tavm Review of I Remember Mama

I Remember Mama (1948)

I Remember Mama is a very touching depiction of a mom's sacrifice

[10/10 · 27 May 2008]

The day before Mother's Day, May 11, I had checked this out of my local library to see either the next day or a few after that. It's now a couple of weeks after as well as after Memorial Day that I've just watched one of the most touching depictions of a mom and the way she sacrifices for her family done as well on film as this one as helmed by George Stevens and performed ably as well by Irene Dunne as the matriarch. Also fine was Barbara Bel Geddes as Katrin, Martha's (Dunne's character) oldest daughter and second born child who is seen typing the story and is the narrator throughout. Special mention should also go to Ellen Corby, Edgar Bergen, Rudy Vallee, and especially, Oscar Homolka as Uncle Chris who provides some of the funniest scenes that this mostly dramatic movie encounters as well as the most touching fate of his character. Maybe Tommy Ivo with his reaction to his ailment was a bit much but that's just a minor quibble. Also touching was Martha's visit to her youngest daughter, Dagmar, in the hospital especially when the mother sings and her dealings with that same daughter's cat, Uncle Elizabeth, whose fate turns out much differently than one expects! All in all, this was a very worthy film for all involved and deserved all the Oscar nominations it got.