A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Resources

Can’t get enough Betty Smith? Now you can dig into some biographical information along with descriptions of archival material located in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A trip to the UNC library would be the place to go to really get the scoop.

This is a dissertation written by Carol Siri Johnson all about Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and some of Smith's other works. She also discusses how the novel fits into the bigger literary picture, too.

If you have one tree growing in Brooklyn and another tree growing in the country, which is going to win?

It’s right about here.

This is an Oscar award winning 1945 film. It was directed by Elia Kazan and starred Peggy Ann Garner as Francie, who many considered to be the best child actor of the time.

The 1974 made-for-TV movie is sometimes said to be a bit more loyal to the book, but it is not as critically acclaimed as the 1945 film. Also, it’s a lower budget version.

In this clip from the 1945 film, Johnny Nolan (played by James Dunn, whose performance in this film earned him the Oscar for best supporting actor) sings “Annie Laurie.”

In this clip from the 1945 film, notice how the way they shoot Francie and McShane’s eyes. This helps foreshadow that they will meet again sometime. The clip also shows Mama and Francie having a tough time at school.

Looking for a super condensed way to summarize the novel? Here you go.

Is reading the book not enough for you? Perhaps you want to hear it in the car, too? Or maybe you could read along with it. Shmoop likes that, too.

The view from Francie’s fire escape, perhaps?

Here’s a great big one growing in Germany.

So, what do you think? Does she look like a grown up Francie to you?

This is the cover of the first edition of the novel.

This is the cover on the 1945 film

This pic pretty much sums up their relationship

Here’s a look at what they could see from the rooftop.