a character name. Before graduating, he followed his brother to another college in Ireland (he would later get a Masters in speech from Montana). Critic's Notebook; Black Films: Imitation Of Life? 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. Compiled by Frank Miller, Popular novelist Fannie Hurst got the idea for Imitation of Life during a road trip to Canada with African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston during which she saw first-hand the depth of racial prejudice. Quinn directed his only film in 1958, The Buccaneer, a commercial failure he later attributed to producer Cecil DeMille's interference. (1972), The Front Page (1974) and Buddy Buddy (1981). Why Natalie Wood's Daughter Is Confronting Robert Wagner About Wood's Those issues also brought Hurst an impressive amount of fan mail thanking her for her depiction of the African-American characters. They eventually married and she gave birth to a son, Dodd Mitchell Darin in 1961. C-125m. He returned to the U.S. for his Broadway debut in 1958 and shortly after started to appear on numerous TV shows like The Untouchables and Naked City. Dee resurfaced in 1991, when she gave an interview with People magazine about her personal demons: Email Address: Sign me up! Was considered to play the role of the young daughter of Lana Turner in the classic melodrama directed by Douglas Sirk. Mature for her age, Sandra's mother kept the lie going when she began her modeling career. By using this site, you agree to our updated. Donahue was actually Merle Johnson Jr, born in New York City on Jan 27, 1936. Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM. Producer: Ross Hunter Born in New York on August 2nd, 1924, O'Connor served in the merchant marine during World War II before attending the University of Montana where he worked on the school newspaper. It was Wright in fact who suggested the possibility of acting to Quinn and even paid for an operation to cure a speech impediment. It was made into a film in 1934, starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, directed by John Stahl. She is survived by her son Dodd; and two granddaughters -Alexa and Olivia. The Tribune is refusing all advertising of it and will picket it in the Los Angeles area and call upon the N.A.A.C.P. (It also produced one of TV's oddest spinoffs in1994's 704 Hauser about a multi-racial family living in Archie Bunker's old house. "It's drama. Problems arise when Lemmon falls for his boss's paramour - it gets even more complicated when she tries to kill herself in his pad! Lora's black housekeeper, Annie (Juanita Moore), has troubles of her own as she faces the rejection of her own fair-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner), who abandons her heritage for a. It was in Ireland that O'Connor started acting in several local productions. played her servant and dearest friend, and Sandra Dee The rest of his career might be summed up by the year 1991 when he gathered critical acclaim for his appearance in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, was nominated for a Razzie as Worst Actor in Mobsters, co-starred with Bo Derek in Ghosts Can't Do It, worked beside John Candy and Macaulay Culkin in Chris Columbus' Only the Lonely and made a film so obscure it appears to have never appeared on video. In particular, Imitation of Life (1959) proved that her fans had not rejected her after the scandals surrounding the death of her lover Johnny Stompanato. White! C-125m. Two mothers discover that success is not necessarily the key to happiness, particularly when it comes between mother and child. He had just completed the title role in Avenging Angelo (with Sylvester Stallone) at the time of his death. After Quinn's birth, the family soon moved to East Los Angeles (after a quick Texas detour) where Quinn grew up in the shadow of Hollywood. When the young man learns that Sarah Jane's mother is black, however, he beats her. Quinn was a pope in The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), an Islamic leader in The Message (1976), a thinly disguised Aristotle Onassis in The Greek Tycoon (1978) and an assortment of gangsters, con men, military leaders and what have you. Industries Comedy Action. (The idea for the book was born when Hurst traveled with black author Zora Neale Hurston and encountered racism, although the story was not remotely based on either of their lives.) The scenes were shot at the Town and Country School, where Crane had been a student. November 30, 1981. to condemn, oppose and picket it, too." In addition to the usual writer's assortment of jobs (seamstress, cook, retail clerk) she started writing about film in 1953; her first review was of Charlie Chaplin's Limelight which she disliked. To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers: Two mothers, one white, one black, face problems with their rebellious daughters. From Broadway and early TV appearances to Hollywood, Lemmon moved West to make his screen debut in It Should Happen to You (1954), opposite Judy Holliday in a variation of her 'dumb blonde' persona that had won her an Oscar for Born Yesterday (1952). He was afraid playing a violent racist would damage Donahue's career. According to Daily Variety, Universal encountered some resistance to the promotion of the film and tailored its advertising campaign for the South, where, a studio representative said, "white southerners avoid films that are advertised as dealing with the