Imitation of Life (1934): cast, story & where to watch
1934 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1934, Imitation of Life is a drama and romance film directed by John M. Stahl, running about 111 minutes. “Claudette Colbert at her finest in Imitation of Life” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter. The two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.
Who’s in it. Imitation of Life stars Claudette Colbert as Beatrice 'Bea' Pullman, Warren William as Stephen 'Steve' Archer, Rochelle Hudson as Jessie Pullman, Age 18 and Ned Sparks as Elmer Smith, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Imitation of Life has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Imitation of Life page.
If you liked it. Fans of Imitation of Life tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Imitation of Life (1934)?
- In US, Imitation of Life is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Imitation of Life worth watching?
- Imitation of Life holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Imitation of Life?
- Imitation of Life stars Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks and Louise Beavers.
- When was Imitation of Life released?
- Imitation of Life was released in 1934, with a runtime of about 111 minutes.