Welcome to the latest edition of ‘Retro Rewind’, the TGJ original feature that takes our faithful readers on a journey to TV and film’s glorious past.
Today, we shine a light on the 1959 version of ‘Imitation of Life’, a movie exploring self-hatred within the African-American community by way of a young black girl, portrayed by Susan Kohner, attempts to erase all traces of ethnicity when she learns that she “passes for a white” in a pre-Civil Rights society.
Drama ensues when her quest to pass as a Caucasian woman sees her find herself in dark and dangerous territory as her hatred for her black mother (Juanita Moore) intensifies.
Intrigued?
Watch below…
The moving classic picked up $6.4 million at the box office and would see Moore score a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Golden Globes within the first year of its eligibility.
Random: Are we the only ones who’d love to see the movie rebooted with Beyonce as Sarah Jane?
Yes! Beyonce would slay as Sarah
Lol, yes, TGJ staff, you all are the only ones that would like to see this movie refilmed with Beyoncé portraying Sarah Jane.
If not Beyonce then who? I can see Ciara too.
Who? How about an actual actress for starters?
Ciara is a better actress so it should go to her of you ask me. Beyonce doesn’t have the acting range to execute the funeral scene.
That Beyonce Juice is what this site should have been named
Ciara and Beyonce neither can act get Christina Milian
Great job by tgj for this pick. It’s on excellent movie
No. I would NOT like to see this movie “rebooted” ith Beyoncé as ‘Sarah-Jane’. This movie is not “A Star Is Born”. In all honesty, I wouldn’t want to see this movie “rebooted” at all. This film is historically significant just the way it is and should remain that way.
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Anyhow, this is one of my favourite films from one of my favourite era’s of film-making.
Let the classic stay a classic, it was great the first time around in the 1930’s and even better in the late 1940’s early 1950’s I feel like this if it ain’t broke then why in the hell are you trying to fix it bye that grape juice with the reboot b*******.
Don’t you have to pass as WHITE to play the role? Beyonce, Ciara, Rihanna or even MC look WHITE. Maybe Zendaya, she’s YOUNG enough, can act and looks like she could pass as White with makeup. (Beyonce, hahahahahaha.)
I didn’t think anybody knew about this film. This film is LIFE!
Love it bad, got the DVD, tears have been spent on this film. I can even formulate a proper sentence that describes why this film is LIFE! Thatgrapejuice, I finally feel like you get me
Leena Horne was supposed to play this role but of course racist Hollywood didn’t want a black woman to play a black woman.
Black people: we come different beautiful shades and sizes. Stay blessed ya ??
People of every race come in different shades and sizes.
But Beyonce would kill this film… And you know I’m a massive fan but she can’t pass as white, she look FAR too old and can’t really act… Her films are my receipts
I remember seeing this as a child and I cried and cried. I never knew the name or what movie it was until now.
I’m always impressed by David’s knowledge of entertainment history. How old is he?
Tgj…no…just stop.Beyonce nor Ciara need to be in that role.the whole point of the movie is a black female that passes for white.as light as any of them are…no I see black women and the part should be kept a white womans role the best candidate however would be…Quincy Jones daughter Rashida.now that is more believable.
Beyoncé is too old to play Sarah Jane now. Maybe back in the Say My Name Say My Name days, but not now. The character was like late teens/early 20s. That being said, if they ever do another remake, I’d like to see them flip it and make this a story about a black father and his mixed son.
I like the 1934 version of “imitation of life”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg5jU8Q5RJk
and the actress Fredi Washington in this film was actually a black actress born in georgia, who hollywood advised her to pass for white to get more movie jobs but she refused to deny her heritage
Beyonce will do just fine. Ciara can’t act to save her life. I cringed when i watch Mama I want to sing
I could see that keke plamer or Zendaya or Cassie or ciara can play this role
I cried like a baby when the end of the movie hits. And cry bucket full of tears at the funeral scene when Mahalia Jackson sings Troubles of This World that song makes me go off, Mahalia knew she sung the hell out that song and again I stress this no remakes, reboot, reshoots, reshit. No just no because it’ll be horrible and if you don’t believe me just think of the Nightmare on Elm Street remake along with The Potergiest Remake Tragic just tragic, Hollywood needs to stop with the lazy movie making B.S. and come wiyh some originality don’t you dare try it TGJ.