Imitation of Life (1934)

A very good film (nominated for Best Picture of the year by the Academy) with one of my favorite actresses the beautiful Claudette Colbert as a struggling woman who teams with her friend (played by Louise Beavers) to succeed with a pancake recipe and using her "Aunt Jemima-like" likeness. However conflicts arise as the women age and their children (played by Rochelle Hudson & Fredi Washington respectively) grow up. Additional quality supporting acting is provided by Warren William Ned Sparks (who gets all the great lines!) and Alan Hale. Added to the National Film Registry in 2005.

Colbert is a single parent trying to raise her daughter when she meets Beavers who with her daughter moves in as Colbert’s domestic help. With help from supplier Hale they start a small cafe on the boardwalk. Sparks is a self proclaimed pancake connoisseur down on his luck who speaks two words ("box it") in exchange for a free meal. So with his help Colbert markets Beavers’ pancake flour to great success. Beavers and her daughter continue to live with Colbert and her daughter because of the fond relationship that’s grown between the two women. After 10 years of growing success William is invited to a celebration party by Sparks where he meets Colbert and a romance begins even though Sparks "warns" her against it. The women struggle with their grown up children: Beavers with her light colored daughter (Fredi Washington) who wishes she were "white" Colbert with her daughter’s (Rochelle Hudson) puppy love for her boyfriend William.

Later remade in 1959 by director Douglas Sirk with actresses Lana Turner and Juanita Moore (Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner respectively play their grown-up daughters).

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