Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Imitation of Life
(1959)
Directed by Douglas Sirk
Starring:
Lana Turner – Lora Meridith
Juanita Moore - Annie Johnson
Terry Burnham (6) Sandra Dee (16) – Suzie
Karin Dicker (8) and Susan Kohner (18) - Sarah-Jane
John Gavin – Steve Archer
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Scene 1: Lora and Annie meet. (0:04:50)
The audience meet the two mothers for the first time. Annie sells herself as the ideal live-in maid for Lora.
Annie is dressed conservatively and not like she is at the beach, Lora is showy and over the top. The women
are both in dire financial straits but there is no telling with Lora.
Discourse: The discourse here is about freedom; Annie has no freedom to follow her dreams, whereas Lora
does. Annie must sell herself into being a maid and serving others. Issue: the role for black people in the
economy. Values: The dominant value that black people are happy to complete service roles. This value is
supported by the film through Annie, who is more than happy to be a maid and work for only her board.
Sarah-Jane rejects this value as the film goes on, but her negative representation means that it’s not an idea
the film supports. Discourse: Also, we explore concepts to do with gender and the roles of females through
these two women. The women’s backgrounds are stereotypes of race, Annie has been left by a ‘dead-beat’,
who runs away after he finds out she is pregnant. Lora is a widow of a lovely, caring man who looked after her.
Representations of black men here are negative and they are seen as ‘bad’. Issue: relationships between men
and women. Value: The dominant values that bad men do not support their families. Supported by the film,
through this discussion and Lora’s later monologue about how wonderful Suzie’s father was.
Other points to note: The young girls are seemingly oblivious to the issue of race, but the ethnicity of SarahJane discussed by Lora and Annie. This stage of the film is set in 1947, but it is set in New York, where Jim Crow
had no reach. Annie is not treated badly in this scene; in fact she is greeted kindly by Steve and Lora, there is
no sign of racism from the accepting New Yorkers.
Lora: Susie doesn't have many children to play with where we live.
Annie: I guess Sarah Jane's kind of lonesome too. They got along fine right
off.
Lora: Sarah Jane's a lovely child. How long have you taken care of her?
Annie: All her life.
Lora: Oh, I wish I had someone to look after Susie.
Annie: A maid to live in? Someone to take care of your little girl? A
strong, healthy, settled-down woman who eats like a bird and doesn't care
if she gets no time off and will work real cheap?
Lora: Well, yes, if one exists. Oh, someday.
Annie: Why not today? I'm available.
Lora: You?
Annie: Me. Annie Johnson.
Lora: You mean you'd consider leaving that lovely little girl?
Annie: Oh, I wouldn't be leaving her. My baby goes where I go.
Lora: Sarah Jane is your child?
Annie: Yes, ma'am. It surprises most people. Sarah Jane favours her daddy.
He was practically white. He left before she was born. Seems to me, Miss
Meredith, I'm just right for you. You wouldn't have to pay no wages. Just
let me come and do for you.
Lora: I couldn't do that. I'd have to pay you, and I... can't now.
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Scene 2 and 3: The fight over dolls and a
Christmas story.
2 small scenes, but both are loaded with meaning. The fight scene is our first insight to the ‘evil’ nature that a
young Sarah-Jane appears to have. Similarly, in the scene where she cuts Suzie to see if her blood is different,
the audience is encouraged to question her motives and ask if she is sane. Sarah-Jane claiming she is white,
stealing, cutting herself and a friend, talking back and is not a way for a little girl who has been raised with
manners to behave. Remember how children are meant to behave in this era. Suzie is that stereotype and that
makes Sarah-Jane all the more unlikeable.
Discourse: Race. It is unnatural for her to reject who she is so fervently. Here the discourse is one against
racism. Issue: At the time of the film, the USA was coming to terms with changes to legislation that gave black
people new rights. The film uses racial typecasts, but Annie is so good and pure that the audience forgets she
is a classic ‘Mammy’ stereotype. Value: The dominant values that you should always be proud of who you are.
We know that the film supports these values because of the way Sarah-Jane is represented. She is a negative
character and she is unlikable based on the fact that she isn’t proud of who she is.
