Mama Knows Best

The saying ‘they don’t make films like that anymore’ is often bandied about when it comes to classic movies. It is something that is difficult to quantify or describe as to why it is so, but when you see it, it seems self evident. One motion picture that has this unusual quality is the 1948 film I Remember Mama.

I recently spoke to Louise Sorel at CAPE Cornwall. You may recognize the actress if you are a fan of soap operas; as she has starred as Vivian Alamain/Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives for 293 episodes from 1992-2012, while also playing Augusta Lockridge in Santa Barbara for an impressive 463 episodes from 1984-1991. She has also had memorable one-time turns in shows like Star Trek (where she played Rayna Kapec in the episode Requiem for Methuselah), I Spy, Bonanza, Hawaii Five-O, Kojak and countless other iconic television series. When asked, Sorel named a number of excellent movies that were her favourites, one of which was I Remember Mama, which she called ‘perfect’. She actually just recently starred on the stage in the iconic play – as it was first introduced in the live theatre before it became a film. Check out the interview below to hear some great stories from Sorel.

Directed by icon George Stevens who continuously finds the right tone in this tale that follows a Norwegian immigrant family that has settled in San Francisco just after the turn of the twentieth century, the saga begins with eldest daughter Katrin (Barbara Bel Geddes) reflecting back on their family stories.

The household is led by their caring Mama (Irene Dunne) and their hard working Papa (Philip Dorn). Perhaps not the easiest plot to describe as it depicts the happenings of a family over several years (compiling what almost feels like several vignettes), the screenplay written by DeWitt Bodeen continuously harkens us back to moments that will likely remind us of our own childhood. Illustrated with subtle nuance by both Stevens and his cast, the movie never becomes overly melodramatic nor overacted, simply pulling at our heartstrings by way of wonderful characters and powerful universal themes that are depicted in a multitude of family scenarios. It is actually quite impressive that this film, that is now nearly seventy years old, still feels as relevant today as it likely did when people first saw it.

It strikes a powerful chord with the viewer, as we see the things parents do to help their children succeed and how a family can rally together to aid one another. It may seem like tiny things, but Mama and her children scraping up the money for their family member Nels (Steve Brown) to go to high school, or Mama selling her beloved family heirloom (a silver brooch) to purchase Katrin the graduation present she so desperately wants – after it had been hinted that she was going to give her the brooch and she reacted negatively, each play a purposeful part in this tale. Another impactful moment comes when the parents must decide what to do when their youngest daughter’s beloved cat is dying following a tussle with another feline. It is moments such as these that build up to create a wonderful pastiche of family life that feels utterly realistic.

I Remember Mama similarly depicts the promises that parents keep and the lies that they must tell their children to give them a more comfortable life. One of my favourite characters is the family patriarch, Great Uncle Chris (Oskar Homolka), who is loud, bombastic, obtrusive and is the type of guy who is always right (simply because he is too overpowering to argue against). He is the type of man who, when asked if he is a doctor by a physician visiting the family, retorts, “I’m a better physician than most doctors!”. He is the type that frightens both adults and young children alike, but when you find out what type of man he truly is behind his gruff facade, you are deeply moved. It is likely many of us have had an uncle much like this, that haunted our childhood, yet as we grew older, he softened in our mind’s eye.

As I Remember Mama takes a wide scope illustrating many years in the family’s life, we are treated to all of the fun, drama and emotion that any kin must deal with – major surgeries, family visits, marriage, illicit romance, childish spats, impressive sacrifices, the moment when a child takes the leap and becomes an adult, and unavoidable death. All are treated with pure grace and vision.

Each actor depicts a character that is rich and different. Geddes’ Katrin is the dramatic and theatrical daughter with an eye at making a career in writing. Second daughter Christine (Peggy McIntyre) is a bit jealous of Katrin, and is stubborn to a fault when she sees something that is not ‘right’. Brown’s Nels is the kindhearted son who hopes to become a doctor someday, while youngest child Dagmar (June Hedin) is obsessed with caring for animals. I have already spoken of Homolka’s rich depiction, while Sir Cedric Hardwicke portrays a loving shyster renter who reads to the family each night (though never seems to be able to pay the rent). Then there is the unbelievably meek Aunt Trina (Ellen Corby), who is bossed around by elder aunts Jenny (Hope Landin) and Sigrid (Edith Evanson). Funnily enough, Trina meets and falls for mortician Mr. Thorkelson (Edgar Bergen), a man who is perhaps even more timid than the mousy woman. One of the funniest parts of the film is when Thorkelson tries to exhume a dowery out of patriarch Uncle Chris, though the argumentative man quickly flips the conversation, convincing him that the idea is preposterous. Each character adds depth to the piece that is centred by Irene Dunne’s sensitive yet strong portrayal of a mother who only wants the best for her kids and family. Nothing will stop her from doing what is right and it is absolutely heart-warming. She has a part to play in each family member’s life, and her nourishing ways are undescribably beautiful.

The exteriors of I Remember Mama were actually shot in San Francisco, adding a realistic aspect to the film (as most others at the time were being shot on sets). To return to my opening comments, my best explanation as to why movies like this are not made anymore is because there is a fear of them not being profitable. It is a risk to ask your audience to sit and watch a story about a family for two and a quarter hours, but a film such as this demonstrates the reward. So many movies today are instantly forgettable, yet a motion picture like I Remember Mama will stick with you for a long time. It is hard to put a finger on what makes this film so effective, but it somehow just seeps into your being, touching your heart and soul in surprising ways. It has a bit of everything, making it a classic that will likely bring both laughter and smile, as well as tears and sorrow to you throughout the picture. To end this one, I think that I will simply close with Mama’s oft uttered and reassuring phrase, “It’s good”.