A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - Elia Kazan (1945)

First film directed by Kazan, this is an adaptation of a coming-of-age novel by Betty Smith. It's Brooklyn at the turn of the century and the life of the poor Nolan family composed of a loving but failing father, a good fighting and suffering mother and two chidren, a spirited boy named Neely and a lovely girl, Francie, who intends to read every single book in the local library from "a" to "z". This brave girl is the center of the plot and the result obtained is a classic black and white picture full of good and tender feelings.