Other points to note: Religion and faith are all common subjects for Annie; she often claims that God has a
plan for all people. The emphasis is on ‘all’, not just white and not just black. In addition to this the traditional
value that children should be seen and not heard is supported through the representation of the misbehaviour
of Sarah-Jane. The film rejects her petulance and we feel Annie is the victim of an evil child.
Sarah-Jane and Suzie play (0:08:34)
Suzie: Here, Sarah-Jane, you can have Nancy. It’s a present. Mommy just got
it for me.
Sarah-Jane: I want that one.
Suzie: Frieda’s my friend. I’ve had her all my life.
Lora enters
Suzie: Mommy! Mommy!
Lora: Yes?
Suzie: She took my doll!
Lora: Oh.
Annie: Sarah Jane. Where are your manners? Now give it back.
Sarah-Jane: I don't want the black one.
The Christmas story (0:43:10)
Annie: Joseph and Mary couldn't find no place at the inn, so they had to go
to the stable among the animals.
Suzie: The animals?
Annie: Mm-hmm. And in the manger Jesus was born. And the heavenly hosts
sang, "Hallelujah. " There was a shining bright star in the sky, and it was
a beautiful time.
… Lora refuses to speak to Steve…
Annie: As soon as the holy infant was born, three wise men saw a beautiful
star in the sky. The star of Bethlehem...
Sarah-Jane: Was Jesus white or black?
Lora: It doesn't matter. He's the way you imagine him.
Suzie: But Annie said he was a real man. He's not a pretend man.
Annie: He was real. He is real.
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Suzie: Then what colour was he?
Sarah-Jane: He was like me... White.
Scene 4: Annie visits Sarah-Jane at school
(0:32:15)
Sarah-Jane has a lot of anger. Despite seemingly having the best mother in the world, she is embarrassed by
her and her heritage to the point of rejecting everything that makes her, her. In this scene, Sarah-Jane is
confronted with her lies and Annie must ask the question about where it all went wrong. Her struggle with her
race and identity is challenging for the audience. Despite her horrific behaviour, there is some encouragement
of sympathy for Sarah-Jane, with Annie remarking “How do you explain to your child she was
born to be hurt?”
Discourse: Again, the exploration is about race. Here, the scene seems to accept that Sarah-Jane is a nasty
piece of work, but that she has a reason to be. Here the discourse is one against racism, which is seemingly the
monster that made Sarah-Jane the way she is. Ultimately, it is kind-hearted Annie who tells the audience this.
Issue: At the time of the film, the USA was coming to terms with changes to legislation that gave black people
new rights. 1954: Brown vs Board was all about integration in schools and this would have been in the
forefront of many audience members’ minds in this scene. Value: The traditional value that it is wrong to lie is
present here. Sarah-Jane shouldn’t have lied and is chastised for it. In addition to this, the emerging value that
you should not judge a person on the colour of their skin is also present in the scene.
At school
Annie: Sorry to trouble you, but I brought these for my little girl.
Teacher: I'm afraid you've made a mistake. I don't have any little coloured
girl in my class.
Annie: But they said 3-B. This is 3-B, isn't? Why, there's Sarah Jane.
There's my baby.
Teacher: You mean Sarah Jane Johnson?
Annie: Yes, ma'am. I'm Mrs. Johnson. Sarah Jane, baby, I brought you
your...
Teacher: Sarah Jane! We didn't know.
Outside the school house
Annie: Wait. Now, now, let me do it. Now, put your coat on. What do you
want to do, catch pneumonia?
Sarah-Jane: I hope I do! I hope I die!
Annie: Honey, nothing's hurt. You shouldn't have let them...
Sarah-Jane: They didn't ask me. Why should I tell them?
Annie: Because that's what you are, and it's nothin' to be ashamed of.
Sarah-Jane: Why do you have to be my mother? Why?
At home:
Lora: What's wrong?
Annie: Sarah Jane's been passing at school, pretending she's white.
Sarah-Jane: But I am white! I'm as white as Susie.
Lora: Oh, honey, don't you see it doesn't make any difference to us?
Because we all love you.
Annie: I'll take you back to school myself.
