Plot

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

In Brooklyn circa 1900, the Nolans manage to enjoy life on pennies despite great poverty and Papa's alcoholism. The film presents the family and follows their 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.—Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

In early-1900s Brooklyn, New York, the Nolans are a poor working-class family. Father Johnny is a singing waiter, working whenever he can, though his alcoholism often depletes their meager finances. Mother Katie is a maid. Street-smart children Francie and Neeley do what they can to help out. Francie's intelligence and talent as a writer are her and her family's way out of poverty, but the sacrifices required are great.—grantss

The trials and tribulations within the poor Nolan family--parents Katie and Johnny and their two preteen children Francie and Neeley--living in Brooklyn in the early 20th century are presented. From Katie's perspective, their problems are exacerbated by two people. One is her older sister Sissy, whom she feels is a bad influence on her children; she is determined that they will make something of their lives despite their poverty. The other, and arguably more direct and severe problem, is Johnny. Johnny works only sporadically as a singing waiter, mostly at special functions. Beyond the sporadic nature of the work, a large reason for Johnny's frequent unemployment is that he is an alcoholic, so Katie must do much of the heavy lifting to bring money into their home. Katie knew that Johnny would not be a stable provider when she married him after succumbing to his good-hearted nature that attracts people to him; but she comes to wonder if she and the children would be better off without him. Johnny and their firstborn, Francie, have a special relationship; she adores her papa as he constantly feeds into her pipe dreams, fueling them by stating that an impresario will eventually discover him at one of his singing-waiter jobs. Although she loves her mother and follows her directions, Francie receiving this constant support from her father places her at odds with her mother, who must play the bad cop to Johnny's good cop.—Huggo

In pre-WWI Brooklyn, young Francie struggles to keep her idealism alive in the face of grinding poverty and the comedies and tragedies of ordinary life. Very close to the spirit of the Betty Smith novel.—Molly Malloy <mailcall@intersource.com>