Imitation of Life
Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 26, 1934 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
More character study than polemic, wonderfully warm and witty in its observation of two women (one black, one white) who not only crash the race barriers in their friendship but successfully go it alone in a man's world, Stahl's version of Fannie Hurst's novel makes fascinating comparison with Sirk's remake. Read full review
80
The New YorkerPauline Kael
Classic, compulsively watchable rags-to-riches-and-heartbreak weeper, from a novel by Fannie Hurst.
75
TV Guide Magazine
Highly sentimental social soaper, subtly crafted by director Stahl. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderDave Kehr
Douglas Sirk's famous 1959 remake was pure metaphysics; this version emphasizes the social content, particularly in its Depression-era attention to class nuances. Read full review
70
TimeStaff (Not Credited)
Because of the authority with which it is acted and the skill with which Director John Stahl has built up individual episodes, the picture remains an efficient tearjerker, outspoken in its praise of motherlove. Read full review
70
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
John M. Stahl directs this kind of thing very well. He keeps the Fannie Hurst ‘success story’ brand of snobbishness under control and the film flows with mounting interest, if at moments a trifle slowly. Read full review
70
The New York TimesAndre Sennwald
A gripping and powerful if slightly diffuse drama which discussed the mother love question, the race question, the business woman question, the mother and daughter question and the love renunciation question. Read full review
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