Louise Beavers, inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1976, was given one of the first serious, dramatic roles in Hollywood for an African-American actor in her depiction of Aunt Delilah in Imitation of Life.

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The first of two film version of Fannie Hurst's novel, 1934's Imitation of Life chronicles the friendship between two women -- one white (Claudette Colbert), one black (Louise Beavers). Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires Beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. Colbert is a working girl who yearns to operate her own business, which she does thanks to Beavers' special pancake recipe. A family friend (Ned Sparks) suggests that the ladies form a corporation to merchandise the "Aunt Delilah" pancake mix, and within ten years both women are quite wealthy.

Colbert's relationship with her teenaged daughter (Rochelle Hudson) is strained when both ladies vie for the attentions of the same man, but these problems are minor compared to the travails of Beavers, who not only must deal with the de facto segregation of the 1930s but must also contend with her restless daughter (Fredi Washington), who resents being an African-American and attempts to pass for white. The heartbroken Beavers dies, and at her funeral her now-chastened daughter weeps out her apologies for turning her back on her mother.

Imitation of Life was remade in 1959, its story glamorized and updated to accommodate star Lana Turner. (Author: Hal Erickson)

Rating  NR  
Runtime  106 min  
Release Year  1934 
Director  John M. Stahl

Cast

Claudette Colbert
Louise Beavers
Fredi Washington
Warren William
Ned Sparks
Juanita Quigley