Local tidbits about 40th anniversary of You'll Like My Mother...

Here is the text of the talk I gave this afternoon for a showing of “You’ll Like My Mother” one day short of the movie’s premiere 40 years ago in Duluth. And by the way, the movie stands up to time. It was a darn good movie–well done and kept one's interest after all these years. It really shows off the Glensheen mansion as well and that makes it most interesting for Duluthians and the thousands who have toured this historic mansion.  Jim

Patty Duke–1975

 Hard to believe it’s been 40 years.

Duluth was very excited to have a movie made here with a big star like Patty Duke, and to be filmed at Glensheen.

Glensheen Mansion, Duluth Minnesota

This was before the former Congdon estate on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth was known as Glensheen. Everybody just called it the Congdon mansion, and few Duluthians had ever been inside. Elisabeth Congdon was still alive. Her murder in the mansion occurred five years after the 1972 movie was made. 

My own main memories include the night in the old Zelda restaurant on Superior Street when, dashing out of the men’s room, I almost ran over petite Patty Duke, who was heading for the women’s room. Avoiding the collision, she gave me a nice smile.

Checking old newspaper clippings of the era, they reported some 16 local extras and stand-ins were hired for the movie, mainly Duluth Playhouse people. Only one was given a line to speak, Jimmy Glazman, co-owner of European Bakery whose blue truck you will see in the movie. Not sure if Glazman’s line is in the movie or on the cutting room floor.

The movie was filmed here because the producers wanted snow, lots of snow. But as I recall that winter, while there was plenty of snow around on the ground, it wouldn’t snow hard while they were here. They had to blow fake snow at the actors for some scenes.

Most of the local extras were on a DTA mini- bus that pulls up outside the Wonderland Resort near French River on the North Shore, a brief scene that took a full day to film.

The movie’s premiere at the still elegant Norshor Theater was a gala evening put on by the Duluth Junior League. Tickets to the first showing were $12.50, with proceeds going to what was then called the Duluth cultural center, which later became the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, better known as the Depot.

The showing was followed by a party in the Hotel Duluth ballroom (now Greysolon Plaza) attended by much of Duluth’s glitterati. They tried to get Patty Duke to come, but she couldn’t make it. The only actor from the movie who was here for the premiere was Rosemary Murphy, who plays the “nasty” mother.

While she was a fairly plain woman in her role, Murphy was quite glamorous in person at the party. She carried her small dog on her arm throughout the evening. The hosts had arranged for a ‘date’ for her to act as an escort and introduce her around. It was Duluth businessman Max Oie, who, I believe, had fairly recently been widowed.

Between the movie showing and the party I ran back to the Duluth News Tribune and wrote a review of the movie. The key line from the review stated, “You’ll Like My Mother” will not eclipse “Psycho” or “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane” as thrillers go, but it’s a taut psychological drama with little love and some violence.”

The movie continued at the Norshor, even for a second showing that evening at regular prices. After the premiere showing, crowds were lined up outside the theater waiting to get in, and I have read it held the record for gross receipts at the Norshor in its run.

Just for the record, I Googled the principal actors to see what they’re up to today.

Patty Duke is 66 now, a grandmother and mental health advocate after coming out as bi-polar many years ago. She still acts, mainly on TV. She has another connection to Duluth: her son, Mackenzie Aston, starred in the movie “Iron Will” filmed in and around Duluth in 1994. Mackenzie Astin was born after his mother starred in “You’ll Like My Mother.”

Rosemary Murphy, the mother in the movie, is now about 84 years old, but continued her career until fairly recently. Her biggest claim to fame in movies was her portrayal of Atticus Finch’s (Gregory Peck) next door neighbor in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,” about 10 years before “You’ll Like My Mother.”

Richard Thomas, who, about the same time he starred in this movie, had begun his lengthy run as John Boy on the popular 1970s TV series “The Waltons.”  Now 61, he has done a lot of acting over the years on TV and also on stage.

Sian Barbara Allen was just starting her acting career when she came here for “You’ll Like My Mother” in 1972. She acted regularly on television after that, but retired in 1990.

40th Anniversary Screening of 'You'll Like My Mother'

A 40th anniversary screening of You'll Like My Mother, filmed in 1972 at Duluth's Glensheen mansion is scheduled for Saturday, November 3 at 1 pm at the downtown Duluth Public Library Green Room. The public is welcome to this free program.

I'll be there that afternoon prior to the screening to share some of my memories of the filming and the Duluth premiere and party.

Stars of the 93 minute movie are Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy, Richard Thomas, Sian Barbara Allen and Dennis Rucker.

Join the fun!

Francesca Kinsolving (Patty Duke), a very pregnant California girl, ventures northward to Minnesota to introduce herself to her late husband’s mother. Throughout their brief marriage Francesca’s husband had promised his young wife, “You’ll like my mother.” Expecting a welcome reception from Mrs. Kinsolving, Francesca instead finds a house of horrors that nearly sets maternity as far back as Rosemary’s Baby.

Looking back on You'll Like My Mother movie filmed in Duluth...

Christa Lawler quoted me in a story she wrote in today's Duluth News Tribune recalling Duluth's movie premiere of You'll Like My Mother, a thriller filmed at Duluth's historic Glensheen mansion on November 4, 1972, nearly forty years ago. (Read her story HERE) You'll Like My Mother, starring Patty Duke, Richard Thomas and Rosemary Murphy, will be screened for the public for the first time on the grounds of the mansion at 7 pm this Wednesday, August 15.

As a reporter for the Duluth News Tribune, I covered the Duluth premiere in 1972 and the quote was from my write-up. Of course there's always more. After the premiere at the NorShor, the Junior League held a reception -- party -- at the Hotel Duluth Ballroom (Greysolon Ballroom now). They tried to get Patty Duke to come to the premiere and party but she couldn't make it. Rosemary Murphy was the only "star" here for the premiere, and she didn't seem too happy about it at the post-screening party. What struck me as funny was that she carried her little dog with her throughout. I met her and she seemed kind of aloof. Meeting hix from the stix wasn't her forte. They recruited a charming Duluthian who had been fairly recently widowed to be her escort -- the late Max Oie. He escorted Murphy and her embraced dog around introducing her to attendees. I noticed Murphy died fairly recently.

Cast and crew frequently ate dinner at the restaurant (either the Black Steer or Zelda–can't remember which it was at the time) now occupied by the India Palace on Superior Street between Third and Fourth Avenues West. At the time it was a full-service restaurant. A few night-side News Tribune staffers -- including me -- used to eat there just about every night. One time exiting the men's room, I just about ran over Patty Duke as she headed for the women's room. Very short, petite woman. Nice tolerant smile at this big galoot almost knocking her over.

One other factoid: Former Mayor Gary Doty got a job as a driver for the movie company. And a fact that can't be corroborated is that Patty and her family rented the home next to the Catholic Diocese of Duluth residence in Eastern Duluth while filming here. My wife recalls this and so do I... but we're not sure on our memory or facts. So if you know, write and let us know.

There are some wonderful pictures and more lore in the Duluth News Tribune Attic–March 2012–about the event. Check it out HERE.