Saturday, 13 June 2015

Imitation of Life (1959 Douglas Sirk)

Warning: force ten weepie ahead.

Sirk goes out on a massive high in story of black girl passing as white, with inherent difficulties. Lana Turner is not bad at all but Juanita Moore oozes warmth as the maid / mother, Susan Kohner also nominated as the daughter. With Sandra Dee, John Gavin and Robert Alda.

His compositions and camera moves are absolutely peerless; film has a great momentum (the editor is Milton Carruth, many credits since 1929). Lovely, artfully placed shadows by Russell Metty; scored by Frank Skinner.

Juanita lived to be 100, died in 2014. The last time we watched the film, she was alive.

No comments:

Post a Comment