I Remember Mama (1948)

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

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

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

Stars:

Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Geddes, Oskar Homolka

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The life of a Norwegian immigrant family in 1910 San Francisco centers around Mama and her detailed, pennywise household budget. We follow the Hansens' small joys, sorrows, and aspirations, with the boisterous antics of Uncle Chris as counterpoint.

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Plot Keywords:

car | gourmet | immigrant | love | 1910s | 

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Taglines:

MAMA is on the screen - more lovable than ever!

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Norwegian Latin French

Release Date:

17 March 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

George Stevens' Production of I Remember Mama

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,068,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite garnering the best reviews of any RKO film released in years, the movie failed to turn a profit due to its high production cost ($3.068 million). It spawned a long-running CBS TV series that ran from 1949-57.

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Goofs

When Dagmar comes home from the hospital and is holding Uncle Elizabeth and takes the blanket from his face, he has no bandages on his face, but when he jumps from her arms we see several.

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Quotes

Dr. Johnson: Are you a physician, sir?
Uncle Chris Halverson: I'm a better physician than most doctors!

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Connections

Referenced in Enfant Terrible: A Conversation with Patty McCormack (2004)

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Soundtracks

Listen to the Mockingbird
(1855) (uncredited)
Music by Richard Milburn
Whistled by Barbara Bel Geddes

User Reviews

A film for the ages

It's so wonderful to read all the positive tributes to this film here, with only one dissenting voice. Sadly, IMDB chose that comment as the lead to open the comment page. I'm 53, a tough guy from Brooklyn, N.Y., but I can tell you, everytime I see *I Remember Mama* it brings honest, genuine tears to my eyes. The story is universal, not just about a Norwegian family in turn of the 20th Century San Francisco. Anyone who has had a loving mother has got to be moved by this story, a film directed for the ages by George Stevens. And what a magnificent cast, headed by the incomparable Irene Dunne! If I hadn't had the best Mom in the world already, I would have wanted Irene Dunne. Just see and cherish this work of art.