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RKO Radio's
7 Remember Mama
Wins April Blue Ribbon Award
By VELMA WEST SYKES
THE MYSTERIOUS BOARDER PAYS IN THIS FASHION.
KINDLING KATRIN'S AMBITION TO BE A WRITER
TT WAS a hit novel to begin with, a hit as a stage play, and now "I R^jjiember Mama"!
has shown itself to be a hit film by winning the April BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award.
Selected by the National Screen Council as the outstanding cm-rent motion picture which
is good entertainment for the whole family, this tender saga of Scandinavian family life,
emphasizes the fact that Hollywood does make good family films and makes them for the
family to enjoy on the screen. Two of the Blue Ribbon winners by RKO in this field
have had Scandinavian backgrounds recently, the other being "The Farmer's Daughter,"
which won the May Award for last year. Perhaps there are other family backgrounds,
transplanted to the United States, which will be as ably interpreted via the three mediums
through which these two have reached a responsive public.
UNINHIBITED UNCLE CHRIS SHOWS THE CHILDREN
THEY HAVE NO GOOD REASON TO BE AFRAID OF HIM
"I Remember Mama" has built up an enviable
record at the boxoffice and for extended
runs in the various key cities reporting
for the Barometer weekly page. It
is doing a combined average business of 142
per cent in these spots and being held over
in most theatres. This is only the beginning,
too, for it is the type of picture which does
not have to depend on de luxe houses for its
major business, though it will play them. It
is equally good or better for the subsequent
run houses, the neighborhood spots and the
small town situations. In fact, when BOX-
OFFICE reviewed it in the issue of March
13, the reviewer appraised it accurately
with these comments:
Lovable Immigrant Family
"It's one of those heart-warming, fundamentally-simple,
all-too-rare films about the
lives, loves, problems and tribulations of a
wholesome and lovable immigrant family
in this case Norwegian—millions of wliich
comprise the backbone of our nation. As
such it inescapably must strongly appeal to
every picture patron, regardless of age, creed,
color or film taste."
Members of the National Screen Council
who wrote pertinent comments on their returning
ballots included Mrs. J. W. Livingston
of the Grand Rapids Better Films Council,
with this observation; "This to me was fine
theatre. 'I Remember Mama' is certainly an
unforgettable film. It epitomizes the finest
in family life—and Uncle Chris' virtues offset
his peculiarities."
Picked Without Reservations
"This would get my vote in any sort of
poll," writes Freda Halwe of the Port Arthur
(Tex.) News. "It is so nice to have one to
recommend without reservations." . . . "How.
grand a picture! Would that we had more of I
these wholesome, heart-warming ones."—
Anne Hayes, KCMO, Kansas City . . . "One!
. .
of the joys of the season and a tonic for'
wholesome family life."—Helen C. Dill, Beverly
Hills, Music Educators National Conference
. "When Academy Award time comes
around again, I hope everybody will remember
'Mama.' " —Leonard Clairmont, Swedish
Pi-ess Hollywood representative.
RKO Radio is having the thrill of two Blue:
Ribbon winners in a row, since last month's
winner, Samuel Goldwyn's "The Bishop's
Wife," was released by the same company.
For Dore Schary this will be the seventh
Blue Ribbon Plaque in ten years, George
Stevens now has four, Harriet Parsons and
DeWitt Bodeen two each. Among the players,
Irene Dunne now has five Blue Ribbons
as does Sir Cedric Hardwicke.
The Cast
Mama
Katrin
Uncle Chris
Papa
Mr. Hyde....---
Mr. Thorkelson
Dr. Johnson
Irene Dunne
Barbara Bel Geddes
Oscar Homolka
Philip Dorn
Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Edgar Bergen
Rudy Vallee
Jessie Brown
Barbara O'Neil.
Christine ---
Peggy McIntyre
Dagviar
June Hedin
Nels
Steve Brown
Aunt Trina
...Ellen Corby
Aunt Jenny
Hope Landin
Aimt Sigrid
Edith Evanson
Cousin Arne- Tommy Ivo
Production Staff
RKO Production Chief Dore Schary
Executive Producer and Director
George Stevens
Assista?it Director John H. Morse
Produced by
Harriett Parsons
Based on the play by John Van Druten
From the novel, "Mama's Bank
Account" by Kathryn Forbes
Screenplay by DeWitt Bodeen
Director of Photography
Nicholas Musuraca, A.S.C
Art Directors Albert S. D'Agostino,
Carroll Clark
Special Effects b?/. .Russell A. Cully, A.SC.
Set Decorations by Darrell Silvera,
Emile Kuri
Makeup Supervision by Gordon Bau
Music by
Roy Webb
Musical Director C. Bakaleinikoff
Film Editor Robert Swink
Sound by
Richard Van Hessen,
Clem Portman
if This Award is givoi each month by the National Screen Council an the basis tt outttanding merit
and suitability (or family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editvs, radio
film commentators, and representatives of better film councils, civic and educational organizatiofls.