A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
The Nolans live in a cramped Brooklyn apartment and while the father, Johnny (James Dunn, who won the Oscar for this role), who loves his wife and children, struggles in getting and keeping a decent singing waiter's job, but often losing some of his pay to the drink. Johnny is a good-natured man but his habitual drunkeness and absences really wear on the mother, Katie (Dorothy McGuire) who scrubs the halls and stairs of the apartment building to maintain a roof over the family. Mother Katie is a caring parent yet life has hardened her.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is told from the perspective of Francine "Francie" (Peggy Ann Garner -who is terrific in this role) and it covers a transformative year for her and the family endures many life changes. She, and her brother Neeley (played by Ted Donaldson) keep the viewers hopes up by their imagination and pluck in the hard luck street. They are helped and consoled by their Aunt Sissy (Joan Blondell) who shows the same determination to carry on.
At Christmastime, there is no Santa Claus in the homes of the destitute like the Nolans. No, don't expect some magic of wealth and Santa Claus and lots of presents. But just the same, when Christmas comes, you will be rewarded. It is a movie to learn what it was like to be in the turn of the Century but without the advantages of families like the Smiths in Meet Me in St Louis (which is featured for Dec 23). The Nolans often talk about how things "really are." They know it and they rise to meet it.
It is a story that gets you to see things as they really are - and makes you want to do something about it.
That's why we have Christmas.