I Remember Mama (1948) Reviews

• Truthful

  patriciafawcett2004-08-29

  When I was a child I was taken to see this film and throughout my life my mother would often say "its good we do not have to go to the bank"and we always laughed about it. One Saturday afternoon in 1984 I saw the film was to be shown on T.V.I was going to go to my mothers house to tell her but couldn't be bothered as I had other things to do.Later that day I received a phone call to say she had a heart attack and a few hours afterwards died.I am now 61 years old and 8 weeks ago joined a writing course.Everyone was asked what inspired them to write.The others came up with lots of things but all I told them was this tale and most of all "I remember Mama" and I was in tears. It is the most beautiful film I have ever seen.It was funny, sad and the acting was absolutely brilliant.I wish they made films like that today.

• An amazing work of art.

  lrrap2003-09-14

  The more time passes and the more inundated we become with the raunchy, violent, frenetic world around us, the more amazing this film becomes. My wife and I (both in our early 50's) just watched "I Remember Mama" again and were both deeply moved by its lovingly crafted, richly detailed story telling. It is an absolutely unique film, and DESERVES to be preserved on DVD --NOW! I can think of no better example of brilliant direction--George Stevens obviously loved the experience---the actors are uniformly brilliant, and the story, despite the fact that ALMOST NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS throughout the 137 minutes it takes to tell it, pulls you in from the very first frame and holds you in its magical spell until the camera slowly glides out of the window and up into the tranquil night sky as the words "The End" appear. There is a scene late in the film when, once again, barely anything really happens: the young Barbara Bel Geddes receives a rejection notice for one of her short stories in the mail, and the family discovers an article in the newspaper about a famous authoress who happens to be in town. Most any other director would have presented this scene in a straightforward, literal way in order to advance the plot. But George Stevens constructs the most imaginative, intricate and brilliant way of filming this scene, with the characters all moving between three different rooms in the house, with Papa teaching his son Nils a lesson about the true art of pipe smoking, the sisters dashing about, and a window under repair that refuses to stay closed ---- I am sure that all of this sounds quite incoherent, but it is only one example of the director's amazing skill that makes this remarkably UNeventful film a totally engrossing experience. The family's house, in fact, feels like a miniature enchanted castle, sometimes bright and airy, other times warm and cozy, as the director continually moves his cast, camera (and US!) through it. And then there is the almost heartbreaking tenderness of the scene where Papa (Philip Dorn in a most lovingly understated performance) decides that daughter Katherine is grown-up enough to have her first cup of coffee, while Roy Webb's underscore plays what sounds like a poignant, sentimental Norwegian folk tune...... and the scene on the porch of Uncle Chris's country home, shortly after his death----another example of understated dignity and beauty that, like the entire film, rings SO TRUE to life. If you truly value the art of filmmaking, you owe it to yourself (and your family) to own this movie. Believe me, we will NEVER see anything like it again.

• Great, just wonderful

  trpdean2003-06-08

  This is a classic. The title alone always caused me to not look it up - afraid that it was full of overdone accents and bathos. So, it was laziness, rather than anticipation that caused me not to turn to a different channel when it just came on television. This is a profound movie - and not because every character is so good or lovable (as I expected). They aren't. However, it has so many truthful moments about families, so much warmth - and so much is going on at any given time that your interest is held very strongly. I was amazed to find tears coming down my face - that just doesn't happen when I watch movies. You're bound to be thinking of your own family growing up. I can see why the book was celebrated, the play ran forever and this movie was nominated for so many awards. There's no question the play would run forever today - it contains too many moments of truth about family relations for people not to be telling their friends "It's really good - really". Do see it - it's WAY better than you think - you'll be very moved.

• 7 Reasons Why This is A Special Film

  ccthemovieman-12005-04-15

  Seven reasons why this has always been one of my all-time favorite films: 1) A movie filled with nice, ordinary people you can relate to. 2) The sweetness of Barbara Bel Geddes and her character. She narrates throughout and this story is as much hers as it is "Mama's." 3) The great facial closeups and general cinematography, directed by one of the all-time best, George Stevens. 4) Oscar Homolka's performance as the gruff-but-kindhearted "Uncle Chris" 5) An amazing supporting cast which help make this film so memorable: Ellen Corby, Philip Dorn, Edgar Bergen, Cedric Hardwicke, Hope Landin, Peggy McIntyre, Florence Bates, Steve Brown, Rudy Valley, Tommy Ivo, etc. 6) Some important life lessons in here for all viewers. 7) Nice touches of sentimentality, with the hard-working devoted mother (played stoically-yet-warmly by Irene Dunne) getting her due in the end.

• Just Superb

  drednm2005-05-09

  Funny, warm movie about Norwegian family in San Francisco before WW I. How Irene Dunne lost the Oscar to Jane Wyman (Johnny Belinda) is a mystery. Dunne is so totally wonderful in this film--and what a film. Beautifully directed by George Stevens, he captures all the humor and life of this family. Stevens also uses techniques like fore- and background action--there's always several things going on in every scene. He also uses overlapping dialog 20 years before Robert Altman made it fashionable. And what a perfect cast. Irene Dunne (maybe her best performance ever) stars with Barbara Bel Geddes, Oscar Homolka, and Ellen Corby (heartbreaking yet funny as Trina)--all Oscar nominated. Then there is Philip Dorn, Edgar Bergen, Rudy Vallee, Hope Landin, Edith Evanson, Barbara O'Neil, Florence Bates, Cedric Hardwicke, and Steve Brown. The novel by Kathryn Forbes spawned this movie, a play, a TV series, and finally a Broadway musical. At one point Greta Garbo was considered as Mama, and even Marlene Dietrich sought the role. Thank goodness they gave it to Irene Dunne! The aunts as played by Corby, Landin, and Evanson are wonderful. And oh BTW, Homolka lost to Walter Huston for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, while Corby and Bel Geddes lost to Claire Trevor for Key Largo.