A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)

Encouraged by her idealistic if luckless father, a bright and imaginative young woman comes of age in a Brooklyn tenement during the early 1900s.

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

Tess Slesinger (screen play), Frank Davis (screen play),

Stars:

Dorothy McGuire, Joan Blondell, James Dunn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dorothy McGuire	...	Katie Nolan
Joan Blondell	...	Aunt Sissy
James Dunn	...	Johnny Nolan
Lloyd Nolan	...	Officer McShane
James Gleason	...	McGarrity
Ted Donaldson	...	Neeley Nolan
Peggy Ann Garner	...	Francie
Ruth Nelson	...	Miss McDonough
John Alexander	...	Steve Edwards
B.S. Pully	...	Christmas Tree Vendor

Storyline

In Brooklyn circa 1900, the Nolans manage to enjoy life on pennies despite great poverty and Papa's alcoholism. We come to know these people well through big and little troubles: Aunt Sissy's scandalous succession of "husbands"; the removal of the one tree visible from their tenement; and young Francie's desire to transfer to a better school...if irresponsible Papa can get his act together.

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Plot Keywords:

poverty | tenement | struggle | tree | alcoholism | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild depiction of mature plot material

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 1945 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Ein Baum wächst in Brooklyn

Filming Locations:

Stage 5, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Elia Kazan and Betty Smith, author of the novel the film was based on, were classmates at the Yale School of Drama.

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Goofs

Teacher's name is Miss McDonald not McDonough.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Katie Nolan: This'll be the last of them now, Francie.

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Connections

Spoofed in A Hare Grows in Manhattan (1947)

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Soundtracks

"Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (Für Elise)"
(1810) (uncredited)
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
Played on piano when Johnny goes up to tell Katie about his job

User Reviews

On my personal top ten list

A long time ago when I was still working in an automotive shop I taped this movie from KTTV at about three o'clock in the morning, bad reception and commercials and all. The whole thing was a revelation to me. Why, in my years of enjoying all sorts of classic movies at revival houses both in New York and here in Southern California, had I never heard of this movie? For the next three weeks I believe I would come home and watch it almost every day. As an adult child of an alcoholic father, this film moved me in a personal way that I don't think I can even fully investigate, it's just too basic for words. But in terms of cinematic quality alone, this film is a masterpiece. No matter what Elia Kazan did since, we have him to thank for this movie. There is not one false note in the whole of this movie; every actor IS the character they play, most especially Francie Nolan, played to absolute perfection by Peggy Ann Garner. The black and white cinematography is used to its best advantage, the sets are perfect, the music -- contemporary tunes playing along in the background by a rickety-sounding little orchestra -- just "there" enough to provide the auditory backdrop that is the soundtrack of the times, and the emotional intensity and pacing is even, never heavy-handed, and consistent from beginning to end. This is probably the most perfect and authentic film of the black and white era. Hopefully the reason 20th Century Fox has delayed the DVD release is that they're enhancing the package with some special features that devotees of this movie like myself will really enjoy. When the movie came out on VHS I ran to buy it. It will be the same with the DVD.