Norwegian immigrant Marta Hanson keeps a firm but loving hand on her household of four children, a devoted husband and a highly-educated lodger who reads great literature to the family every evening. Through financial crises, illnesses and the small triumphs of everyday life, Marta maintains her optimism and sense of humor, traits she passes on to her aspiring-author daughter, Katrin.
Irene Dunne
as Mama
Barbara Bel Geddes
as Katrin
Oskar Homolka
as Uncle Chris
Philip Dorn
as Papa
Cedric Hardwicke
as Mr. Hyde
Edgar Bergen
as Mr. Thorkelson
Rudy Vallee
as Dr. Johnson
Barbara O'Neil
as Jessie Brown
Florence Bates
as Florence Dana Moorhead
Ellen Corby
as Aunt Trina
Hope Landin
as Aunt Jenny
Edith Evanson
as Aunt Sigrid
