Imitation of Life (1934)
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- Approved
- 1h 51min
- Comedy, Drama
- 26 Nov 1934 (USA)
- Movie
A struggling widow and her daughter take in a Black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter; the two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Claudette Colbert | ... |
Beatrice Pullman
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| Warren William | ... |
Stephen Archer
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| Rochelle Hudson | ... |
Jessie Pullman
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| Ned Sparks | ... |
Elmer Smith
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| Louise Beavers | ... |
Delilah Johnson
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| Fredi Washington | ... |
Peola Johnson
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| Juanita Quigley | ... |
Baby Jessie Pullman
(as Baby Jane)
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| Alan Hale | ... |
Martin the Furniture Man
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| Henry Armetta | ... |
The Painter
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| Wyndham Standing | ... |
Jarvis the Butler
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Monya Andre | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Alyce Ardell | ... |
French Maid (uncredited)
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| William Austin | ... |
Englishman at Party (uncredited)
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Dorothy Black | ... |
Peola at 10 (uncredited)
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Edna Bowdoin | ... |
Black Secretary (uncredited)
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| Tyler Brooke | ... |
Tipsy Man at Party (uncredited)
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| Daisy Bufford | ... |
Black Waitress (uncredited)
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Curry Lee Calmes | ... |
Black Chauffeur (uncredited)
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| Joyce Compton | ... |
Young Woman at Party (uncredited)
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Oliver Cross | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| William B. Davidson | ... |
Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
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| Sayre Dearing | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Norma Drew | ... |
Teacher (uncredited)
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| Jean Fenwick | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Noel Francis | ... |
Mrs. Eden (uncredited)
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Paullyn Garner | ... |
Mrs. Ramsey (uncredited)
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| Dick Gordon | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Jesse Graves | ... |
Pallbearer (uncredited)
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Reverend Gregg | ... |
Black Minister (uncredited)
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Betty Jean Hainey | ... |
Peola's Classmate (uncredited)
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Sebie Hendricks | ... |
Peola at 4 (uncredited)
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| G.P. Huntley | ... |
James (uncredited)
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Stuart Johnston | ... |
Black Undertaker (uncredited)
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| Marcia Mae Jones | ... |
Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
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| Tiny Jones | ... |
Funeral Spectator (uncredited)
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| Marilyn Knowlden | ... |
Jessie at 8 (uncredited)
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| Henry Kolker | ... |
Dr. Preston (uncredited)
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| Lenita Lane | ... |
Mrs. Dale (uncredited)
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Ula Love | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Bessie Lyle | ... |
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
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| Hattie McDaniel | ... |
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
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| Claire McDowell | ... |
Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)
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| Harold Miller | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Julius Molnar | ... |
Footman (uncredited)
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| Bert Moorhouse | ... |
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
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| Edmund Mortimer | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| David Newell | ... |
Party Guest Saying Goodbye (uncredited)
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| Barry Norton | ... |
Young Man Giving Toast (uncredited)
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| Edgar Norton | ... |
Butler at Party (uncredited)
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| Dennis O'Keefe | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Franklin Pangborn | ... |
Mr. Carven (uncredited)
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| Paul Porcasi | ... |
Jackson's Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
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| Hayes E. Robertson | ... |
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
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| Ronald R. Rondell | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Gay Seabrook | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Teru Shimada | ... |
Japanese Customer in Pancake Shop (uncredited)
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| Larry Steers | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Reggie Streeter | ... |
Peola's Classmate (uncredited)
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| Madame Sul-Te-Wan | ... |
Black Cook (uncredited)
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Ethel Sykes | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Libby Taylor | ... |
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
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| Alma Tell | ... |
Mrs. Craven (uncredited)
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| Fred 'Snowflake' Toones | ... |
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
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Martin Turner | ... |
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
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Walter Walker | ... |
Hugh (uncredited)
