I Remember Mama (film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids I Remember Mama
Original film poster
Directed by	George Stevens
Produced by	Harriet Parsons George Stevens
Screenplay by	DeWitt Bodeen
Starring	Irene Dunne Barbara Bel Geddes Oscar Homolka Ellen Corby Philip Dorn
Music by	Roy Webb
Cinematography	Nicholas Musuraca
Editing by	Robert Swink
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date(s)	March 9, 1948 (1948-03-09)
Running time	134 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3,068,000
Money made	$2.9 million

Director George Stevens with Barbara Bel Geddes on set

I Remember Mama is a 1948 American drama film. It was directed by George Stevens and based on a John Van Druten stage play. The play itself was inspired by Kathryn Forbes' 1943 novel Mama's Bank Account.

The movie tells the story of a Norwegian immigrant family living in San Francisco in the early 1900s. It shows their daily lives and the money problems they face. The film stars Irene Dunne as Mama, with Barbara Bel Geddes, Oscar Homolka, Ellen Corby, and Philip Dorn also in key roles. Oscar Homolka played Uncle Chris, a role he had also played on Broadway.

The film was nominated for five Academy Awards. Irene Dunne received her last Best Actress nomination for her role.

The Story of I Remember Mama

The film starts with Katrin, the oldest daughter, finishing her book about her family. As she thinks about her past, the story takes us back to 1910.

Family Life and Sacrifices

We first see Marta Hanson, the mother, planning the weekly budget with her husband Lars and their children: Katrin, Christine, Dagmar, and Nels. Nels wants to go to high school. To help pay for his education, everyone in the family gives up something.

Marta's sister Trina arrives and shares exciting news: she's marrying Peter Thorkelson, an undertaker. Trina asks Marta to tell their other sisters, Sigrid and Jenny. At first, Sigrid and Jenny are upset, but Marta convinces them to accept Trina's choice.

Kindness and Surprises

The Hansons have a lodger named Jonathan Hyde, who is quite poor. He reads A Tale of Two Cities aloud to the family, and they are all very touched by the story.

Later, Marta's Uncle Chris visits. He is a bit rough but has a kind heart. He comes with his housekeeper, Jessie Brown, who is secretly his wife. When Uncle Chris finds out that Dagmar is sick with a serious ear infection (mastoiditis), he insists on taking her to the hospital. Dagmar's operation is successful, but Marta isn't allowed to see her. So, Marta dresses up as a cleaning lady and sneaks into Dagmar's room to sing to her.

The Cat's Recovery

When Dagmar comes home, she learns her cat, Uncle Elizabeth, was badly hurt. Dagmar believes her mother can heal anything, but Marta feels helpless. She sends Nels to buy chloroform to put the cat to sleep. The next morning, Marta is amazed when Dagmar walks in with a perfectly fine cat! It turns out the chloroform didn't kill the cat; it just gave it the deep sleep it needed to get better.

Valuable Gifts

Mr. Hyde suddenly moves out, leaving behind his classic books and a check for all the rent he owed. The family is happy about the money at first, but then they find out the check is worthless. Sigrid and Jenny are furious. But Marta tears up the check, saying that Mr. Hyde's gift of literature is much more valuable than any money.

Katrin's Graduation

Katrin brags to Christine that Mama is going to buy her a special dresser set for graduation. Just before Katrin performs in a school play, she learns from Christine that Mama traded her precious family brooch for the gift. Katrin is so upset that she performs poorly in the play. Afterward, she trades the dresser set back to get the brooch. Marta then gives the brooch to Katrin as her graduation present. Katrin's father also gives her her first cup of coffee, a sign that she is now grown up. Katrin is very moved by her parents' kindness.

Uncle Chris's Secret

Marta learns that Uncle Chris is dying. She takes Katrin to say goodbye. Uncle Chris reveals that he has no money to leave his niece because he has been secretly donating his income to help children with leg or foot problems learn to walk again. He also shares that he is married to his housekeeper, Jessie. After a last drink with his niece and Jessie, Uncle Chris dies peacefully.

New Beginnings

Trina marries Peter Thorkelson in the Hanson family's living room. A year later, they are seen happily sitting on a park bench with their baby in a baby carriage.

Katrin's Writing Journey

Katrin is sad because she keeps getting rejection letters for her stories. Marta takes some of Katrin's stories to a famous author named Florence Dana Moorhead and convinces her to read them. When Marta returns home, she tells Katrin that Ms. Moorhead thinks Katrin should write about what she knows best. Marta encourages Katrin to write about Papa.

When Katrin's story is finally accepted for publication, she gets $500. She announces that some of the money will go towards a winter coat for Mama. Katrin then reveals her story is called Mama and the Hospital. As she starts to read it to her family, the film ends with the line, "But first and foremost, I remember Mama."

Making the Movie

Casting Choices

The director, George Stevens, first offered the role of Mama to Greta Garbo, a very famous actress. However, she had retired from movies and turned down the part. Stevens then chose Irene Dunne, whom he had worked with before. Even though Irene Dunne was 50 years old, she looked very young. She had to wear special makeup to look older and more like a mother of a family.

Oscar Homolka was the only actor from the original Broadway play who also appeared in the film. He played Uncle Chris in both.

Filming Locations

Some parts of the movie were filmed in San Francisco, where the story takes place. Scenes were shot on Rhode Island Street, Potrero Hill, Nob Hill, Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, Eureka Valley, and Market Street.

Main Cast Members

Release and Awards

Premiere and Box Office

The film first showed at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City during Easter. Even though many people liked the movie and it received good reviews, it didn't make a profit. This was because it cost a lot of money to make, leading to a loss of over $1 million.

Awards and Nominations

I Remember Mama was nominated for five Academy Awards. It was one of only a few films to get four acting nominations without being nominated for Best Picture.

The cast also received a special award from the Protestant Motion Picture Council in 1949.

Other Versions of the Story

The story of I Remember Mama has been adapted into other forms:

• A CBS television series called Mama ran from 1949 to 1957. It starred Peggy Wood. The TV show was so popular that the movie I Remember Mama was re-released in theaters in 1956.
• Irene Dunne, Oscar Homolka, and Barbara Bel Geddes all played their movie roles again in a one-hour radio show on Lux Radio Theatre in 1948.
• There was also a British TV version of I Remember Mama in 1961.
• A musical stage show based on the story opened on Broadway in 1979. It starred Liv Ullmann and George Hearn.

Related Reading

• Forbes, Kathryn (1968) Mama's Bank Account (Mariner Books, division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) ISBN: 978-0156563772