help with the name of a film

[spots]

Does anyone know the name of a film set in 1940/1950's america about two girls who grow up together one white, one black, the black mother is the families maid, the white girl goes onto school etc, the black girl pretends to be white, is found out, dis-owns her mother, becomes a stripper, then her mother dies and there is a big scene at the end with white horses for her funeral , very sad. can anyone help

[The Big Gill]

Rings a bell - was Lena Horne in it?

[robbo82]

Sounds like Imitation of Life from 1959.

[therese1]

It is definitely Imitation of Life - Lana Turner is in it, and it is very sad.

[BBWCHATT]

I think they are right - it is probably "Imitation of Life" - I found this on the internet for you:

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0052918/plotsummary

Plot Summary for
Imitation of Life (1959)
In 1947 at Coney Island, down-on-her-luck actress Lora Meredith and her young daughter Susie meet coloured Annie Johnson and her daughter Sarah Jane. Annie is desperate for a place to live and offers to work as Lora's maid for food and lodging. Lora's luck begins to change as a result of their meeting and their two stories unfold across the years. However, Annie's problems start when Sarah Jane tries to pass as white.