Imitation of Life

I had never heard of this movie until Netflix recommended it for me. I rented both the 1934 version (Claudette Colbert) and the 1957 version (Lana Turner). They were both good; I liked the older one a little better. Then, because I got interested in it, I found the book on Amazon and ordered it. Wow, was it good! It was SO much better than either movie, and the Lana Turner version was WAY off the mark.

The book is the story of Bea Pullman from her late teen years (it actually opens at the death of her mother when she is about 16 or 17) until her mid thirties. It is the story of her marriage, her daughter Jessie, and her sudden poverty after an early widowhood. In the early thirties, before women are outside the home much, Bea is forced to be the breadwinner, providing for her invalid father, infant daughter, and herself. Delilah, a widowed black woman with a daughter (Peola) of the same age as Jessie, becomes her cook, nanny, and sitter for her father in exchange for room and board.

Bea's only hope at making a living is to go door to door to businesses selling the maple syrup that her late husband used to do as just a sideline. Eventually, she realizes that she can sell the candies that Delilah makes from the syrup, and later the waffles from Delilah's special recipe. An empire is born. After many years of struggle, Bea becomes quite the entrepreneur and business woman who is the talk of Wall Street. The story continues with the story of Bea's relationship with her daughter, her close friendship and deep respect for Delilah, and her longing for a marriage with a man she loves (Boy, does this story line have a surprise ending if you saw the movie first! I was blown away!).

The second story line of the light-skinned Peola wanting to "pass" and disowning Delilah is a very minor plot line in the book, unlike both movies, where it is the major part of the plot. Yes, it happens and my heart broke for Delilah as I read the book, but the conflict between Peola and Delilah does not even begin for real until almost 200 pages into the book. It is foreshadowed earlier in the book, but it is not in the book from beginning to end, like it is in both movies. You will find yet another surprise ending to this plot line if you saw the movie first.

I highly recommend the book and both movies of Imitation of Life.