BYU NewsNet - Popular Book Comes to the Big Screen

The 1943 classic book, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," will be brought to life in portrait-like black and white at the BYU Motion Picture Archive Film Series screening 7 p.m. Friday night in the HBLL Auditorium. Admission is free.

"This is a five-hankie picture," said James D'Arc, Motion Picture Archive curator in BYU's Special Collections.

"It is truly a family film with an abundance of heart-tugging emotion, done in a credible fashion. It is one of those few films whose characters, especially Francie, will remain with you for a long, long time."

The film, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," directed by Elia Kazan in 1945, follows a young girl, Francie, growing up in Brooklyn at the turn of the 20th century with a dream to become a writer and many obstacles to overcome.

The film has not been on video for many years, so it is a rare opportunity to be able to see it, D'Arc said. And the emotional impact of this film is even greater in archive film series venue because it is on the big screen with a live audience, D'Arc said.

"I hear that it's a tear-jerker," said Elizabeth Corless, a 20-year-old nursing major from Shelley, Idaho. "I want to see it because the book was such a definitive work and the story has endured through time."

D'Arc, the film curator, said he assures the audience members who have read the book that they will not be disappointed by the film's interpretation of the story.

"Any adaptation of a popular book has to make some sacrifices, but the better filmmakers retain the spirit of the work," D'Arc said. "I think the audience will be pleased by the spirit and substance of Francie in the film as a dreamer and a rugged, resilient character."

Actress Peggy Ann Garner played Francie in this film when she was 14 years old and won an Academy Award for "The Outstanding Child Actress of 1945."

Before the film, D'Arc will familiarize the audience with the actors in the film and the film's director, Elia Kazan, who later went on to direct "On the Waterfront."

For more information visit sc.lib.byu.edu.