A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945) | |
| Director(s) | Elia Kazan |
| Producer(s) | Louis D. Lighton |
| Top Genres | Drama, Family, Film Adaptation |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Book-Based, Coming of Age, New York |
Featured Cast:
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn Overview:
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945) was a Drama - Family Film directed by Elia Kazan and produced by Louis D. Lighton.
The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Betty Smith published in 1943.
SYNOPSIS
In Kazan's directorial debut, standout performances make a touching adaptation of Smith's beloved novel. Set in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn, the story follows a family of Irish who struggle to simply survive in their teeming neighborhood. Dunn makes a sometime-living as a waiter, mother McGuire stretches every penny to the exasperation of the local merchants, and Garner dreams of a better life as she reads her way alphabetically though the library hoping to become a writer. The scenes of Garner and her brother (Donaldson) in the streets of Brooklyn are detailed and evocative; the emotional connections in the family seem palpably real. Sincere, moving family drama.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.A Tree Grows In Brooklyn was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2010.
Academy Awards 1945 --- Ceremony Number 18 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | James Dunn | Won |
| Best Writing | Tess Slesinger, Frank Davis | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Betty Smith’s “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” glows on the screen
By Stephen Reginald on Dec 18, 2020 From Classic Movie ManBetty Smith’s “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” glows on the screen A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) is an American drama directed by Elia Kazan and starring Dorothy McGuire, Joan Blondell, James Dunn, Lloyd Nolan, and Peggy Ann Garner as Francie. The film is based on the best-selling... Read full article
Exclusive Interview with Ted Donaldson – who starred in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Once Upon a Time and more
By Annmarie Gatti on Aug 20, 2019 From Classic Movie Hub BlogExclusive Interview with Ted Donaldson about his career, special memories of Cary Grant, Harry Cohn, Elia Kazan and more… I?m so excited to say that I was able to sit down with Ted Donaldson for an exclusive video interview! I met Ted in 2018 at the TCM Film Festival and had such a lovely a... Read full article
The No, YOU'RE Crying! Blogathon: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
on May 12, 2017 From Caftan WomanDebbie Vega of Moon in Gemini is hosting a blogathon devoted to those films that touch our hearts so deeply that tears spring from our eyes. She is calling it The No, YOU'RE Crying! Blogathon and it runs from May 12th to the 14th. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 I love the trailers of the classic era that ... Read full article
The No, YOU'RE Crying! Blogathon: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
By Caftan Woman on May 12, 2017 From Caftan WomanDebbie Vega of Moon in Gemini is hosting a blogathon devoted to those films that touch our hearts so deeply that tears spring from our eyes. She is calling it The No, YOU'RE Crying! Blogathon and it runs from May 12th to the 14th. Grab a box of tissues and click here. I love the trailers of the cl... Read full article
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Quotes from
Johnny Nolan aka The Brooklyn Thrush: Well, would you like at that now.
Katie Nolan: They didn't have any right to kill it did they papa!
Johnny Nolan aka The Brooklyn Thrush: Now wait a minute. They didn't kill it. Why they couldn't kill that tree.
Katie Nolan: Promise?
Johnny Nolan aka The Brooklyn Thrush: Why sure baby. Don't tell me that tree is gonna lay down and die that easily. Look at that tree. See where it's coming from. Right up outta that cement! Didn't nobody plant it. Didn't ask the cement to grow. It just couldn't help growing so much it just pushed that old cement out of the way. Now when you bust it with something like that, can't anybody help it, like... like that little ole bird up there. He didn't ask anybody could he sing and he certainly didn't take any lessons. He's so full of singing it just has to bust out someplace. Why they could cut that ole tree right down to the ground and a root would push up someplace else in the cement.
Francie Nolan: [Johnny has promised to get Francie enrolled in the school she admires.] Bend down Papa.
[He does.]
Francie Nolan: My cup runneth over.
Katie Nolan: Flossie Gaddis died last night.
Johnny Nolan aka The Brooklyn Thrush: The poor baby. It was nice that her Mama got her all them pretty dresses.
Katie Nolan: Only now the poor thing will have to lie in Potter's Field!
Johnny Nolan aka The Brooklyn Thrush: But at least she had the dresses!
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Facts about
Director Elia Kazan and Betty Smith, author of the novel the film was based on, were classmates at the Yale School of Drama.
Gene Tierney was originally cast as Katie Nolan. When Tierney became pregnant, Dorothy McGuire was given the role.
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