Imitation of life /
Imitation of life /
The New Universal presents ; a John M. Stahl production ; produced by Carl Laemmle, Jr. ; screenplay, William Hurlbut ; directed by John M. Stahl.
- DVD special edition.
, United States
- 1 videodisc (110 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.
- 015000
- 4 3/4 in.
- The Criterion Collection ; 1167 .
- Criterion collection ; 1167. .
Title from title frames. Based on the novel by Fannie Hurst. Full screen. Originally released in 1934. Special features: 4K digital restoration; New interviews; Trailer.
Cinematography, Merritt Gerstad; editors, Philip Cahn, Maurice Wright; music, Heinz Roemheld. Cinematography, Merritt Gerstad; editors, Philip Cahn, Maurice Wright; music, Heinz Roemheld.
Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Warren William.
It explores the friendship between two struggling single mothers: one a working-class white woman who ascends to the top of the business world, and the other her Black housekeeper, whose life is shattered by the rejection of her rebellious, white-passing daughter. It is this latter relationship attuned to America's bitter racial realities and heartbreakingly enacted by trailblazing Black performers Beavers and Washington that lends the film its transcendent emotional power. This first adaptation of Fannie Hurst's best-selling novel boldly confronts the complexities and contradictions of racial identity, economic exploitation, and the limits of the American dream.
DVD; NTSC, region 1 ; full screen (aspect ratio 1.33:1); Monaural.
English dialogue with optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH).
9798886070071
715515280716
CC3431DDVD The Criterion Collection
Female friendship--Drama.
African American women--Drama.
Working class women--Drama.
Single mothers--Drama.
Mothers and daughters--Drama.
Passing (Identity)--Drama.
Sex discrimination against women--Drama.
Race discrimination--Drama.
Melodramas (Motion pictures)
Fiction films.
Feature films.
Film adaptations.
Video recordings for the hearing impaired.
Title from title frames. Based on the novel by Fannie Hurst. Full screen. Originally released in 1934. Special features: 4K digital restoration; New interviews; Trailer.
Cinematography, Merritt Gerstad; editors, Philip Cahn, Maurice Wright; music, Heinz Roemheld. Cinematography, Merritt Gerstad; editors, Philip Cahn, Maurice Wright; music, Heinz Roemheld.
Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Warren William.
It explores the friendship between two struggling single mothers: one a working-class white woman who ascends to the top of the business world, and the other her Black housekeeper, whose life is shattered by the rejection of her rebellious, white-passing daughter. It is this latter relationship attuned to America's bitter racial realities and heartbreakingly enacted by trailblazing Black performers Beavers and Washington that lends the film its transcendent emotional power. This first adaptation of Fannie Hurst's best-selling novel boldly confronts the complexities and contradictions of racial identity, economic exploitation, and the limits of the American dream.
DVD; NTSC, region 1 ; full screen (aspect ratio 1.33:1); Monaural.
English dialogue with optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH).
9798886070071
715515280716
CC3431DDVD The Criterion Collection
Female friendship--Drama.
African American women--Drama.
Working class women--Drama.
Single mothers--Drama.
Mothers and daughters--Drama.
Passing (Identity)--Drama.
Sex discrimination against women--Drama.
Race discrimination--Drama.
Melodramas (Motion pictures)
Fiction films.
Feature films.
Film adaptations.
Video recordings for the hearing impaired.