I Remember Mama (1948)

100% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(1,882 ratings)

George Stevens's charming film version of Kathryn Forbes' collection of short stories entitled Mama's Bank Account features Irene Dunne as Mama in one of her finest and most ingratiating performances. The film is narrated by Mama's daughter Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes), recalling the trials and… More George Stevens's charming film version of Kathryn Forbes' collection of short stories entitled Mama's Bank Account features Irene Dunne as Mama in one of her finest and most ingratiating performances. The film is narrated by Mama's daughter Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes), recalling the trials and tribulations of her family in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. Mama tries to keep her house in order and her family on their toes as a motley assortment of eccentric relatives, boarders, and friends -- including Uncle Chris (Oscar Homolka), Mr. Hyde (Cedric Hardwicke), Dr. Johnson (Rudy Vallee), Mr. Thorkelson (Edgar Bergen) -- weave in and out of their lives. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 14 min.
Directed By: George Stevens
Written By: De Witt Bodeen
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Mar 11, 1948 Wide
On DVD: Dec 7, 2004

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Producer-Director George Stevens has transferred the John van Druten play, via a free-wheeling script by DeWitt Bodeen, in all its genial personality to the screen.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Thin, manipulative, and overlong, but frighteningly effective.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This chronicle of one immigrants clan in San Francisco circa 1900 is sentimental and nostalgic, but it's precisely directed by George Stevens and emotionally effective.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A delicate charmer, sometimes precious, but nonetheless fine.
Tom Milne, Time Out
A charmer, nevertheless, directed and acted with real delicacy.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's a quietly effective work, thanks to its strong sense of time and place.
David Bezanson, Filmcritic.com
the characters are portrayed warmly and with unusual realism
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The movie made me smile and laugh a great deal, and yes, it put me on the edge of a tear more than once, as well.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a sweet, tender, sentimental tale, richly alive with old-fashioned humor and charm.
John Urbancich, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
It inspired a classic TV show.
, Film4
It's not just the turn-of-the-century setting that gives this warm-hearted film an old-fashioned feel, rather it's the values it celebrates.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Overrated and overblown from the bloated final act of George Stevens' career

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A really great family drama, a wonderful cast, and a good story. I really liked it.
Anthony L

A beautiful film that I used to watch with my Grandmother. George Stevens?s timeless classic is cinema at its best, with a brilliant performances from an excellent cast. Brilliant!
Red L

A film along the lines of Pride and Prejudice, but this is a first generation immigrant family with four kids in early 20th century San Francisco. The story teller is the oldest daughter who has a yen for writing. We go through the various troubles they encounter - lack of money,… More
A film along the lines of Pride and Prejudice, but this is a first generation immigrant family with four kids in early 20th century San Francisco. The story teller is the oldest daughter who has a yen for writing. We go through the various troubles they encounter - lack of money, the stay in a hospital when a kid needs an operation, the good and bad relatives, etc. It is a heart-warming movie, and if you get a chance watch it.

Cast

            Irene Dunne as Mama Hansen

            Barbara Bel Geddes as Katrin Hansen

            Oscar Homolka as Uncle Chris

            Philip Dorn as Papa Hansen

            Cedric Hardwicke as Mr. Hyde

            Edgar Bergen as Mr. Thorkelson

            Rudy Vallee as Dr. Johnson

            Barbara O'Neil as Jessie Brown

            Peggy McIntyre as Christina Hansen

            June Hedin as Dagmar Hansen

            Steve Brown as Nels Hansen

            Ellen Corby as Aunt Trina

            Hope Landin as Aunt Jenny

            Edith Evanson as Aunt Sigrid

            Tommy Ivo as Cousin Arne

            Stanley Andrews as Minister

            George Atkinson as Postman

            Florence Bates as Florence Dana Moorhead

            Lela Bliss as Nurse

            Franklin Farnum as Man

            Constance Purdy as Nurse

            Ruth Tobey as Girl

            Howard Keiser as Bellboy

            Cleo Ridgely as Schoolteacher

            Oskar Homolka
            
See full cast