Was "Imitation of Life", art imitating life, life imitating art, art imitating art or life imitating life?

Question

Who do you think was the best imitator ( Lora Meredith, Susie Meredith, Annie Johnson, Sarah Jane Johnson or Steve Archer) and why ?

Memorable Quotes from
Imitation of Life (1959)

Lora Meredith: Well, I'm going up and up and up - and nobody's going to pull me down!

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Lora: You're aiming high.
Steve: Why not? It doesn't cost anymore. Don't you believe in chasing rainbows?

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Sarah Jane: I'm someone else. I'm white... white... WHITE!

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Annie: I'd be happy knowin' you're meetin' nice young folk...
Sarah Jane: Busboys! Cooks! Chauffeurs!
[Hmph]
Sarah Jane: Like Hawkins. No thank you; I've seen your "nice young folk".
Annie: I don't wanna fight with you, honey. Not tonight. I don't feel too good. While I get started on the an

Answer 1

With a cascade of golf ball sized diamonds and a theme song crooned by a Nat King Cole sound-alike, the opening of Imitation of Life (1959) embodies all the glitz, glamour, and melodrama of women's films in the post war era.

The story of two single mothers (one black and the other white) struggling to raise their two daughters is pretty progressive for the late 1950's. Still, there are antiquated "separate and unequal" undertones present throughout the movie. The most perplexing and hilarious example of this is when, after decades of supposed friendship, Annie mentions to Lora all the people she'd like to attend her funeral. In all seriousness Lana Turner says, "It never occurred to me that you had any friends."

In a testament to the sincerity of Juanita Moore's performance, Annie answers, without a hint of sarcasm or malice, "Miss Lora, you never asked."

Though successful in it's initial release, Imitation of Life and other films like it, were regarded as simple pieces of genre filmmaking. Half a century later, film scholars are re-examining the genre and, more specifically, the films of Douglas Sirk. His detailed work on melodramas like Magnificent Obsession (1954) and All That Heaven Allows (1956) have garnered Sirk a new level of respect.
Whether you appreciate the movie as a social commentary on racism and the women's movement, or as an over-the-top camp delight, Imitation of Life is a memorable classic from a bygone era.

In answer to your questions:

#1 Life imitating Life. What follows, life imitating life, are copies, whether in various art forms or life itself.

#2. I would have to say that the best imitators were Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner) and Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore) since they were both nominated for Best Actress In A Supporting Role at the 1960 Oscars.
Ms. Kohner won a 1960 Golden Globe and Ms. Moore was nominated for one.
In the 1959 Laurel Awards Ms. Moore placed 2nd for Top Female Supporting Performance.

Thanks for your questions.

Answer 2

I've watched this movie countless times since I was a kid, it's one of my favorites. I guess Lora was the best "imitator" since she was the actress and she knew how to. I've never really thought too deeply about the movie I guess. Sarah Jane wasn't too good at it, like Lora, that's probably why she had some bitterness towards her.