I Remember Mama (1948)

I Remember Mama DVD

RKO Radio Pictures
Starring: Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Geddes, June Hedin, Philip Dorn
Directed by: George Stevens

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: This charming film version of the Broadway play is based on the fictionalized memoir by Kathryn Forbes entitled Mama’s Bank Account. The story follows the trials and tribulations of a tight-knit Norwegian family living in San Francisco in the 1910’s.

Cinema Cat: In the first scene with the entire family we see that the youngest daughter Dagmar (June Hedin) has befriended a scraggly-looking tomcat whom she calls Elizabeth. Elizabeth is very prominently featured in several scenarios throughout the first two acts. In Elizabeth’s second appearance it is revealed that she is actually a he, but Dagmar insists on continuing to call her Elizabeth. Her father suggests that he be called Uncle Elizabeth, so that is what the cat is called from then on. When little Dagmar becomes ill and requires an operation, Uncle Elizabeth is carried with her in a blanket to a waiting car (although we later see Uncle Elizabeth in a chair on the porch, since he obviously could not accompany her to the hospital.) Throughout the movie it is known that Uncle Elizabeth has a tendency to get into fights and is seen wearing bandages.

I Remember Mama - Uncle Elizabeth cat

When Dagmar returns from the hospital the family is concerned because Uncle Elizabeth has been gravely injured in another fight. Several scene are devoted to the parents’ decision to euthanize the cat in their own kitchen. We don’t want to give away what happens (although we’ll show you in the photo gallery below and it isn’t enough to even warrant a Kitty Carnage warning) but trust us when we say this movie is well worth seeing for any cat lover!

I Remember Mama - Uncle Elizabeth in blanket animated gif