An Exercise In Nonsense

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The strength of this film is the not story itself, because at least the last fourth of the picture -- when Whitey (Mickey Rooney) leads all the boys of Boys Town to confront hardened criminals at an abandoned inn is total fiction in a movie that purports itself to be the story of the real Boys Town and Father Flanagan (which is not to say that it isn't great movie making!).No, the strength of this film is the performance by Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan. And of course, it won him an Academy Award. Highly fictionalized or not, his portrayal made him the real Father Flanagan to many people. It is a remarkable performance, in part because as usual, he plays his roles in somewhat of an understated way, which makes them seem all the more realistic. There's quite a bit about the making of this film in the new Tracy biography, and it's interesting to compare the confidence of the character he was playing here with his insecurity in playing a priest.The other star of the pic was Mickey Rooney. Interestingly, this film was made the same year he began making the Andy Hardy films. What a cocky character, and in some ways (ala the Tracy biography) he may have been pretty much the same in real life. But, despite some overacting, he plays this part memorably.Most of the other supporting actors do very nicely, but special mention should be made of Henry Hull, who does an especially nice job as Tracy's/Flanigan's crusty friend with a soft heart. And, it is a hoot watching Bobs Watson cry! Some of the scenes in the picture were filmed at Boys Town, and overall it's a nice production. While the aura of Boys Town and the basic history isn't far from the truth, the actual plot of the movie is a little far-fetched. Would the iconic Father Flanigan really lead his boys to overtaking and capturing a trio of bank robbers and murderers? But, it makes a swell story and is very entertaining. This film was interesting enough -- and over the years I've probably watched it half a dozen times -- that since I now live in Colorado, I just might make a trip out in Nebraska to visit the real Boys Town.This is one for your DVD shelf!

BOYS TOWN (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938), directed by Norman Taurog, is not so much a story of a group of boys in their own little town but one about a priest's dedication to his work and cause in building a place for homeless and troubled youths, as summed up with these opening words: "This is the story of Father Flanagan and the city for boys that he built in Nebraska. There is such a place as Boys Town. There is such a man as Father Flanagan. This picture is dedicated to him and his splendid work for homeless, abandoned boys, regardless of race, creed or color." Starring Spencer Tracy in a role perfectly suited for his talents, good enough to earn him his second consecutive Academy Award as Best Actor, winning over strong contender as James Cagney for his powerful performance for ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (Warners). This fact-based story opens with Father Edward Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) visiting the imprisoned Dan Farrow (Leslie Fenton). Before being headed down to death row for murder, his bitter story of an unhappy childhood, a cry for help at the age of 12, or to have at least one friend to guide him, prompts the young priest into giving up his refuge shelter for forgotten men to form a place for homeless and unwanted boys. With the help of his friend, Dave Morris (Henry Hull), the neighborhood pawnbroker, Flanagan takes in several boys from the courtroom awaiting trial and assumes responsibility for them. Within a year, the home prospers from five to more than 500 boys, leading Flanagan to risk further debts by acquiring more land and buildings to form what's to become known as Boys Town. Bearing with a philosophy that "There's no such thing as a bad boy," Father Flanagan is put to the test when he, as a favor to Joe Marsh (Edward Norris), gangster on his way to prison, to take in his kid brother, "Whitey" (Mickey Rooney), who not only looks up to Joe, but intends on following his brother's wayward path in crime. With "Whitey" proving difficult amongst the other boys, Father Flanagan has problems of his own keeping himself out of debt as well as retaining the good reputation of Boys Town after detectives link Whitey to a recent bank robbery and murder in town.Taken from an original story by Dore Schary and Eleanor Griffin, BOYS TOWN starts off in biographical structure of Father Flanagan. After the presence of Mickey Rooney, the plot shifts into a new direction from tribute to a fictional account on the taming of a "bad boy" whose association with the others in Boys Town is far from favorable. The rising popularity of teen-aged Mickey Rooney seems natural for the role of Whitey Marsh. Quite good though not entirely convincing with his introduction scene as the tough thug living in a walk up flat, cigarette smoking and holding a gambling card game with other toughs on the kitchen table. His attempts trying to get his own way and living according to his own rules instead of Father Flanagan's is typical plot interest and character study. Aside from sentimentality and crime drama later thrown in, there's some doses of intentional humor, the latter being Rooney's specialty, but bogs down at times with Rooney's overacting during the film's more crucial scenes. Tracy on the other hand plays it natural. Regardless of being a kind-hearted priest who can "talk the devil into going to church," he demonstrates how tough he can be "in a pinch," along with his know-how method of getting those to help him financially, namely Dave Morris.With basically an all-male cast (excluding brief bit of an actress playing a nun), fine support consists of Bobs Watson as Pee-Wee, a crying specialist, and one of the younger members who pleasures in trying to find hidden candy in Father Flanagan's office; Gene Reynolds in a sensitive portrait as Tony Ponessa, a lame boy wanting to become mayor of Boys' Town; Frankie Thomas as Freddie Fuller, a popular Mayor of Boys Town who's takes on "Whitey" in the boxing ring; Sidney Miller as Mo Kahn, a Jewish member of the community who runs a barber shop; among others. Henry Hull adds to one of his fine many character portraits as Father Flanagan's closest friend and financial supporter; Leslie Fenton, near the end of his acting career before turning director, in a small but powerful performance of a convicted killer; and Jonathan Hale as John Hargraves, editor of the Omaha Daily Dispatch, who believes Flanagan's methods to be "sentimental hogwash." Worthy screen entertainment with a moral message carried throughout the story of bringing the good out of the bad and everything impossible is possible comes off as fine feel-good viewing regardless of race, color and creed, especially during the Christmas season.Presented to home video in the 1980s either in original black and white or colorized format, and presented occasionally on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, BOYS TOWN can be found on DVD either as a solo package or together with its sequel, MEN OF BOYS TOWN (1941), on the flip side. (***)

