Wallowing in melodrama

Yes, the glamourous Lana Turner - as legend has it discovered in a drug store...I happened to catch her in "Imitation of Life" - which is where this photo is taken from - one of the many gorgeous dresses and outfits she models in the film. Of course it's from the master of that genre -  Douglas Sirk - lots of over the top melodrama in saturated Technicolour. Lana's character Lora Meredith is an ambitious actress who somewhat neglects her relationship with her daughter Susie  and her longtime friend and maid Annie. The maid's daughter is light skinned and "passing" for white - which brings its own complications.

Oh sometimes you want to descend into that fantasy world and indulge a little. So what if it's not realistic - I guess they were trying to bring attention to racism in their own way.  Lana's daughter is played by 50's good girl icon, Sandra Dee: Yep, I couldn't help thinking of that tune from "Grease"....

The previous film of the double bill was "All That Heaven Allows" another Sirk gem. If you have seen "Far From Heaven" with Julianne Moore - an homage to those flicks then you know what I'm talking about.






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