Imitation of Life
Fannie Hurst's best selling novel of today's tormented generation!
Directed by Douglas Sirk
Produced by Universal International Pictures
A melodramatic exploration of female ambition, racial identity, and the bonds between two women across class and color lines, set against the glamour and heartbreak of mid-century New York.
In 1940s New York, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway has a chance encounter with a black single mother, who becomes her maid.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is Imitation of Life sad? Yes, very. More sad than 91% of films.
Is Imitation of Life violent? Barely. Less violent than 76% of films.
Is Imitation of Life scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.
Is Imitation of Life easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Does Imitation of Life end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Imitation of Life, and what each one shares →
Like Imitation of Life
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Imitation of Life
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Imitation of Life, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Imitation of Life, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Imitation of Life, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