Sarah-Jane: I'm never going back to that school! Never as long as I live!
Annie: Sarah Jane! Don't cry!
Lora: Annie, don't be upset. Children are always pretending. You know that.
Annie: No, it's a sin to be ashamed of what you are. It's even worse to
pretend, to lie. Sarah Jane has to learn that the Lord must have had his
reasons, for making some of us white and some of us black.
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Suzie: Sarah Jane doesn't want me with her. She says I'm not her friend.
She says nobody's her friend.
Lora: Darling, she's upset right now. But she'll be better soon. So will
you if you get back in bed. Come on... Don't worry, Annie. I'm sure you'll
be able to explain things to her.
Annie: I don't know. How do you explain to your child she was born to be
hurt?
Scene 5: The Boyfriend (1:09:00)
Sarah-Jane explains to Suzie her motivations for hiding her heritage. It is up to the individual audience
member whether or not they accept or reject her reasons, but the film is making a strong statement about the
lengths black people must go to shake off the negativity that is associated with them in a racist society.
Discourse: The discourse is race. Yet again it is dominating Sarah-Janes every thought and decision. She is
rejecting her race with hopes of forgetting it exists. Issue: despite lots of moves to change legislation
concerning the treatment of black people, racism was still very much a part of society. Sarah-Jane claims
“And if I have to be coloured, then I want to die.” This is a very strong statement
and one that is confronting for the audience. Values: The emerging value that a person should not be judged
by the colour of their skin is supported by this scene. Despite being thoroughly obnoxious, Sarah-Jane garners
some sympathy here. Discourse: The discourse is freedom. Issue: one of the basic rights of all people is to live
a free life. Equality is an idea that dates back well beyond the production period of this film, therefore, the
audience understands Sarah-Jane’s motives and desire to be free. “I wanna have a chance in
life. I don't wanna have to come through back doors, feel lower than other
people, or apologize for my mother's colour”. Values: here we have an interesting idea,
because the film supports the value that all people are created equally, however, this idea was different in
different parts of the USA; with people and opinions divided north and south.
Other points to note: The idea that finding a husband solves a woman’s problems is a traditional and
dominant value at this time. Sarah-Jane believes she is going to be able to escape her black life with her white
boyfriend, as long as he is not aware of her ethnicity.
Suzie: Is he a coloured boy?
Sarah-Jane: Why did you ask that?
Suzie: Well, I don't know. It just slipped out.
Sarah-Jane: It was the first thing you thought of
Suzie: I told you, it just slipped out!
Sarah-Jane: Well, he's white. And if he ever finds out about me, I'll kill
myself.
Suzie: But why?
Sarah-Jane: Because I'm white too. And if I have to be coloured, then I
want to die.
Suzie: What are you saying?
Sarah-Jane: I wanna have a chance in life. I don't wanna have to come
through back doors, feel lower than other people, or apologize for my
mother's colour.
Suzie: Don't say that!
Sarah-Jane: She can't help her colour, but I can. And I will.
Suzie: But we've always talked things over. You never told me this before.
Sarah-Jane: Because I've never had a boyfriend before. Because he wants to
marry me someday. A white boy. Me.
Suzie: But how do you think he'd feel, or his folks, with a black in-law?
Sarah-Jane: What do you think people would say where we lived if they knew
my mother... They'd spit at me. And my children.
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Suzie: Sarah Jane, you know that's not true!
Sarah-Jane: It is. That's why he mustn't know her. I don't want anybody to
know her.
Suzie: What if he comes here?
Sarah-Jane: He doesn't even know where I live. I pretend I'm a... I'm a
rich girl with strict parents.
Suzie: Well, he's bound to find out...
Sarah-Jane: How? I'm going to be everything he thinks I am. I look it, and
that's all that matters. And you're not to say anything either.
Suzie: I won't. You know I won't. I never did, but... Sarah Jane, if Mama
ever found out she'd never stand for it.
Sarah-Jane: I don't care. Your mother doesn't own me.
