With the help of … Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, TCM RACE AND HOLLYWOOD: BLACK IMAGES ON FILM, Englishman at Party Thank you :) Amanda (born November 11, 1936) is an American former actress who worked in film and television. No one played Sarah Jane's father in Imitation of Life. Meanwhile, Susie has been found and looked after by Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), who is also a single mother with a daughter, Sarah Jane (portrayed as a child by Karin Dicker), who is about Susie's age. The 1959 film was a remake of a 1934 version of a book of the same name. Lora hires Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore) as her live-in maid, and Annie brings along her light-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner). In ad­di­tion, Ko… This critique discusses the 1959 version of Imitation of Life directed by Douglas Sirk. In 1959 Douglas Sirk fooled audiences into thinking they were watching a melodrama about Lana Turner conquering Broadway. (uncredited), Jackson's Restaurant Manager Here are some of our picks to get you in the spirit. | (uncredited), Mr. Bristol, Landlord Susan Kohner, who played Sarah Jane, actually steals the show. See which other trailers racked up the views this year. Though not Black, Susan Kohner portrayed Sarah Jane. When Susan Kohner, the actress that played Sarah Jane, was asked about playing her role, she stated, “ I never had qualms about playing a black character because prior to my Imitation role, I played other ethnic characters” (Schuler). In her most no­table role, Kohner played Sarah Jane in Im­i­ta­tion of Life, por­tray­ing an African-Amer­i­can woman who "passes" as white. Lora Meredith, a white widow who dreams of being on Broadway, has a chance encounter with Annie Johnson, a black single mother. Imitation of Life told the story of Sarah Jane, a light-skinned Black girl (both of her parents were Black) who could pass for white, and was played by Susan Kohner. (uncredited), Japanese Customer in Pancake Shop In the 1959 film the role of Sarah Jane is played by actors Susan Kohner as Sarah Jane, age 19 and Karin Dicker as Sarah Jane, age 8 . She played a light-skinned black woman who "passed" for white as a child and young adult. When attempting to cross ethnic barriers, there are gains for the person who decides to attempt to pass. Her character’s life spirals out of control as she makes one bad decision after another. (uncredited), Young Man Proposing Toast After We Collided nabbed the #1 spot in our top trailers of 2020. In 1947, single mother Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) dreams of becoming a famous Broadway actress. Lank Turner (Lora… Karin Dicker was born on December 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Karin Dale Dicker. Directed by Douglas Sirk Produced by Ross Hunter in 1959. Company Credits Karin Dicker. Written by Alfie Hitchie. 'Imitation of of Life', is one of my all time favorite movies. Film literature describes Imitation Of Life as a passing film, which basically means that one of the characters in this film is pretending to be something he or she is not. Susan Kohner (born November 11, 1936) is an American actress, who worked in film and television. In Imitation of Life, Sarah Jane was the daughter of a black housekeeper, who wanted to pass as a white female. | She was so conformable playing these roles because she was biracial herself. Filming & Production Kohner’s mother was Mexican actress Lupita Tovar and father Czech producer/agent Paul Kohner. The casts of characters include; Lank Turner (Lora Meredith), Juanita Moore(Annie Johnson), Susan Kohner(Sarah Jane), Sandra Dee(Susie), John Gavin (Steve Archer). She has been married to Steven C. Sarott since July 1, 1997. She is an actress, known for Imitation of Life (1959), This Man Dawson (1959) and Lassie (1954). (uncredited), Party Guest Saying Goodbye (uncredited), Jessie Pullman, Age 8 Sarah Jane Johnson is Annie Johnson's daughter; Annie is black, and Annie describes Sarah Jane's father as being a very, very light-skinned black man. Losing track of her young daughter Susie (portrayed as a child by Terry Burnham) at a crowded Coney Island beach, she asks a stranger, Steve Archer (John Gavin), to help her find the girl. Most of Kohner's film roles came dur­ing the late 1950s and early 1960s, in­clud­ing co-star­ring with Sal Mineo in both Dino (1957) and The Gene Krupa Story(1959). Karin Dicker was born on December 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Karin Dale Dicker. Paul Kohner was Susan Kohner's father in real life, a major Hollywood agent whose clients included Lana Turner. Release date, April 30, 1959. There are a few scenes that are tear jerkers, so you might want to keep the tissues handy. A quick plot summary — aspiring actress Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) lives alone with her daughter, Susie (Sandra Dee). She played an African-American woman (of mixed ancestry) who passed for white for a time in her life. Imitation of Life (1959) The last film in Hollywood of director Douglas Sirk (Written on the Wind), the 1959 Imitation of Life--an adaptation of Fannie Hurst's novel--is an endlessly fascinating film that speaks volumes about the American journey toward materialism and the racial tensions that are inseparable from it. Prime Video has you covered this holiday season with movies for the family. (uncredited), Peola Johnson, Age 10 "Woof Woof! In her most notable role, Kohner played Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life, portraying a light-skinned black woman who "passes" as white. She is best known for her role as Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life (1959), for which she was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe award. (uncredited), makeup artist: Claudette Colbert (uncredited). | The expensive, glossy Ross Hunter production, directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Lana Turner, was a box office smash. She is best known for her role as Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life (1959), for which she was nominated for an Oscar and won two Golden Globe awards. Juanita Moore, who broke barriers for African-American actors and was Oscar-nommed for 1959's "Imitation of Life," died Tuesday at her home in … Lora ends up having great success and takes care of both girls and of Annie financially. The 1959 film was a re­make of a 1934 ver­sion of a book of the same name. Official Sites (uncredited), Peola Johnson, Age 4 She is an actress, known for, Once a Star Always a Star: Turner's Scandals on TCM, Sirk Offers Gaudy Social Commentaries: You'll Laugh, You'll Cry, You'll Remember, 5 Things You May Not Know About Douglas Sirk's 'Imitation Of Life,' 53 Years Since Since It Was First Released, Women's Day: Oscar-Nominated Mother-and-Daughter Roles. Both Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the movie. (uncredited), Teacher Outside Classroom The ex­pen­sive, glossy Ross Hunter pro­duc­tion, di­rected by Dou­glas Sirk and star­ring Lana Turner, was a box of­fice smash. (uncredited), Peola's Frontrow Classmate Annie was a widow. (uncredited), Young Woman at Party Imitation of Life (1934) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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