I Remember Mama (film)

This article is about the 1948 feature film. For the 1944 play, see I Remember Mama (play). For the 1949 TV series, see Mama (American TV series). For the 1979 musical adaptation, see I Remember Mama (musical).
I Remember Mama
Original film poster
Directed byGeorge Stevens
Screenplay byDeWitt Bodeen
Based on
Produced by
  • Harriet Parsons
  • George Stevens
Starring
CinematographyNicholas Musuraca
Edited byRobert Swink
Music byRoy Webb
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • March 9, 1948 (1948-03-09)
Running time
134 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3,068,000[1]
Box office$2.9 million[2]
Director George Stevens with Barbara Bel Geddes on set

I Remember Mama is a 1948 American drama film directed by George Stevens from a screenplay by DeWitt Bodeen, whose work was adapted from John Van Druten's stage play. Druten, in turn, had based his play on Kathryn Forbes' novel Mama's Bank Account, which was originally published by Harcourt Brace in 1943. The story in all its variant forms recounts the everyday life and economic struggles of a Norwegian immigrant family in San Francisco in the early 20th century. The film stars Irene Dunne as the mother, as well as Barbara Bel Geddes, Oscar Homolka, Ellen Corby and Philip Dorn. Homolka portrays Uncle Chris in the film, a role he had performed earlier in the Broadway production.

The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best actor and actress in a supporting role, with Irene Dunne receiving her final Best Actress nomination.[3]

  1. ^ Jewell, Richard; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982, p. 227.
  2. ^ "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety, volume 173, number 4, January 5, 1949, p. 46. New York, N.Y.: Variety, Inc., 1949. Internet Archive (archive.org), San Francisco, California. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  3. ^ Dirks, Tim. "Filmsite Movie Review: I Remember Mama (1948)". AMC Filmsite, American Movie Classics Company, New York, N.Y. Retrieved July 4, 2017.