Scene 6: Sarah-Jane becomes ‘black’
(1:14:35)
In this scene, the audience see the more of Sarah-Jane’s anger. She doesn’t want to ‘belong’ to anyone nor is
she interested spending time with ‘Busboys, cooks, [and] chauffeurs’. It is here where the audience think that
maybe Sarah-Jane is done with her ‘lot’ in life and is looking to change things. Sarah-Jane’s Mammy impression
is offensive and hits a nerve with Lora. She is still insolent and rude, which makes her unlikable, but the
statement is clear, black people have changed, so your attitudes to them should change too.
Discourse: Again, the exploration is about race. Here, Sarah-Jane embarrasses her mother and Lora, the
audience member of the time may have been challenged by this impression because of the connotations it has
to American history. Here the discourse is one against racism, which is seemingly the monster that made
Sarah-Jane the way she is. Freedom is also discussed with an allusion to slavery when Sarah-Jane claims “I
learned it from my mammy, and she learned it from old massa 'fore she
belonged to you.” Issue: the role for black people is a changing one, often, they are still in service
roles, but people like Sarah-Jane are not interested in that. The issue is also the changing ideas of what it
means to be black to white people in society at the time. There is huge social change happening at the time
and many people were struggling to see people who they were seen to be ‘better’ than going to school with
their children. Value: The emerging value that you should not judge a person on the colour of their skin is also
present in the scene. This is supported by the film as both Annie and Lora bind together to remind Sarah-Jane
of how well she has been treated by white people, but the audience must ask, is this a symptom of her looking
like she is white?
Annie: Look, honey, why don't you go over to the party at the church?
Sarah-Jane: They bore me.
Annie: You're makin' a big mistake. You're young. You shouldn't be sittin'
around.
Miss Lora feels the same way. She'll lend you her car.
Sarah-Jane: Oh, she will? How nice of her.
Annie: I'd be happy knowin' you're meetin' nice young folks.
Sarah-Jane: Busboys, cooks, chauffeurs! Hmph. Like Hawkins. No, thank you.
I've seen your "nice young folks."
Annie: I don't wanna fight with you, honey. Not tonight. I don't feel too
good. While I get started on the anchovies, will you take this tray into
Miss Lora and her friends?
Sarah-Jane: Why, certainly. Anything at all for Miss Lora and her friends.
Sarah-Jane walks in on a Lora’s business meeting.
Sarah-Jane: Fetched y'all a mess of crawdads, Miss Lora, for you and yo'
friends.
Lora: That's quite a trick, Sarah Jane. Where did you learn it?
Sarah-Jane: Oh, no trick to totin', Miss Lora. I learned it from my mammy,
and she learned it from old massa 'fore she belonged to you.
Lora: Well... Excuse me.
They leave and go to the kitchen
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Lora: Sarah Jane, why did you do that? What's the matter with you? Annie,
did you see what she did? I heard her.
Sarah-Jane: You and my mother are so anxious for me to be colored. I was
going to show you I could be.
Lora: You weren't being coloured. You were being childish. I don't
understand why you would want to hurt your mother or me.
Annie: I told her she has to be patient. Things will work out.
Sarah Jane: How? Miss Lora, you don't know what it means to be...
different.
Lora: Have I ever treated you as if you were different? Has Susie? Has
anyone here?
Sarah-Jane: No. You've been wonderful, but...
Lora: Then don't ever do this to us again. Or to yourself. It won't solve
anything, Sarah Jane.
Scene 7: Frankie (1:17:35)
Sarah-Jane’s boyfriend, Frankie, is a representation of a racist. Up until this point, the audience hasn’t really
seen any confronting acts of racial hatred. She is left bloody and bruised by the attack from her boyfriend.
Surprisingly, (but probably not considering Sarah-Jane’s character) she blames her mother for Frankie beating
her. This scene is quite brutal and very violent for the time it was made.
Discourse: Tolerance. Sarah-Jane’s boyfriend is representative a number of things, his anger relates to the idea
that tolerance was not as prevalent in the USA at this time as it should be. He is condemned by the characters
and the audience. Issue: Jim Crow laws were being abolished during the production period of this film,
meaning that people had to become more tolerant of things that they weren’t used to. Value: the emerging
value that you should not judge a person on the colour of their skin is again present in the scene, Frankie is a
bad person, an angry, violent and cruel man, he is the representation of old racist ideas and the past.
