Imitation of Life

Lora Meredith, a widow with a young daughter named Susie, arrives in New York City with hopes of becoming a successful actress. She struggles to find acting opportunities and lives in a cold-water flat, facing the challenges of starting her career from scratch.

On a summer day, Susie wanders away and gets lost on the Coney Island beach. Fortunately, she is found safe with Annie Johnson, a young black widow woman, and her daughter Sarah Jane, forming the beginning of a close bond among the women and children.

Annie, lacking her own place to stay, offers to become Lora's servant and nanny. Though unpaid, she and her daughter move into Lora's apartment, providing stability in exchange for her assistance with the children and household chores.

Lora encounters Steve Archer on the beach and he takes a photograph of her and Susie. Steve becomes attracted to Lora and begins courting her as she continues to search for acting jobs amid her struggles to break into the industry.

Lora sneaks into agent Allen Loomis's office to seek help in landing acting opportunities. Loomis recognizes her deception but offers a questionable promise to make her a star if she agrees to his conditions, which she ultimately rejects and walks out.

Steve sells the picture of the girls to a magazine and asks Lora to marry him, suggesting she give up her acting dreams. She initially accepts, but changes her mind after Loomis secures her a role with a notable director, leading her to pursue her career.

Lora lands a significant role thanks to director David Edwards, showcasing her talent and growing popularity. She becomes romantically involved with Edwards, establishing herself as a successful actress on Broadway.

Over the next ten years, Lora's career flourishes as she stars in all of Edwards's Broadway plays, and she becomes a renowned actress. Her family, including Annie and her teenage daughters, move into a large, elegant house in Manhattan.

Despite her success, Lora feels unfulfilled and begins to withdraw from her family, focusing intensely on her acting career and working in lower-income theatre productions. Her relationships with her daughters and friends become strained.

While Lora is abroad filming in Europe, Susie develops feelings for Steve, who is caring for her during her mother's absence. When Lora returns, it becomes apparent to Susie that Steve loves her mother, leading to tension within the family.

Sarah Jane, ashamed of her biracial heritage, tries to pass as white by dating a white boy. When her boyfriend discovers her true racial background, he assaults her, and she spirals into depression, taking a job as a nightclub dancer.

Annie, now gravely ill, travels to Las Vegas to see her daughter Sarah Jane. She offers her daughter emotional support, reminding her to reach out if she ever needs help, while Sarah Jane faces her health issues and the fallout from her racial identity crisis.

After a brief illness, Annie dies, leaving a large and lavish funeral attended by many mourners. Her passing deeply affects both Sarah Jane and Lora, recalling their close bond and shared struggles.

At Annie's funeral, Sarah Jane publicly admits that she is her mother's daughter and that she is black, embracing her identity. This heartfelt confession signifies her acceptance of herself and her roots after years of hiding her true background.

Sarah Jane hugs her mother and Lora, Susie, and Steve return home together. The story closes with the family united, having faced and overcome their personal and racial struggles, beginning a new chapter in their lives.