Lana Turner after the Stompanato Murder was thought to be finished in Hollywood. Ross Hunter who made All That Heaven Allows, and Magnificent Obsession with Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson asked La Turner to star in Imitation of Life. Universal however insisted Lana defer her salary but agreed to give her 50% of the net profits. Lana Turner accepted the deal and Ross Hunter and Universal had a worldwide smash hit. This is soap opera at his best. Others have outlined the story, what I like is the back story, the fact that Lana Turner gambled all on this film and won. This is a wonderful movie with outstanding Universal production values. Ross Hunter got off a great line stating of course the movie would be in color, "Photographing Lana in black in white is like serving champagne in a Dixie cup" Douglas Sirk guides a splendid cast of Ms Turner, Universal stars John Gavin and Sandra Dee, and Troy Donahue who would move over to WB and become a big star, and others. Susan Kohner is a standout.
Lana Turner for all her bad girl reputation- Lana's Daughter Cheryl noted Lana's 7 Husbands and in Cheryl's terms "caravan of lovers" and the sordid Stompanato Murder scandal which to this day mystifies some, was a very good and at times great actress. Don't laugh: See luscious Lana Turner in The Postman's Always Rings Twice, The Bad And The Beautiful, Peyton Place, Imitation of Life and most of all her brilliant performance in Universal's Madame X. Lana Turner had a superb body of film work.
A great star who deserves to be remembered as a Star and Actress of the first rank.
Lana Turner for all her bad girl reputation- Lana's Daughter Cheryl noted Lana's 7 Husbands and in Cheryl's terms "caravan of lovers" and the sordid Stompanato Murder scandal which to this day mystifies some, was a very good and at times great actress. Don't laugh: See luscious Lana Turner in The Postman's Always Rings Twice, The Bad And The Beautiful, Peyton Place, Imitation of Life and most of all her brilliant performance in Universal's Madame X. Lana Turner had a superb body of film work.
A great star who deserves to be remembered as a Star and Actress of the first rank.