Born to be Hurt: The Untold Story of "Imitation of Life" - Softcover

"If you believe there is such a thing as politics in movie tastes, "Born to Be Hurt" is the book for you. Sam Staggs's inside story of the entire 'Imitation of Life' phenomenon is funny, obsessive and quite revealing and, like any good fanatic, he takes sides."--John Waters "Sam Staggs is one of our liveliest and most likable pop-culture historians. His chronicle of 'Imitation of Life', one of the iconic movies of the late 1950s, is beautifully researched and told in his own singular, engaging voice. Thanks to this book, I finally understand the peculiar hold that this movie has had on me for all these years." -- Brian Kellow, author of "Ethel Merman: A Life" and "The Bennetts: An Acting Family" "[A]nother beguiling celebration of Old Hollywood for Staggs...Staggs's luxuriously digressive account ranges far beyond the featured attraction...he shows readers how compelling Hollywood's imitation of life can be."--"Publishers Weekly" "Scrupulously scholarly, yet always droll."--"Huffington Post""There's something compelling about this approach to film history."--"Los Angeles Times""" "A passionate and witty behind-the-scenes expose."--"Turner Classic Movies, ""www.tcm.com""A bona fide film archaeologist."--"Chicago"" Tribune"

"Born To Be Hurt" is the first in-depth account of director Sirk's masterpiece starring Lana Turner and Juanita Moore. On the brink of personal and professional ruin after the Johnny Stompanato murder of the year before, Turner's turn as actress Lora Meredith brought her back from potential career obscurity. African-American actress Moore played her servant and dearest friend. Both earned Oscar nominations for their performances. Boppy Sandra Dee, as a cute co-ed, and smouldering Susan Kohner, as a black girl passing for white, played the next generation - the daughters who would break their mother's hearts...or have their hearts broken. Both Moore and Kohner earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for their performances. Staggs combines vast research, extensive interviews with surviving cast members and a passionate devotion to the film into a masterpiece of film writing.