The Polish-Jewish Krichinsky family began to emigrate to the United States in the early twentieth century, settling in Avalon, an inner city immigrant neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Although they brought with them many of their traditions, including a strong family network punctuated by several generations of the same family living under one roof and important decisions about the extended family being made by consensus (by what they call the family circle), they were in search of the American dream. By mid century, the second and third generations of the American side of the family began to search for their own ideals of the American dream, which included assimilation into American culture (as displayed by an Anglicization of their family name to either Kaye or Kirk), success and prosperity through owning a thriving business of one's own choosing (rather than going into the existing family business), owning a house in the suburbs with only one's own immediate family, and owning a television. Some of these goals are against the ideals of the older generation, which may cause some family friction, especially in the decision making process at the family circle meetings. Regardless, life within the Krichinsky/Kaye/Kirk family will go on.

The slivovitz (a.k.a. "block and fall") the immigrant brothers recall their father drinking ("he never drank water, only slivovitz") is a real type of high-proof Hungarian plum brandy or schnapps made with the same kind of plums that give Sloe Gin its flavor. Slivovitz is not a brand name, but a generic term for this type of drink, and a definition of it can be found in some dictionaries.

Sam Krichinsky:
In the old days, if you had to pee, you peed on a tree - with no "may" or "can". That's progress.

Anachronisms: Although the beginning of the picture is set in the late 1940s, the Christmas song "Silver Bells" is heard on Jules' car radio, sung by Bing Crosby. That version of the song was released in 1950.

Written by Al Jolson & Saul Chaplin
Performed by Al Jolson
Courtesy of MCA Records