Normally I love old movies and think that they have more guts than contemporary movies, but Imitation of Life (1959) is a remake, which may explain why it may be the exception to the rule. I was expecting Pinky, but there are really four stories-sketches really since they are less people than types. First and foremost is the story about the white widow, played by Lana Turner, who chooses ambition over love because she is motivated by financial survival. Second is the light skinned black daughter who does the same, but she is motivated by psychological survival-she wants to belong and not be an outsider. Third is the widow’s daughter who wants love over comfort. Fourth is the housekeeper, the mother of the light skinned black daughter. She is a mystery, and we only see her in relation to the other three characters. The writers suggest that she is more than that, but the other characters are too self-involved to know about her interests, her friends, her life. The writers also cleverly show sympathy to the light skinned daughter by showing that even though there is rarely overt racism, there is implicit racism in what she is expected to do, where she is permitted to go, whom she is supposed to socialize with. Imitation of Life acknowledges the psychological injury of a world outside of the South failing to aspire to the decision rendered by the Supreme Court in Brown v Board of Education (there is even a scene about the daughters arguing over which doll they would prefer), but it is not the central story though it is the story that they invest most of their talents. Imitation of Life (1959) predominantly features Lana Turner, who is probably best known for The Postman Always Rings Twice, but other than her beauty and glamour, is not one of the greats that you yearn for like Kathryn Hepburn, Betty Davis, Barbara Stanwyck or Katherine Hepburn. Imitation of Life (1959) is an enjoyable movie, but failed to hold my attention.