A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945)

Set in 1912 Brooklyn, an impoverished Irish American family struggles to make ends meet. The father (James Dunn in an Oscar winning performance) is a dreamer and an alcoholic and being the responsible parent has made the mother (Dorothy McGuire) hard and unfeeling. The story is seen through the eyes of their young daughter (Peggy Ann Garner). Based on the novel by Betty Smith and directed by Elia Kazan in his directorial debut. This is a lovely, lovely film. A tender portrait of a girl who adores her father although he might be considered a failure in society's eyes. Kazan's tough direction keeps the film from slipping into the sentimentality it might have in the hands of a less skilled director. Garner is pretty amazing as the young Francie. It's a tender and sympathetic performance by a real actress with none of the phony behavior too often foisted on us by Hollywood child actors. The film goes past the two hour running mark but it doesn't feel long at all. With Joan Blondell, marvelous as the Aunt, Lloyd Nolan, James Gleason, Ruth Nelson and Ted Donaldson.