A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Tomorrow, September 25th, marks 3 Months now until Christmas!

This 1945 film will be airing Tuesday Night (Sept. 25) on TCM, 8 PM - 10:15 PM (est). It's a great Classic Christmas Movie that hasn't been played as much, in recent years, on TV. It's deeply moving - happy and sad, at times.

It will air several more times, during the Christmas Season. See times airing on the Christmas TV Schedule.

MOVIE REVIEW

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Original Air Date: 1945

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



PLOT:

(from Wikipedia)

The film covers several months in the life of the Nolans, an Irish American family living in the Williamsburg neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City in 1900. Katie Nolan (Dorothy McGuire) is a hard-working housewife who scrubs the floors of her tenement building and collects rags for sale to a scrap fabric dealer to help feed her family. She's married to Johnny Nolan (James Dunn), an alcoholic and waiter who is a happy man and good father but unable to earn a living to support his family. The Nolans have two children, 13-year-old Francie (Peggy Ann Garner) and 11-year-old Neeley (Ted Donaldson).



Movie Review:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a heartwarming movie. There is something so real about this little family in Brooklyn, who does their best to make ends meet.

Francie, the daughter, wants to be a writer and dreams of making a better life for herself. Life is tough, at times, and the family bonds together to make it through these difficult times.

The movie explores the real themes of life and death. You may be moved to tears.

Peggy Ann Garner is absolutely Wonderful in her portrayel of young Francie, who often has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was so good she won the Oscar for Most Promising Juvenile Performer.

Dorothy McGuire is remarkable as the practical, firm Mother, who does her best to save every penny, in spite of her husband, Johnny (James Dunn), who is a well liked waiter in the community and a well-known drunk. James Dunn won an Oscar for his portrayel.

Joan Blondell is memorable, fun, and sassy as Francie's Aunt. She makes Francie dream even more of getting out of their present state of being poor in their tenement apartment.

Through all of their ups and downs, Francie finds encouragement through a Tree that grows in Brooklyn. There are some moments that are simply heartbreaking, yet throughout the film, there is the sentimental story of childhood innocence in the face of true reality.



See or Skip:

See. This is a family film classic. I would rate this movie as "PG".

It's a decent movie, but not suitable for very young children.

* A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is Available on DVD.