Boys Town (1938)
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- Passed
- 1h 36min
- Biography, Drama
- 09 Sep 1938 (USA)
- Movie
When a death row prisoner tells him he wouldn't have led a life of crime if only he had had one friend as a child, Father Edward Flanagan decides to start a home for young boys.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Spencer Tracy | ... |
Father Flanagan
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| Mickey Rooney | ... |
Whitey Marsh
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| Henry Hull | ... |
Dave Morris
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| Leslie Fenton | ... |
Dan Farrow
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| Gene Reynolds | ... |
Tony Ponessa
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| Edward Norris | ... |
Joe Marsh
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| Addison Richards | ... |
The Judge
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| Minor Watson | ... |
The Bishop
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| Jonathan Hale | ... |
John Hargraves
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| Bobs Watson | ... |
Pee Wee
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| Martin Spellman | ... |
Skinny
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| Mickey Rentschler | ... |
Tommy Anderson
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| Frankie Thomas | ... |
Freddie Fuller
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| Jimmy Butler | ... |
Paul Ferguson
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| Sidney Miller | ... |
Mo Kahn
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| Robert Emmett Keane | ... |
Burton
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| Victor Kilian | ... |
The Sheriff
(as Victor Killian)
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Boys Town Acapella Choir | ... |
The Choir (voice)
(as Boys Town A Cappella Choir)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Arthur Aylesworth | ... |
Tim (uncredited)
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| King Baggot | ... |
Derelict in Mission Next to Weasel (uncredited)
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| Barbara Bedford | ... |
Catholic Nun (uncredited)
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| James Blaine | ... |
Court Officer (uncredited)
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| Stanley Blystone | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Edwin Brian | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Everett Brown | ... |
Darky (uncredited)
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| Orville Caldwell | ... |
Warden (uncredited)
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Donald Chaffin | ... |
Newsboy (uncredited)
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Bennie Chorre | ... |
Young Thunder (uncredited)
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Richard Clucas | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Roger Converse | ... |
Lane - Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
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| George Cooper | ... |
Tramp (uncredited)
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| Nell Craig | ... |
Catholic Nun (uncredited)
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| Helen Dickson | ... |
Catholic Nun (uncredited)
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Calvin Ellison | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Felix Ganio Jr. | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Wesley Giraud | ... |
Butch (uncredited)
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| Robert Gleckler | ... |
Mr. Reynolds (uncredited)
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Donald Haines | ... |
Alabama (uncredited)
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| John Hamilton | ... |
Warden (uncredited)
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Murray Harris | ... |
Hillbilly (uncredited)
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Billy Hazard | ... |
Newsboy (uncredited)
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| Edward Hearn | ... |
Train Guard (uncredited)
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Al Hill Jr. | ... |
Apples (uncredited)
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| Al Hill | ... |
Rod (uncredited)
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George Humbert | ... |
Calateri (uncredited)
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| Gladden James | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
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Raymond Kelly | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Don Latorre | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Arthur Marks | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Billy McCullough | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Claire McDowell | ... |
Catholic Nun (uncredited)
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Jackie Morrow | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Paul Nichols | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Ray Nichols | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Tommy Noonan | ... |
Red (uncredited)
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| Jay Novello | ... |
Gangster (uncredited)
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Ronald Paige | ... |
Jimmy (uncredited)
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Henry Rackin | ... |
(uncredited)
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Charles Ramos | ... |
Mex (uncredited)
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| Kane Richmond | ... |
Jackson - Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
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Kent Rogers | ... |
Tailor (uncredited)
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Nelson Scott | ... |
Commissioner (uncredited)
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Jimmy Sommerville | ... |
Newsboy (uncredited)
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Bobby Stone | ... |
Boy Mopping Floor (uncredited)
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Chuck Stubbs | ... |
Slats - in Prologue (uncredited)
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A.W. Sweatt | ... |
Jackie - in Prologue (uncredited)
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| Phillip Terry | ... |
Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
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Johnny Walsh | ... |
Charley Haines (uncredited)
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Sonny Boy Williams | ... |
Boy on Bannister (uncredited)
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Robert Winkler | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| William Worthington | ... |
Governor (uncredited)
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| John Wray | ... |
Weasel (uncredited)
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Walter Young | ... |
Judge (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Norman Taurog | ||
Written by
| John Meehan | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Dore Schary | ... | (screenplay) |
| Dore Schary | ... | (original story) and |
| Eleanore Griffin | ... | (original story) |
| Jack Mintz | ... | (contributor to screenplay construction) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| John W. Considine Jr. | ... | producer |
Music by
| Edward Ward | ||
Cinematography by
| Sidney Wagner | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Elmo Veron | ||
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
Makeup Department
| Jack Dawn | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Robert J. Schiffer | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Joe Cooke | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
| Jay Marchant | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Horace Hough | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Urie McCleary | ... | associate art director |
| Edwin B. Willis | ... | associate art director |
| Clarence J. Falk | ... | greens supervisor (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Special Effects by
| Slavko Vorkapich | ... | montage effects |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Leo Arnaud | ... | musical arranger |
| Paul Marquardt | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Leonid Raab | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Carl 'Major' Roup | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Howard Dietz | ... | press representative (uncredited) |
| Orville O. Dull | ... | production associate (uncredited) |
| Edward Flanagan | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1938) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1939) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1939) (Norway) (theatrical)
- M.P.E.A. (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- NHK-BS2 (1992) (Japan) (tv)
- Pidax Film (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
- Topanga Canyon Films (2018) (Spain)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (Japan) (DVD) (with "Men of Boys Town")
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Turner Entertainment (package design) (1989 release)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
When a death row prisoner tells him he wouldn't have led a life of crime if only he had had one friend as a child, Father Edward Flanagan decides to take action. An advocate of child rights and an opponent of the severe approach to juvenile delinquency at the time, Flanagan genuinely believes that there is no such thing as a bad boy. Starting with just a few boys in a rented house, Father Flanagan eventually establishes Boys Town on 200 acres of land 10 miles outside of Omaha, Nebraska. Much of the film focuses on Flanagan's attempts to influence one boy, Whitey Marsh, who will become a hoodlum if he doesn't change his ways. When Whitey is implicated in a bank robbery, it puts all of Boys Town at risk. Throughout it all Flanagan has to fight prejudice in those who believe delinquents should just be locked up and the never-ending shortage of money to accomplish his goals. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | BOYS' TOWN IS Real! (original print ad - mostly caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Father Edward Flanagan, who died almost ten years after this movie was released, was the first person ever to live to see somebody win an Oscar for portraying him. See more » |
| Goofs | The blackface Whitey wipes off in line doesn't match when he arrives back at the barber. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Theme Music of Boys Town See more » |
| Quotes |
Dan Farrow:
[panicky, about to die in the electric chair]
How much time have I got, Father? Father Edward J. Flanagan: Eternity begins in forty-five minutes, Dan. Dan Farrow: What happens then? Father Edward J. Flanagan: Oh, a bad minute or two. Dan Farrow: And after that? Father Edward J. Flanagan: Well, Dan, that's a question that scientists and philosophers have been asking for a million years. See more » |