A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

This is the charming adaption of Betty Smith's acclaimed novel. It's both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The acting is riveting all the way around, and this is one of those rare times when everyone is perfectly cast. But particularly Peggy Ann Garner and James Dunn, both of whose careers, interestingly and unfortunately enough, were failing within the next decade. They act marvelously well together, as the bright young daughter and her kindly, imaginative, but tragically alcoholic father. I nearly cried a few different times during this movie, and if you have a heart, you'll probably get pretty close to tears as well.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Nolan family eek out a living in New York. Mum Katie (Dorothy Maguire) is trying to raise impressionable daughter Francie (Peggy Ann Garner) and son Neeley (Ted Donaldson) whilst their well meaning but dipso entertainer of a father (James Dunn) struggles to make a living then hits the bottle when he does or doesnt find work. The theres the lively aunt Sissy (Joan Blondell) who seems prone to marry men called Bill - even if that isnt actually his name at all, and whom Katie thinks is too much of a free-thinking abad influence on her children. When a third baby looms large, the pressure starts to increase on not just the couple but on their children who are already pretty adept at finding ways to raise the...