Imitation of Life
“THE DARING STORY OF MOTHER LOVE - On the Screen for the First Time!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Imitation of Life Official Trailer #1 - Alan Hale Movie (1934) HD
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-01-10
Top Cast
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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)
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 23, 1934
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John M. Stahl
- Screenplay & Story
- William Hurlbut
- Original Score
- Heinz Roemheld
- Original Title
- Imitation of Life
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 51m
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John M. Stahl
William Hurlbut, Fannie Hurst
Heinz Roemheld
Merritt B. Gerstad
Philip Cahn, Maurice Wright
Carl Laemmle Jr., John M. Stahl
Department Leadership Roster
William Hurlbut
Screenplay
John M. Stahl
Director
Philip Cahn
Editor
Travis Banton
Costume Design
Carl Laemmle Jr.
Producer
Merritt B. Gerstad
Director of Photography
Maurice Wright
Editor
John M. Stahl
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Imitation of Life.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Imitation of Life.
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Criterion Collection
The Complete Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection is a video distribution company that sells 'important classic and contemporary films' in editions that offer the highest technical quality. This list contains only the featured films released on DVD, BluRay and 4K Criterion releases — no supplements are included. Organized by spine number with the newest releases first. CC标准收藏完整收录版： 收录标准收藏（Criterion Collection）发行的重要经典及当代电影。仅包含正片（涵盖 DVD、蓝光及 4K 版本），已排除花絮补充内容。按 CC 发行编号倒序排列（最新发行在前）。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#214] Mangrove (2020) • [#215] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#216] Red, White and Blue (2020) • [#217] Alex Wheatle (2020) • [#486] Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972) • [#647] Dekalog (1989) • [#944] World on a Wire (1973) • [#1187] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#1338] Fanny and Alexander (1984) • [#1341] Tanner '88 (1988) • [#1371] Scenes from a Marriage (1973) *注：以下影片因 TMDB 尚未收录，暂不在此片单中展示：* • [#531] First (2012) • [#1699] Ulysse (1983) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-11 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Imitation of Life
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Imitation of Life about?
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.
Who directed Imitation of Life?
Imitation of Life was directed by John M. Stahl.
Who stars in Imitation of Life?
The principal cast of Imitation of Life includes Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks.
When was Imitation of Life released and how long is it?
Imitation of Life was released in 1934 with a total runtime of 1h 51m.
Who composed the musical score for Imitation of Life?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Imitation of Life was composed by Heinz Roemheld.
Is Imitation of Life based on a book or true story?
Imitation of Life is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Fannie Hurst".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Imitation of Life?
Imitation of Life holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).