Born to Be Hurt: Sam Staggs on Douglas Sirk’s Imitation of Life
In this passionate and witty behind-the-scenes documentary, writer Sam Staggs takes on Douglas Sirk’s 1959 cult melodrama IMITATION OF LIFE, starring Lana Turner. Like Staggs’ book of the same title, BORN TO BE HURT is an in-depth account of director Sirk’s masterpiece. Lana Turner, on the brink of personal and professional ruin starred as Lora Meredith. African-American actress Juanita Moore played her servant and dearest friend, and Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner their respective daughters, caught up in the heartbreak of the black-passing-for-white daughter in the 1950s. Both Moore and Kohner were Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actress. For this detailed on-camera report on the film’s bouncy production history, Staggs draws on vast research, extensive interviews with surviving cast members, and superb storytelling. Entertaining, saucy, and incisive, this is irresistible viewing for every film fan.
PUBLISHED ON THE FOLLOWING DVDS:
Coffret Douglas Sirk, Partie 1Douglas Sirk [Colecção Douglas Sirk]
Imitação da Vida
Imitation of Life (AUS)
Mirage de la vie