Other things to note: Annie continues to have morals and good values and 10 years later is still teaching
Sarah-Jane that it is wrong to lie. Also of note is the exploration of the relationships between men and women
(the discourse of gender). Sarah-Jane sees Frankie as her ticket out of her horrible life, supporting the value
that women need men to support them financially. Remember that inter-racial marriages were still illegal
during the production period of this film, so as soon as Frankie found out about Sarah-Jane’s ethnicity the
relationship was doomed. The choice of a blond- haired actor recalls the idea of the German racial uprisings
against the Jews in WW2- this further enhances the negative view of the racist.
Sarah-Jane: Frankie, you're late. I thought you'd never get here. Let's
walk down by the river. I wanna talk to you.
Frankie: We can talk here.
Sarah-Jane: Frankie, I'm… I'm having trouble at home.
Frankie: Your mother?
Sarah-Jane: Yes. Frankie, you said you wanted to take a job in Jersey.
Couldn't we run away? I'd do anything to be with you, anything.
Frankie: That's not a bad idea. That's not a bad idea at all. Just tell me
one thing.
Sarah-Jane: Yes?
Frankie: Is it true?
Sarah-Jane: Is what true?
Frankie: Is your mother a nigger? Tell me. Tell me!
Sarah-Jane: What difference does it make? You love me!
Frankie: All the kids talking behind my back! Is it true?
Sarah-Jane: No!
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Frankie: Are you black?
Sarah-Jane: I'm as white as you!
Frankie: You're lying!
Sarah-Jane: No, I'm not!
Frankie: You're lying!
Sarah-Jane: No, I'm not! I'm not!
Frankie: You are! You're lying!
Sarah-Jane: Don't hit me!
At home
Suzie: Mama, Annie, quick! It's Sarah Jane!
Lora: Oh!
Annie: Sarah Jane! Oh, my baby!
Lora: Get some water and towels.
Annie: What happened, baby? What happened?
Sarah-Jane: Leave me alone.
Lora: Honey, who did this to you?
Annie: Tell me!
Sarah-Jane: Leave me alone!
Annie: You've got to tell me! Who was it?
Suzie: It was her boyfriend.
Lora: Boyfriend?
Sarah-Jane: Yes. He found out I'm not white, because you keep telling the
world I'm your daughter. Anything you can spoil, you spoil!
Lora: Stop that. Stop it! Don't you talk to your mother like that.
Annie: I told you. Lies don't help none. This always happens when you lie.
Sarah-Jane: It wouldn't if you weren't always around!
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Scene 8: the funeral
(2:01:03)
Here we can see the full extent of Sarah-Jane’s
punishment. She has realised how much she needs her
mother, but it is too late to tell her.
Discourse: Again, we are exploring race. Sarah Jane’s rejection of hers had led to this punishment, now she
must live the rest of her life thinking she killed her mother. Values: The dominant values that you should
always be proud of who you are. We know that the film supports these values because of the way Sarah-Jane
is represented. Her realisation of this fact means that she is pitied by the audience, but she does not gain their
sympathy. In addition to this, the traditional value that family should come first is supported by the film
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Imitation of Life (1959)
Key Scenes
Other things to note: Annie’s funeral is everything she asked for it to be, showing the love that Lora had for
Annie. Interestingly, the streets are lined with people who wish to say goodbye to Annie, showing the love and
acceptance she has enjoyed from the community. This makes Sarah-Jane’s betrayal all the more horrible. The
goodness of Annie makes her actions more deplorable. Similarly, when she is on her deathbed, Annie says,
“Miss Lora, just tell her... Tell her I know I was selfish, and if I loved
her too much, I'm sorry. But I didn't mean to cause her any trouble. She
was all I had.” which is outrageous to the audience who know that Sarah-Jane should be the one
apologising to Annie.
Sarah Jane: Mama! Mama! I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. Mama, do you
hear me? I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mama. Mama, I did love you.
Lora: Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane, don't!
Sarah-Jane: Miss Lora. Miss Lora, I killed my mother. I killed her. I
wanted to come home.
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