Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Orla Zuniga It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

jacobs-greenwood I had the pleasure of watching this again on TCM recently. What a perfect film. Yes, it is hard and, unless you're heartless, you'll find yourself tearing up several times while watching it. But it's a rich story of love, family, and hope amidst poverty in the titled city's slums. The tree symbolizes this hope, which is personified in the character of Johnny Nolan - played by James Dunn, who won the Best Supporting Oscar for his performance. Throughout the drama, pipe dreamer Johnny cultivates hope in everyone he meets, especially in his daughter - and biggest fan - Francie, played by Peggy Ann Garner. Ted Donaldson plays her younger brother Neeley.The Nolans can barely make ends meet, as Johnny is a too often not employed singing waiter, and a too frequent drunk. Indeed, it's only by the efforts of his once beautiful but now stern wife Katie, wonderfully played by Dorothy McGuire (who played a lot of unsympathetic characters in her career) that the Nolans survive at all. Katie tirelessly works cleaning, sewing, or doing any domestic chore that pays, all while instructing her children in frugal habits, to get by. She has had to force herself to parent Francie and Neeley rigidly, determined to provide enough for their means, while ignoring their emotional needs. Fortunately, Johnny is able to fill that gap, at least for Francie, who adores her Dad so much that she resents her mother's practical approach towards him.The supporting cast is both recognizable and terrific:Joan Blondell is fabulous as McGuire's sister, Aunt Sissy to the kids. On her third husband, streetwise and knowingly imperfect herself, Sissy helps to humanize Katie, enabling her sister to see what she's lost by being so hard, and filling the children's need for a more sympathetic female in their lives. Lloyd Nolan plays Officer McShane, who instantly recognizes Katie for who she is, a fish-out-of-water lady among the tenement poor. He's a solid man among the lesser familial examples that includes Sissy's third husband, played by John Alexander.James Gleason plays a kind bar owner named McGarrity, a brief but memorable role. Ruth Nelson plays Francie's insightful schoolteacher Miss McDonough. Uncredited are Charles Halton as funeral insurance collector and gossip Mr. Barker, Ferike Boros as wise Grandma, and Adeline De Walt Reynolds among others.All of the performances are sincerely delivered, and the characterizations are credible, especially the endearing father- daughter relationship between Dunn and Miss Garner, who won a Juvenile Award.The Academy Award nominated screenplay by Frank Davis and Tess Slesinger was adapted from Betty Smith's autobiographical novel; this directorial debut by Elia Kazan was added to the National Film Registry in 2010.

calgal33 One of my all-time favorites and one of Joan Blondell's best ever. Very "adult" for the time and something that doesn't age badly. As a matter of fact, I just saw it a couple of days ago (bought a gorgeous DVD from Vermont movie store dot com) and STILL LOVE IT. It aged really well. I remember Lloyd Nolan mostly from TV in the 60s (Julia and 77 Sunset Strip, etc., etc.) and was never really impressed, but here he is at his every best. The characters (compliments to Kazan) are wonderfully realized. I may give in a couple of months, but I know I will be watching it again soon. Very soon.

marcslope In the mid-'40s, in the midst of producing some uncertain literary adaptations and boring musicals, 20th Century Fox did itself proud with this stirring version of Betty Smith's famous novel. Set in 1912 Brooklyn, it's remarkably atmospheric and un-Hollywood looking, and helped by Alfred Newman's hurdy-gurdy scoring, zeroing in on time and place as few studio movies of the era were able to. The screenplay's an entirely reasonable reduction of the rich novel, and the cast is extraordinary. I've been reading so much praise of Peggy Ann Garner's Francie, and just want to add: She has such a stillness about her, the look of someone who's hearing music no one else can, and she gets deep, deep into the bones of this questioning young girl. James Dunn captures Johnny's dreaminess and too-willingness to fool himself, and Dorothy McGuire doesn't short-sell Katie's hard-to-like practicality. Elia Kazan shoots it with considerable artistry, always putting the camera where it ought to be, and doesn't over-sentimentalize, which would be very tempting with this property. At a leisurely 128 minutes, it has a couple of scenes that could have been cut and a couple more that end inconclusively, but it's a grownup, moving movie that improves with age.

Casablanca3784 Peggy Ann Garner was just 13 years old when filming "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Thank you Mr. Turner because I never saw a finer acting performance by any young teen in any film. Peggy died at age 52 , was never a BIG STAR but her performance in this film could have never been matched had she lived and continued in the motion picture industry for a full lifetime. Simply stated: I was stunned by her ability. Incidentally she did win the Academy Juvenile Award in 1945.Dorothy McGuire as Peggy's mom.Enormously gifted. A lifetime of monumental acting achievement which didn't deviate one iota from this role. Then we have James Dunn who played Peggy's dad and for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor 1945. Dunn is absolutely superb as the community drunkard and a waiter with big dreams.You will see the hustle and bustle of 1912 Brooklyn. You will hear the calliope filling the streets with the resounding music of that era. You will see hardship and poverty endured as a 13 year old girl comes of age. The interaction of characters of this film is historic...the entire film is legendary and make sure you have a handkerchief handy.