A2

But it's okay if we disagree. That's what makes life exciting. That quote I will gladly cut and paste any day....

Path40a, You took the words right out of my mouth. Can I just cut and paste what you said ?? lol I think the real "cringe worthy" moment was when Stephen Archer tried to pass himself off as 38.... Either way, I love this movie, and still respect Mr. Bogle's opinions. That being said, this version of Imitation of Life is nothing less than a great film ahead of it's time and still relevant in ALL issues 72 years later.... Thanks TCM....your the best... A2

I'm not sure....but I never look a gift horse in the mouth. No...Bea would not get the remaining 80%, first off Delmer ( I think his name was) was the manager, or one of the C.O's so I"m sure he would get a % off the top, and being a man, probably more than even Bea would recieve. Plus with the company almost in bankruptcy, I'm sure there where investers who took their share, so 20% is probably comparable or = to Bea's share. I would say that for 1934 any $ that Bea would pay Dililah would be a good thing, let alone getting 20% of the entire company. Bea's husband started the Mapel Syrup business, granted it wasn't doing so good before the pancake mix, but it was still her company. Even by todays standards a 10% one time finders fee for a new product is rare. What, do you think, would have been a fair % ? This may be the only issue that could be misinterperted as raciest. My point is, that of all the movies to pick on, why this one? I always felt that this movie, esp. being from 1934, showed a very smart, sensitive, ahead of it's time, perspective on race in the United States. Using it as a "bad example" is like squezing blood from a turnip. Are there Hollywood movies in the 30's that depict race and raciest views in a bad light? OF COURSE Is Imitation of LIfe one of them? Not by a long shot.

While respecting Mr. Bogles opinions, and more than likely agreeing with him on his over all views on movies in general, his comments on this particular film are un called for. This movie should have been hailed by Mr. Bogles for showing a loving careing relationship between to single mothers ( who just happen to be black and white). The concept of Dililahs daughter Peola's reaction to being a light skinned African-American is a cultural one...NOT a raciest one. Not to mention the problem with Beatrices' ( the white mom ) own daughter who falls in love with her mothers fiance....white trash? The 1934 version of Imitation of Life has everything but a raciest overall viewpoint. To extract that notion from the entire film as a whole is rediculous, as creditable as Mr. Bogles may be, his view points on this film are completly bias.

Last night, just before Forever Darling, a gentleman did a commentary on the film Imitation of Life (the '34 version). His views and opinions on this film where so personally offensive to me that I had to join this message board and find out if anyone else saw this, and if so how they felt. I had tried to remember his name, but was so freaked out when it was over, I couldn't remember who he was. ( So that would be my first question....Who is this guy?) There are so many things wrong with what he said that I'm not sure where or how to begin. I'm almost certain that he never saw the entire film, as a matter of fact his ending arguement revolves around (what he claimed to be the ending) where Beatrice and Delilah are going to bed and the white one goes upstairs and the black one goes down stairs, and how he thought that was the director's slap in the face to AfricanAmerican. Completly False. Delilah dies before the end of the film to begin with. And although this shot of the two going up and down may be a visual commentary on the films subject, they still lived together even though both of their daughters where grown. To claim that Beatrice was raciest is completly wrong. She couldn't be. He also claims that Delilah was the maid, hired by the rich Beatrice. False. Beatrice husband died in the war I think, and she was struggling to keep the family business afloat, while trying to raise a daughter herself ( which by the way Beatrice's daughter was never mentioned, which is another fact that leads me to believe that he never saw the film all the way through) I don't have exact quotes of what this dude said, it was late and I was half asleep when he started, but by time it was over, I was wide awake and growing more angry by the second. Pretty much everything this guy had to say about the movie upset me, and I would pay good money to have a transcript of exactly what he said. ( is this possible?) To take a film like that and attempt to turn it into something ugly is completly wrong. I've watched TCM religiously for the past 6 years and have never been offended by what I saw, untill now. I understand that people have different opions of art and life in general, and I can respect anyone that takes a stand for things they believe in. But this was way too much. Did anyone else see it? A2 PS ( I still love TCM, and am not as upset as this post may make me out )