Find Movies & TV
Home
Live TV
On Demand
Discover
Explore
Movies & TV Shows
Most Popular
Leaving Soon
Categories
Action
Animation
Comedy
Crime
Descriptive Audio
Documentary
Drama
En Español
Horror
Music
Romance
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Western
Explore
Browse Channels
Featured Channels
Stargate by MGM
Hallmark Movies & More
The First 48 by A&E
Categories
Hit TV
Drama TV
True Crime
Comedy
News
Sports
Reality
History & Science
Movies
Sci-Fi & Action
Classic TV
Food & Home
Lifestyle
Nature & Travel
Daytime TV
Game Shows
Kids & Family
Anime+
Chills & Thrills
International
En Español
Music
Sign In
Imitation of Life
Directed by
John M. Stahl
Approved
1934
1h 51m
Drama
,
Romance
,
and more
7.5
88%
85%
Add to Watchlist
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.
More
Where to Watch Imitation of Life
Amazon Video
Rent $3.79
Buy $14.99
Apple TV
Rent $3.99
Buy $14.99
Fandango At Home
Rent $3.99
Buy $14.99
+2 more
Cast of Imitation of Life
Claudette Colbert
Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman
Louise Beavers
Delilah Johnson
Warren William
Stephen 'Steve' Archer
Rochelle Hudson
Jessie Pullman, Age 18
Ned Sparks
Elmer Smith
Fredi Washington
Peola Johnson, Age 19
Juanita Quigley
Baby Jessie Pullman, Age 3
Alan Hale
Martin the Furniture Man
Henry Armetta
The Painter
Wyndham Standing
Beatrice's Butler Jarvis
Joyce Compton
Young Woman at Party (uncredited)
Noel Francis
Mrs. Eden (uncredited)
Jane Withers
Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
Marcia Mae Jones
Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited)
Henry Kolker
Dr. Preston (uncredited)
Hattie McDaniel
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
William Austin
Englishman at Party (uncredited)
G.P. Huntley
James (uncredited)
Tyler Brooke
Tipsy Man at Party (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing
Party Guest (uncredited)
Claire McDowell
Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick
Minor Role (uncredited)
Dick Gordon
Party Guest (uncredited)
Jesse Graves
Pallbearer (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Party Guest (uncredited)
David Newell
Party Guest Saying Goodbye (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe
Party Guest (uncredited)
Franklin Pangborn
Mr. Carven (uncredited)
Clarence Wilson
Mr. Bristol, Landlord (uncredited)
Marilyn Knowlden
Jessie Pullman, Age 8 (uncredited)
Lenita Lane
Mrs. Dale (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi
Jackson's Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
Barry Norton
Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
Edgar Norton
Butler at Party (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell
Party Guest (uncredited)
Gay Seabrook
Party Guest (uncredited)
Teru Shimada
Customer in Pancake Shop (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Party Guest (uncredited)
Libby Taylor
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Cook (uncredited)
Alma Tell
Mrs. Craven (uncredited)
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Walter Walker
Hugh (uncredited)
Dorothy Black
Peola Johnson, Age 10 (uncredited)
Alyce Ardell
French Maid (uncredited)
Monya Andre
Party Guest (uncredited)
Edna Bowdoin
Secretary (uncredited)
Daisy Bufford
Waitress (uncredited)
Norma Drew
Teacher (uncredited)
Paullyn Garner
Mrs. Ramsey (uncredited)
Reverend Gregg
Minister (uncredited)
Sebie Hendricks
Peola Johnson, Age 4 (uncredited)
Stuart Johnston
Undertaker (uncredited)
Tiny Jones
Funeral Spectator (uncredited)
Curry Lee
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Bessie Lyle
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
Julius Molnar
Footman (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer
Party Guest (uncredited)
Hayes Robinson
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Ethel Sykes
Party Guest (uncredited)
Martin Turner
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Bruce Warren
Party Guest (uncredited)
Hazel Washington
Maid (uncredited)
John M. Stahl
Director
Fannie Hurst
Writer
William Hurlbut
Writer
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Producer
Imitation of Life Ratings & Reviews
Slant Magazine
Eric Henderson
The film remains a conscientious depiction of the bitter realities of race in America.
California Eagle
Charlotta Bass
Miss Beavers, who has been in pictures for about ten years found her masterpiece in Imitation of Life.
Pittsburgh Courier
Bernice Patton
To say that the opus is grand, is putting it mildly. Probably, only the great Stahl could have brought to life such a masterpiece. The star setup was marvelous, and the acting of the adorable Claudette Colbert as well a Louis Beavers was superb.
New York Daily News
Wanda Hale
The race angle is treated with so obvious an attempt at tear-jerking that a good part of the Hurst appeal for increased... tolerance is lost in a welter of sentimentality.
New York Age
Vere E. Johns
A racial problem is handled in a very frank and convincing manner.
Baltimore Sun
Donald Kirkley
When a studio, no matter how, or why, finds the courage to break a taboo, as in Imitation of Life, it is big news, and an occasion for rejoicing.
Miami Herald
Edgar Hay
We should hand It to Universal for making even a timid attempt to get away from the cut and dried formulae of cinema drama. It evidences a belief that the American movie public is maturing in its tastes and tolerance.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Eagle Staff
The outstanding performance incidentally, is given by Fredi Washington.
Los Angeles Times
Edwin Schallert
Miss Colbert has never done anything finer or more heart-touching.
Detroit Free Press
Len G. Shaw
It is the work of Miss Beavers [and] Fredi Washington that gives the picture its greatest grip on the emotions.
Orange County Register
OC Register Staff
Claudette Colbert steps into her emotional role and makes it an outstanding characterization.
Chicago Tribune
Mae Tinee
This adaptation of Fannie Hurst's novel dealing with race conventions lacks the original's pith, is awfully long, and does too much meandering.
San Francisco Examiner
Lloyd S. Thompson
Miss Beavers does the best work of her screen career... and Miss Washington Is splendid as the daughter. There should be a place in fllmdom for the latter young player. She is an actress of genuine ability.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
Robert Randol
[Louise Beavers] gives a splendid performance.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Colvin McPherson
One of the most meaningful pictures of the year, a vivid account to be remarked about again and again when informal groups start on the motion pictures.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Mildred Martin
In her first co-starring part [Beavers] gives magnificent account of her ability as an actress, drawing Delilah with strong, sure strokes.
TIME Magazine
TIME Staff
Because of the authority with which it is acted and the skill with which Director John Stahl has built up individual episodes, the picture remains an efficient tearjerker, outspoken in its praise of motherlove.
Chicago Reader
Dave Kehr
Director John Stahl was a notable visual stylist (although this film contains few of his characteristic flourishes) and was possessed of the prime asset of the melodramatist, the ability to take his material seriously and make it play.
New York Times
Andre Sennwald
Despite the sincerity of John M. Stahl's direction, he scarcely manages to conceal the shallowness of the play's ideas, the commonplace nature of its emotions, nor the rubber-stamp quality of its writing.
Variety
Variety Staff
Imitation of Life is a strong picture with an unusual plot.
Take Plex everywhere
Watch free anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.
See the full list of supported devices
Home
Live TV
On Demand
Discover