race problem." Surprised and overjoyed by a visit from Steve, Lora confesses she still loves him, and the two are reunited. Billy Wilder and Lemmon's lifelong comic foil Walter Matthau (nine collaborations with Lemmon in 32 years, including their most popular film, The Odd Couple, 1968) brought some of the comedian's finest funny moments to the screen. Actress Lora Meredith claws her way to stardom only to realize the daughter (Sandra Dee) she has neglected for years is now a stranger to her and --worse yet-- her rival for the love of a younger man. Staggs, the author of All About "All About Eve" One of the most mysterious aspects of Natalie's death is the setting, as Entertainment Weekly reported back in 1992. Turner agreed, and the film succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. But it was the 1950s when Quinn broke out. Released in United States Winter January 1, 1959. Screenplay: Eleanor Griffin, Allan Scott Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress Oscars for their searing portrayals of the African-American mother and daughter. Even though she was currently the subject of a major scandal after daughter Cheryl Crane killed Turner's lover, mobster Johnny Stompanato, Hunter insisted on offering her the role. graceful level twenty-five years ago." Geoff Andrew, TimeOut Movie Guide (Penguin). Lora Meredith. Between theatrical gigs, he played piano accompaniment to silent films shown at the Knickerbocker Music Hall in New York. director Sirk's masterpiece. Her deal for half the profits kept her financially comfortable for the rest of her life, particularly after fifth husband Fred May invested much of the money in real estate. A key role in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) only confirmed his talents while he again earned a Best Actor nomination for the unforgettable lead role in Zorba the Greek (1964). They give an imitation of movie acting at its less No clothes, no sex. Is it true? Imitation of Life (1959) Trivia Showing all 35 items As Mahalia Jackson started singing at the funeral, Lana Turner lost control and fled to her trailer in tears. Turner's daughter, Cheryl Crane, visited the set during location shooting for Sandra Dee's high school graduation. O'Connor even auditioned for the part of the Skipper in the TV series, Gilligan's Island, but it was his role as Archie Bunker in a 1971 sitcom that made him a star. With her fetching blonde curls and pretty face, Dee found herself moving up quickly on the modeling ladder. The opening and closing cast credits vary in order. Screenplay: Eleanore Griffin, Allan Scott, based on the novel by Fannie Hurst "I'm going up and up and up, and nobody's going to pull me down!" Drama Music Romance In rural Texas, Salome, pregnant with Chad's baby, runs away from home and marries wealthy Yale student Tony but, years later, runs into Chad, now a successful musician in New York. Quinn's acting debut was in 1936 initially in a handful of barely noticable spots as an extra until he landed a speaking role in Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman, supposedly on the recommendation of the film's star, Gary Cooper. Though The Apartment was a comic success, with each passing year the film's serious side seems even more dark and derisive. tale of two intertwined families, in which the materialist optimism is Natalie Wood would have been 75 today. Born to be Hurt is the first in-depth account of quite credible and moving." "I'm sorry, Mama. Magazine Sarah Jane, meanwhile, claims to have accepted a job in a New York library, but Annie finds her singing and dancing in a seedy New York nightclub. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org. Very few actors today can match Lemmon's range on the screen. The gritty crime drama Across 110th Street (1972) is one of the best American movies of its decade, enhanced by Quinn's turn as an embattled police captain. by Michael T. Toole, PAULINE KAEL 1919-2001 "I'm white. Imitation of Life 1959: Lana Turner Classic Mother Love Tearjerker Released in United States March 1977 (Shown at FILMEX: Los Angeles International Film Exposition (Double Vision-Two different classics made from the same story) March 9-27, 1977. The gritty crime drama Across 110th Street (1972) is one of the best American movies of its decade, enhanced by Quinn's turn as an embattled police captain. 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. Imitation Of Life (1959) -- (Movie Clip) A Falling Star! Quinn was born April 21, 1915 in Mexico. - Halliwell's Film & Video Guide (HarperPerennial). There she majored in philosophy at University of California at Berkeley though she didn't graduate (the school later gave her an honorary degree). Her mix of personal feelings with more abstract aesthetics inspired numerous other critics (sometimes called "Paulettes") and in a few cases even made big hits of movies like Bonnie and Clyde (1967). In the early Sixties she engaged in an infamous and surprisingly bitter debate with critic Andrew Sarris among others about the merits of auteurism, the French-born philosophy that believes the director is the chief creative person behind any film. (1952) provided him a wonderful role which he used to win a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. If some producer with a hand as cold as a toad wants to do a painting of you in the nude, you'll accommodate him for a very small part."
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