MovieChat Forums > A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Discussion > Johnnie's drinking

Johnnie's drinking

posted 11 years ago by GiaJake
8 replies | jump to latest

Most of the drinking men and women I knew growing up were drunks. They became mean, nasty and abusive after too much alcohol. Johnnie was not that way at all. He was warm, loving, caring, and adored his family. When he got drunk he was never an a$$hole. He just sang his songs and went to sleep. I felt so bad for him. Alcoholism is a disease. Johnnie had very little opportunity, but always made others feel better about themselves.

I know the mother had to carry a heavy burden because of his drinking. But Johnnie was so loveable in spite of it all. James Dunn definitely deserved his Oscar. It is a shame he didn't have more of a career. He was so wonderful in this.

[–] PussyCrusher_Principal 11 years ago

I agree with you 100% about James Dunn... I haven't read the book yet, so I don't know if johnnie is exactly the same in the book, but I have read that the parts of the book that are in the film are pretty faithful. He was an alcoholic, but at least not a mean one, like you said. The segue from the scene where Johnnie tries to get Katie to dream with him a little bit, and she tries but just can't bring herself to, into the scene when Johnnie is stumbling down the street, drunk, with Francie helping him, and the neighbors gawking and laughing is heartbreaking. The thing is, you can see Katie's side of things too, even if she is a bit too hardened. I think the film does a great job of balancing the sentimental aspects of the story with "reality".

Now I gotta read the book!

"You will not hear me scream!" "I Will.
But it is not your screams I want.
Only your life."

[–] opalasattic 11 years ago

Think part of the reason he was so good in this is because the character he played hit just a little too close to home. Kinda sad really, considering he was barely functioning due to the drink...he had so much potential but the booze took it all away.

[–] rokkitt88 11 years ago

I think something else is going on, something that perhaps even the writer of ATGIB is not aware of: when Johnnie starts to dream, cold sober, (after he got home and everybody was up waiting for him) she knocks his high blown rhetoric down, refuses to imagine a brighter day, pricks his bubble, and the next thing you know, in the very next scene, he's drunk again.

And Lloyd Nolan walks in with him and Katie's extremely caring of Johnnie, with no hint of disappointment or approbrium... so she's a co-dependent; and I think she's comfortable with him as a drunk, and as he faces no criticism when he comes home drunk, so he's comfortable in this role as a drunk as well.

Maybe it's the culture, the way the family unit is structured or whatever, but on some subconscious level she's more comfortable with him as a drunk than not... perhaps she (and he?) are replicating their own formative experiences; perhaps both their fathers (or mothers...) were alcoholics?

Any thoughts?

[–] hka-3 10 years ago

That makes sense, rokkitt88. Great post. I'll have to look at it that way next time I watch it.

[–] filmfanaticNorCal 9 years ago

I don't think she "is comfortable with him as a drunk" at all. Katie considers it a sickness and uses that euphemism. I don't understand where you get the idea that she actually prefers him drunk. You are really taking a leap here.

Life is for lovers, and lovers are for life.

[–] srklondie 11 years ago

The ' Annie Laurie ' scene never fails to make me cry.

[–] kelly-527 11 years ago

Forget the hardcore realistic movies of today. This movie shows how hard it is to be tough with those you love with a drinking problem. He is so wonderful, imaginative, and supportive. The hard part is he can afford to be whimsical as his wife is the one who does all the hard work.
I love the character, but if you want to be realistic his wife does all the work which, of course, makes her a bitch. That said, I love the dad.

[–] srklondie 11 years ago

I think you meant to reply to the op.