Nominally the founding of Boys Town by Father Flanagan and his push to prove that there are no bad boys.Its as syrupy and sweet as they come. I doubt very much that the film is very close to what happened since everything in Spencer Tracy's hands is bound to be okay. I have no idea why but I was moved to mistiness a couple of times. Of course there is never any doubt that Boys Town will grow and thrive and of course Mickey Rooney's bad boy with a heart of gold is much too good to be true and is bound to do the right thing in the end. Still its a grand little film of the sort they don't make any more (and would be laughed off the screen if they did). Absolutely worth a look see when it reappears on TV or as a rental.(my only real problem is that Spencer Tracy won his second Oscar in a row for his portrait of Father Flanagan, either they really liked him or the other nominees weren't very good since the role is truly unremarkable, well played, but nothing special.)

This is a pretty famous movie, one of those old-fashioned feel-good films that bring a tear or two to the eye of the sensitive individual.It's very dated, yes, but part of that "dated" means mostly nice kids, not brats and more nice role models, instead of extremely-flawed heroes. It seems, as film fans, we normally got one of the extremes thrown at us: overly good or overly bad. This is overly good.....but I'm fine with that.Mickey Rooney really livens the film up with his appearance. He and most of the characters represent an America that is long gone, people and ideas that are way too "corny" for today's audience. Sometimes it's sappy but sometimes it's refreshing to see, too. The "bad" kids in this film seem pretty nice and tame to today's bad kids, believe me. "There are no bad boys," as Father Flanagan put it, and one would wonder if that still applied today. Flanagan is nicely portrayed by Spencer Tracy. The priest is shown to be one who had a real heart for wayward boys.Spencer and Rooney are the obvious stars of this sentimental story but little "Pee Wee," played by Bobs Watson, is the most endearing character in the movie.Corny but a remembrance of a much more innocent America.