A memorable film from 1959
The incomparable gospel singer Mahalia Jackson actually made a memorable appearance in Douglas Sirk's 1959 melodrama "Imitation of Life." However, her involvement was anything but straightforward and highlights the complex portrayals of Black characters in Hollywood at the time. A pioneer in this field was radio pioneer Jack L. Cooper, who in April 1949 had the first regular weekly television show by an African American in the US with "The Jack L. Cooper Revue." This show on WENR-TV in Chicago featured "outstanding Negro talent from across America."
Mahalia Jackson was originally offered the substantial role of Annie Johnson, a character caricatured as "Mammy" – a stereotype she vehemently rejected. An impresario warned her urgently against this "dark role" with its "headscarves and rocking chairs and all that Aunt Jemima crap."
But Mahalia Jackson, aware of her own power and worth, countered that if he was only willing to pay her a few hundred dollars for his "little movie," while Universal Pictures was offering her a contract worth $10,000 a week and a limousine in Hollywood, he had no right to prevent her from accepting the offer.
Ultimately, Mahalia agreed to a cameo singing role that became the emotional climax of the film. Despite criticism from some who saw her portrayal as an update of the happy "colored" servant character from the era of racial segregation, her contribution was undeniably powerful.
In the final scene of the film, she sang the traditional spiritual "Soon I Will Be Done with the Trouble of This World" at Annie's funeral. Her performance was not just a singing number; it lent the scene a poignant depth. It is reported that she cried on cue, magnificently and profusely, and even recited Psalm 23 from the pulpit. The studio had rented a Hollywood church especially for this crucial scene and added a crowd of extras to heighten the emotional intensity.
A cameo role is a very brief, often surprising appearance by a well-known personality in a film, series, play, or other medium. The person usually plays themselves or an unnamed, minor role that has no direct influence on the main plot. Cameo appearances often serve as a kind of "Easter egg," a small reference for fans, or as a tribute to the person in question.
Famous examples include:
Alfred Hitchcock, who made a brief appearance in almost every one of his films.
Stan Lee, who appeared in most Marvel films.
Authors or directors who appear in film adaptations of their own works.
The word "cameo" originally comes from art and refers to a special type of gemstone or shell. A cameo is a relief carved from a stone or shell with different layers of color so that the raised figure has a different color than the background. The term was transferred to the media world because such an appearance is like a small, striking portrait. The famous person "stands out" from the rest of the cast, just like the carved figure on a cameo.
Although Mahalia Jackson was not a trained actress, Universal Pictures relied on her immense popularity to attract a large audience. It was her first attempt at acting in front of the camera. Director Allen Reisner encouraged her to just be herself and see herself as a missionary. Her role was limited to singing hymns, giving a sermon, and sweeping a porch—seemingly simple tasks, but ones she fulfilled with her incomparable presence.
The studio also benefited from the public attention generated by the private tragedy surrounding the lead actress, Lana Turner, whose daughter had murdered her mother's lover shortly before filming began.
After the film's release, Mahalia Jackson made guest appearances on television with such greats as Bing Crosby and Dean Martin, underscoring her growing popularity. Although Mahalia never saw the film "Imitation of Life" herself, her role in this remake of the 1934 film was widely discussed in the media. Her performance in "Imitation of Life" remains a fascinating testament to her artistic integrity and her ability to raise her voice and make an impact even within the complex Hollywood system.
©Thilo Plaesser