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Bruce Warren | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Hazel Washington | ... |
Black Maid (uncredited)
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| Clarence Wilson | ... |
Mr. Bristol (uncredited)
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| Jane Withers | ... |
Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John M. Stahl | ||
Written by
| Fannie Hurst | ... | (novel) |
| William Hurlbut | ... | (screenplay) |
| Preston Sturges | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Finley Peter Dunne | ... | (additional dialogue) (uncredited) |
| Finley Peter Dunne | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Walter Ferris | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Bianca Gilchrist | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Victor Heerman | ... | (additional dialogue) (uncredited) |
| Victor Heerman | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Sarah Y. Mason | ... | (contributor to treatment) (uncredited) |
| Samuel Ornitz | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
| Arthur Richman | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Henry Henigson | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
| Carl Laemmle Jr. | ... | producer |
Music by
| Heinz Roemheld | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Merritt B. Gerstad | ... | (photography) (as Merritt Gerstad) |
Editing by
| Philip Cahn | ||
| Maurice Wright | ||
Editorial Department
| Maurice Pivar | ... | supervising editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Charles D. Hall | ||
Costume Design by
| Travis Banton | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| William Ely | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Jack P. Pierce | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Ponedel | ... | makeup artist: Claudette Colbert (uncredited) |
| Jane Roman | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| M.F. Murphy | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Scott R. Beal | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Fred Frank | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Ernie Smith | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Theodore Soderberg | ... | sound director |
| Jack Bolger | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Gilbert Kurland | ... | sound supervisor (uncredited) |
| Joe Lapis | ... | sound mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| John P. Fulton | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Fred Buckley | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Paul Hill | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Alan Jones | ... | second camera operator (uncredited) |
| Warren Monroe | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Murray Rock | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| George Schuman | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Jerry Vernon | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Heinz Roemheld | ... | musical director |
Script and Continuity Department
| Cora Palmatier | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Carl Laemmle | ... | presenter |
| Emily Bolman | ... | stand-in: Rochelle Hudson (uncredited) |
| Barbara Boone | ... | stand-in: Juanita Quigley (uncredited) |
| Bernice Boone | ... | secretary (uncredited) |
| Archie Hall | ... | technical director (uncredited) |
| Alameda Johnson | ... | stand-in: Sebie Hendricks (uncredited) |
| Alma Johnson | ... | stand-in: Sebie Hendricks (uncredited) |
| Etta McDaniel | ... | stand-in: Louise Beavers (uncredited) |
| Pluma Noisom | ... | double: Claudette Colbert (uncredited) |
| Mary West | ... | child welfare worker (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1934) (United States) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1935) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Universal Film Manufacturing Company (1935) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures Corporation of Far East (1935) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1935) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Universal Films of Norway Akfieselskap (1935) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Realart Pictures (1945) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Realart Pictures (1949) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2004) (United States) (DVD) (widescreen)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2008) (United States) (DVD) (Legacy Series)
- Colecione Clássicos (2014) (Brazil) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2021) (United States) (tv) (digital)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (noiseless sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Bea Pullman and her daughter Jessie have had a hard time making ends meet since Bea's husband died. Help comes in the form of Delilah Johnson, who agrees to work as Bea's housekeeper in exchange for a room for herself and her daughter Peola. Bea comes up with a plan to market Delilah's pancake recipe. The two soon become wealthy, and their friendship deepens through the years, but their relationships with their daughters become strained. Ashamed of her mother, Peola seeks a new life by passing for white. Bea's love for her daughter is tested when she and Jessie fall for the same man.
Written by |
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| Taglines | Brought Back to thrill you again! Fannie Hurst's stirring drama of a mother and a daughter in love with the same man. (re-release) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Fredi Washington (Peola at 19) was a light-skinned African-American. After playing this role, she was criticized by some in the Black community who labored under the misconception that the actress herself practiced self-hatred and would rather 'pass' herself off as white. In fact, Ms. Washington was an avid civil-rights activist. See more » |
| Goofs | When baby Jessie falls into the bathtub going after her rubber ducky, there is an obvious edit between her falling in and the splash of water coming out of the tub as evidenced by the shifting of the towel and the shadows from the light coming in through the window on the tile wall behind the tub. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Universal Story (1996). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Nobody Knows de Trouble I've Seen See more » |
| Crazy Credits | End credits titled at the top "A great cast is worth repeating". See more » |
| Quotes |
Delilah Johnson:
What's my baby want? Peola Johnson, Age 19: I want to be white, like I look. Delilah Johnson: Peola! Peola Johnson, Age 19: [gesturing to mirror] Look at me. Am I not white? Isn't that a white girl? See more » |