From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Imitation of Life 2-Movie Collection

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Imitation of Life 2-Movie Collection, brings one the of the most beloved and respected stories of all-time to Blu-ray^™ for the first time on April 7, 2015. Based on the 1933 best-selling novel by Fannie Hurst, the emotionally charged drama chronicles the lives of two widowed friends -- one white and one black -- and their troubled daughters as they struggle to find true happiness in a world plagued by racism.  An explosive subject then and now, both films present the cultural dilemma of racial issues as well as romance, family, success and tragedy in surprisingly candid ways that still resonate with audiences today. 

The Imitation of Life 2-Movie Collection includes both versions of the film:  The original 1934 Best Picture nominee starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers and the 1959 masterpiece directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner.  In the roles of the sacrificing mother and her light-skin daughter caught between two different worlds trying to "pass" as white to achieve greater personal success, both Moore and Kohner respectively were nominated for Best-Supporting Actress. 

The Blu-ray^™ release of Imitation of Life is perfectly timed for Mother's Day.  Both films are digitally remastered and fully restored from high resolution 35MM original film elements and include the following bonus features:

Bonus Features on Blu-ray^™

• Lasting Legacy: An Imitation of Life – Academy Award nominee Juanita Moore and respected historians reflect upon the making of these films and examine the enduring themes of race, family and identity in this retrospective documentary.
• 1934 Feature Commentary with African-American cultural scholar Avery Clayton
• 1959 Feature Commentary with film historian Foster Hirsch
• Original Trailers

IMITATION OF LIFE - 1934
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, Warren William, Fredi Washington
Directed By: John M. Stahl
Written By: William Hurlbut
Produced By: Carl Laemmle Jr.

IMITATION OF LIFE – 1959
Cast: Lana Turner. Juanita Moore, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner
Directed By: Douglas Sirk
Written By: Eleanore Griffin, Allan Scott
Produced By: Ross Hunter

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Blu-ray^™:
Street Date: 4/7/15
Selection Numbers: 61168605
Running Time: 1hr 51min/2hrs 5min
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1/2.00:1
Rating: Not Rated
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

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About Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

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818.777.8701

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SOURCE Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

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