Born to Be Hurt

the long version

"Born to Be Hurt is the first in-depth "biography" of Imitation of Life. Lana Turner - on the brink of personal and professional ruin after her mobster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, was stabbed by her daughter, Cheryl Crane - starred as glamorous actress Lora Meredith. Juanita Moore played what she called the greatest role up to that time for an African-American actress: Lora's stalwart maid and dearest friend, Annie. And America's cutie-pie, Sandra Dee, and powerful newcomer Susan Kohner rounded out the quartet as the two girls, one sunny and blond and popular, the other tortured and black-passing-for-white." "Sam Staggs traces the movie's arc from the original story in Fannie Hurst's novel right through the writing and casting to the filming, the promotion, the controversy over its themes, and the reception it received. He's unearthed new details about director Sirk, legendary producer Ross Hunter, and all the stars, and gives Imitation of Life its due as influential to several generations of film fans. In Born to Be Hurt, Staggs combines vast research, extensive interviews with surviving cast members, and superb storytelling to create a rich work about one of the twentieth century's most iconic movies."--Jacket.