Imitation of Life (1959 Douglas Sirk)

A film crammed with symbolism, from the opening falling diamonds (tears), through the bars and cages evident everywhere and the flowers ('like mausoleums'), all reflected artfully in mirrors by Russell Metty (in that unusual 2:1 ratio), who also lights his close-ups beautifully dark. Unbelievably, he wasn't Oscar nominated for any of the Sirk pictures.

Juanita Moore owns the film (after an Oscar nomination you'd think it changed her career, but didn't really) but Sandra Dee isn't bad at all, with credible performances from Lana Turner, John Gavin, Robert Alda and Dan O'Herlihy. Aged 99 when she died, Juanita had outlived both Turner and Dee, who sadly went young at 62 - an unhappy life, by the sounds of it.

You have to love that Annie is still in touch with their milkman from the poor days and bequeaths him $50 on her death bed.

A magnificent film.