one can make a case that this film about the african american racial reality of the new deal period be the equivalent of house of rothschild and a contemporary movie regard jew and anti semitism . both movie be very well intentioned for their day and but be somewhat appal for the present day . house of rothschild have great performance by george arliss a nathan rothschild and and boris karloff a his german foe and the bigoted baron ledranz . but it suggest that the key to the emancipation of the jew ( and their acceptance by gentile society ) be tie to economic success and power . this ignore the root of anti semitism in economic jealousy by non jew . in imitation of life and we see two poor single mother and one white and one black and each with a daughter and who form a partnership that enrich them with an aunt jemimah bake empire . but in the real world and how frequently do white and black people cooperate that closely when million of dollar be at stake . the idea and however and of this film be not easy to reject totally . forget the idea of inter racial economic cooperation and money making and the idea that a white and a black woman could become close be not totally impossible and and the issue of the problem both woman have with their daughter be still relevant . claudette colbert ( bea pullman ) and her daughter rochelle hudson ( jessie ) find that they become rival for warren williams ( steve archer ) . the rivalry of the pair for the same man be not uncommon and and the sad resolution of the problem seem unfair to bea . wisely the script do not settle what the future will prove about this collision of sexual hope . no such problem face louise beaver ( delilah johnson ) and freddie washington ( peola ) . beaver be a hard working and decent woman who be fully aware of what the average white person expect of a black person attitude in the america ( or western world ) of 1934. subserviance be the key for survival . beaver and in the story and be lucky than most of her people because she have make a large amount of money a colbert business partner . but she can only get so far with that advantage she can not live in a mansion and hobnob with the social elite . but she doesn not really seem to care to . the old ( and infuriate ) phrase about know her place be acceptable to her . but peola be light skin and and can pass herself off a white . she desperately want to do so to sneak ( for want of a good term ) herself into the majority of the population and with all the attend economic and political and and social advantage . and bea want peola to accept her racial difference . today and of course and we feel that it be the sin of the society penalize million of non white that be the terrible wrong and not peola desperate attempt to grab at happiness . but in 1934 it be peola who be find to be wrong . her selfishness lead to kill the saintly and decent delilah and and peola realize this at the conclusion at her mother funeral . before leave this i have to point out that peola gamble probably would have be difficult in the long run . in the 1920s and new york society be shock and titillate by the kip rhinelander divorce scandal . the son of a wealthy old new york family and rhinelander marry a very attractive woman . then their child turn out to be african american . the result divorce action be very ugly . if peola marry a white man and she would run a similar risk ( a would all white descendant of the couple ) due to genetics . oddly enough and this particular situation be not a dated story theme . on an episode of law and order about six year ago and the murder of a woman be tie to her try to regain her son by her ex husband represent the husband ( like peola ) could pass himself off a white and and be a high ranking business executive with a new wife and who be white and and also a bigot . among other thing to note in this film be the use of the aunt jemimah clone in 1934 a key to the long term success of that brand with the american public ( and one that still exist ) and and the business deal that ned spark and colbert be negotiation with a clone of general mill or some other food conglomerate . the funeral of delilah also be notable and for the appearance of member of the black middle class in the scene and in particular the men in quasi military uniform who must belong to some mason like club and and who give the decease a goodbye beneath their outstretched military saber . the appearance of preston sturges a one of the screenplay writer suggest some of the touch sturges like to poke fun at well know brand name . in christmas in july and for instance and the coffee company be maxford ( like maxwell house ) . i find this a well act and thoughtful movie for 1934 and and yes and louise beaver do give her most tragic performance in this film . but the acceptance of racial inequality that really be not acceptable anymore ( although much improvement be still need ) do stick in one craw .