United States / Nov 23, 1934
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
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.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| G.P. Huntley | James (uncredited) |
| Tyler Brooke | Tipsy Man at Party (uncredited) |
| Sayre Dearing | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Claire McDowell | Teacher Outside Classroom (uncredited) |
| Jean Fenwick | Minor Role (uncredited) |
| Dick Gordon | Party Guest (uncredited) |
Show more
| Jesse Graves | Pallbearer (uncredited) |
| Harold Miller | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| David Newell | Party Guest Saying Goodbye (uncredited) |
| Dennis O'Keefe | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Franklin Pangborn | Mr. Carven (uncredited) |
| Clarence Wilson | Mr. Bristol, Landlord (uncredited) |
| Marilyn Knowlden | Jessie Pullman, Age 8 (uncredited) |
| Lenita Lane | Mrs. Dale (uncredited) |
| Paul Porcasi | Jackson's Restaurant Manager (uncredited) |
| Barry Norton | Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited) |
| Edgar Norton | Butler at Party (uncredited) |
| Ronald R. Rondell | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Gay Seabrook | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Teru Shimada | Customer in Pancake Shop (uncredited) |
| Larry Steers | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Libby Taylor | Woman at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Madame Sul-Te-Wan | Cook (uncredited) |
| Alma Tell | Mrs. Craven (uncredited) |
| Fred 'Snowflake' Toones | Man at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Walter Walker | Hugh (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Black | Peola Johnson, Age 10 (uncredited) |
| Alyce Ardell | French Maid (uncredited) |
| Monya Andre | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Edna Bowdoin | Secretary (uncredited) |
| Daisy Bufford | Waitress (uncredited) |
| Norma Drew | Teacher (uncredited) |
| Paullyn Garner | Mrs. Ramsey (uncredited) |
| Reverend Gregg | Minister (uncredited) |
| Sebie Hendricks | Peola Johnson, Age 4 (uncredited) |
| Stuart Johnston | Undertaker (uncredited) |
| Tiny Jones | Funeral Spectator (uncredited) |
| Curry Lee | Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| Bessie Lyle | Woman at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Julius Molnar | Footman (uncredited) |
| Bert Moorhouse | Man at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Edmund Mortimer | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Hayes Robinson | Man at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Ethel Sykes | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Martin Turner | Man at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Bruce Warren | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Hazel Washington | Maid (uncredited) |
Genres
DramaRomance
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Imitation of Life |
| Original language | English (EN) |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Production countries | United States of America |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Universal Pictures |
| Release date | 23 novembre 1934 |
| Production | Henry Henigson, Carl Laemmle Jr., John M. Stahl |
| Writer | Fannie Hurst, William Hurlbut |
| Editing | Philip Cahn, Maurice Wright |
| Cinematography | Merritt B. Gerstad, George Schuman |
| Assistant directors | Fred Frank, Scott R. Beal, John M. Stahl |
| Camera operators | Merritt B. Gerstad, George Schuman |
| Additional photography | Merritt B. Gerstad, George Schuman |
Show more
| Production design | Charles D. Hall |
| Art direction | Charles D. Hall |
| Set decoration | Charles D. Hall |
| Special effects | John P. Fulton |
| Music | Heinz Roemheld, Jack Bolger, Gilbert Kurland, Joe Lapis, Theodore Soderberg |
| Sound | Jack Bolger, Gilbert Kurland, Heinz Roemheld, Joe Lapis, Theodore Soderberg |
| Costume design | Travis Banton, Jane Roman, Dorothy Ponedel, William Ely, Jack Pierce |
| Makeup | Dorothy Ponedel, William Ely, Jack Pierce, Jane Roman, Travis Banton |
| Hairstyling | Jane Roman, Dorothy Ponedel, Travis Banton, William Ely, Jack Pierce |
Release dates
Limited release
Theatrical release
United States / Nov 26, 1934
Ireland / Nov 22, 1935 / 12
United Kingdom / Nov 23, 1939 / PG
Editorial content to complete
6 sections to complete. You can show them now and start filling them in.
