I Remember Mama (1948)

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

DeWitt Bodeen (screenplay)
John Van Druten (based upon the play "I Remember Mama" adapted by)
(more)

Release Date:

17 March 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

You'll just love...MAMA!

Plot:

The ups and downs of a Norwegian immigrant family, circa 1910.

Plot Keywords:

Immigrant | 1910s | Love | Writer | Turn Of The Century

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Irene Dunne	...	Mama
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Katrin
Oskar Homolka	...	Uncle Chris (as Oscar Homolka)
Philip Dorn	...	Papa
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Mr. Hyde (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Edgar Bergen	...	Mr. Thorkelson
Rudy Vallee	...	Dr. Johnson
Barbara O'Neil	...	Jessie Brown
Florence Bates	...	Florence Dana Moorhead
Peggy McIntyre	...	Christine
June Hedin	...	Dagmar
Steve Brown	...	Nels
Ellen Corby	...	Aunt Trina
Hope Landin	...	Aunt Jenny
Edith Evanson	...	Aunt Sigrid
Tommy Ivo	...	Cousin Arne
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Andrews	...	Minister (uncredited)
George Atkinson	...	Postman (uncredited)
Lela Bliss	...	Head Nurse (uncredited)
Louise Colombet	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Art Dupuis	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Man (uncredited)
Lou Hicks	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Gene Holland	...	Boy (uncredited)
Howard Keiser	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
Alice Kerbert	...	Girl (uncredited)
Peggy Kerbert	...	Girl (uncredited)
Peggy McKim	...	Girl (uncredited)
Constance Purdy	...	Fat Night Nurse (uncredited)
Cleo Ridgely	...	Schoolteacher (uncredited)
Ruth Tobey	...	Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
George Stevens

Writing credits
DeWitt Bodeen		(screenplay)
John Van Druten		(based upon the play "I Remember Mama" adapted by)
Kathryn Forbes		(from the novel "Mama's Bank Account" by)

Produced by
Harriet Parsons	....	producer
George Stevens	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Nicholas Musuraca		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Swink

Art Direction by
Carroll Clark
Albert S. D'Agostino

Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri		(set decorations)
Darrell Silvera		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Gile Steele		(costumes: men)
Edward Stevenson		(costumes: women)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Hazel Rogers	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hollingsworth Morse	....	assistant director (as John H. Morse)

Sound Department
Terry Kellum	....	sound
Richard Van Hessen	....	sound

Special Effects by
Russell A. Cully	....	special effects
Kenneth Peach	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Fred Bentley	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ralph Clement	....	grip (uncredited)
Gaston Longet	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tholen Gladden	....	associate editor

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Other crew
Ivan Moffat	....	executive assistant
Dore Schary	....	presenter
John Van Druten	....	based upon the play "I Remember Mama" directed by
Richard Kinon	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
• Central Motion Picture Exchange (1949) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1949) (France) (theatrical) (as RKO Radio Films)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (194?) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Silver Screen (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Liberty Films (II)  Mr. Stevens' services by arrangement with (as Liberty Films, Inc.)

Also Known As:

"George Stevens' Production of I Remember Mama" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Norwegian | Latin | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #12511) | Netherlands:14 (original rating) (1948)

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Oskar Homolka was the only member of the Broadway cast to reprise his role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the aunts are sitting at the table drinking coffee, Jenny is on the right and Sigrid are on the left. After Jenny asks, "Where are the children?" and gets up, she and Sigrid have switched places.

Quotes:

Dr. Johnson:I'll do the operation myself.
Uncle Chris Halverson:I'll watch.
Dr. Johnson:[exasperated] You will do no such thing, sir!
Uncle Chris Halverson:Always I watch operation. I'm the head of the family.
Dr. Johnson:I allow no-one to attend my operations!
Uncle Chris Halverson:Are so bad?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Isn't She Great (2000)

Soundtrack:

Mama

Affecting portrayal of family

This film beautifully--and honestly--captures the importance and dignity of family without ever resorting to platitudes or mawkish sentimentality (though there is quite a bit of very truthful and touching sentiment throughout). I am always particularly struck by the sensitive treatment of the climactic episode about the death of Uncle Chris: this truly is one of the best depictions of death in cinema, touching on all the anger, disappointment, humor, regret, etc., that are attendant on the experience of a family member's passing. The cinematography and lighting in this segment of the film are particularly striking, and the sequence is genuinely moving. "I Remember Mama" would be worth watching for this episode alone, but virtually every other element in the film is of the same high caliber.