Imitation of Life (1934)
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Imitation of Life Movie Review
Imitation of Life is a 1934 drama film directed by John M. Stahl and starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers. It’s such a great, wonderfully progressive film.
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“She worked for me, slaved for me.
Always thought of me first.
Never of herself“
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A white woman brings to her house a black woman who starts living with her and working for her. They develop a wonderful relationship, but trouble arises when her mixed race daughter cannot accept her being half-black and lashes out on her mother.
Needless to say, this movie is an absolute delight when it comes to its politics. Almost all movies from the 30s, no matter how much I adore this decade, are either quite racist or downright ignoring black people by mostly not including them at all. But this is an entirely different story.
Yes, you can make an argument that Delilah’s decision to stay living in her boss’ house is horrible and it truly is troublesome. There are of course a couple of those problematic moments in the film, but then again this is the thirties we are talking about so you need as an audience member to take that into account when watching it.
But simply the relationship between the two women and downright respectful friendship is so beautiful to witness and for the most part they are equals and they even successfully started their own pancake business. And Delilah’s death, though obviously overly melodramatic and abruptly occurring, was so powerful and simply heartbreaking.
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But the movie shines particularly in its handling of the mixed race issue. Every scene where the daughter tormented her poor mother for being half-black was frustrating and/or tragic. It’s also very realistic and the movie portrays how tough it was even for those who “passed”. The concept of passing is dealt with here incredibly well and from both sides. And just having this old movie tackle such serious subject matter was downright miraculous to witness.
I personally would have done away with that subplot where Bea’s daughter fell in love with the same man that was involved with her mother. That was simply too soapy for me, though thankfully it was finished very nicely and realistically. But the black female part of the story was so much more interesting.
Peola is a complex character wonderfully performed by Fredi Washington who was mixed race in real life so this casting was truly inspired for the period. And to me Louise Beavers delivered such a heartfelt performance in an incredibly endearing role as Delilah is instantly likable from the start.
But Claudette Colbert is maybe even better. You cannot go wrong with her in a movie and here she brings that elegance and likability that she brought to so many roles throughout her career. She’s absolutely superb here and there is no doubt in my mind that 1934 was her year that she owned with this, ‘It Happened One Night’ and also ‘Cleopatra’. She was amazing in all three of these movies.
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Imitation of Life is very well paced and to me it was very involving throughout and immensely charming. It’s like ‘Little Women’, but much better as it’s both extremely cozy and sophisticated. It’s so emotional as you care for these characters and what happens to them. I did find the overall storyline melodramatic and soapy in some parts, but it works as this old-fashioned, intelligent melodrama that was ahead of its time in so many ways. It deserved its three nominations and it was one of the best Best Picture nominees that year for sure.
Heartbreaking in its ending, but endearing and engaging throughout, Imitation of Life is also immensely sophisticated and downright inspired in its tackling of the subject of racism and the complicated issue of mixed race and the concept of passing. It’s soapy at times, but mostly wonderful, especially in the friendship between the two main characters. This drama was so ahead of its time and it thus needs to be appreciated so much more while it also truly benefited from two superb performances from both Louise Beavers and Claudette Colbert.
