Boys Town (1938)

Against all odds Father Flanagan starts "Boys' Town" after hearing a convict's story. Whitey Marsh comes there. He runs away but, hungry, returns. He runs away again but, when friend Pee ... See full summary »

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

John Meehan (screenplay), Dore Schary (screenplay),

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Spencer Tracy	...	Father Flanagan
Mickey Rooney	...	Whitey Marsh
Henry Hull	...	Dave Morris
Leslie Fenton	...	Dan Farrow
Gene Reynolds	...	Tony Ponessa
Edward Norris	...	Joe Marsh
Addison Richards	...	The Judge
Minor Watson	...	The Bishop
Jonathan Hale	...	John Hargraves
Bobs Watson	...	Pee Wee
Martin Spellman	...	Skinny
Mickey Rentschler	...	Tommy Anderson
Frankie Thomas	...	Freddie Fuller
Jimmy Butler	...	Paul Ferguson
Sidney Miller	...	Mo Kahn

Storyline

Against all odds Father Flanagan starts "Boys' Town" after hearing a convict's story. Whitey Marsh comes there. He runs away but, hungry, returns. He runs away again but, when friend Pee Wee is hit by a car, returns. He runs away and joins his brother's gang. Flanagan and the boys capture the crooks and the reward saves the town.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | boys town nebraska | orphanage | inspiring story | racial slur | 

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Taglines:

The life story of a boy who was "born to be hung"!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

9 September 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boys' Town

Filming Locations:

Boys Town, Nebraska, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 93 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Father Flanagan may have been the basis for Harold Gray's character Collar John, a boxer turned priest who appeared in his comic strip Little Orphan Annie.

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Goofs

In the march to the tavern, Tony is to the left in all but two shots when he is to the right.

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Quotes

Father Edward J. Flanagan: There is no such thing as a bad boy.

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Connections

Referenced in A Hatful of Rain (1957)

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Soundtracks

"Silent Night, Holy Night"
(1818) (uncredited)
Music by Franz Gruber
Lyrics by Joseph Mohr
In the score at Christmas
Sung a cappella by the Boys Town Acapella Choir

User Reviews

great movie

some silly acting and Mickey gets TOO emotional at times, but inspirational and a near tear jerker at times.....can serve as a model for some of the problems with our youth today....will watch it every time it comes on.....i hope you do, too...have your kids watch it every time it comes on....from beginning to end....and then sit down and have a talk with them about responsibility, dignity, truthfulness, and honesty....make a copy and every time your kid tells a lie or doesn't something dishonest, have him/her watch it again and again...its worth it....one of Mickey Rooney's best and definitely one of his best on the NONcomedy/musical side...