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Boys Town
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Boys Town (1938) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,820 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John Meehan (screenplay) and
Dore Schary (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Boys Town on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 September 1938 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Greater than the imagination of the best writers! more
Plot:
Against all odds Father Flanagan starts "Boys' Town" after hearing a convict's story. Whitey Marsh comes there... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations more
User Reviews:
A Classic more (33 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
Robert Emmett Keane ... Burton
Victor Kilian ... The Sheriff (as Victor Killian)
Boys Town Acapella Choir ... The Choir (as Boys Town A Cappella Choir)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur Aylesworth ... Tim (uncredited)
King Baggot ... Derelict in Mission next to Weasel (uncredited)
Barbara Bedford ... Catholic Nun (uncredited)
James Blaine ... Court Officer (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone ... Guard (uncredited)
Edwin Brian ... Boy (uncredited)
Everett Brown ... Darky (uncredited)
Orville Caldwell ... Warden (uncredited)
Bennie Chorre ... Young Thunder (uncredited)
Roger Converse ... Newspaper Reporter Lane (uncredited)
George Cooper ... Tramp (uncredited)
Nell Craig ... Catholic Nun (uncredited)
Helen Dickson ... Catholic Nun (uncredited)
Wesley Giraud ... Butch (uncredited)
Robert Gleckler ... Mr. Reynolds (uncredited)
Donald Haines ... Alabama (uncredited)
John Hamilton ... Warden (uncredited)
Murray Harris ... Hillbilly (uncredited)
Edward Hearn ... Train Guard (uncredited)
Al Hill ... Rod (uncredited)
Al Hill Jr. ... Apples (uncredited)
George Humbert ... Calateri (uncredited)
Gladden James ... Doctor (uncredited)
Raymond Kelly ... Boy (uncredited)
Don Latorre ... Boy (uncredited)
Billy McCullough ... Boy (uncredited)
Claire McDowell ... Catholic Nun (uncredited)
Jackie Morrow ... Boy (uncredited)
Paul Nichols ... (uncredited)
Ray Nichols ... (uncredited)
Tommy Noonan ... Red (uncredited)
Jay Novello ... Gangster (uncredited)
Ronald Paige ... Jimmy (uncredited)
Charles Ramos ... Mex (uncredited)
Kane Richmond ... Newspaper Reporter Jackson (uncredited)
Kent Rogers ... Tailor (uncredited)
Nelson Scott ... Commissioner (uncredited)
Jimmy Sommerville ... Newsboy (uncredited)
Chuck Stubbs ... Slats (Prologue) (uncredited)
A.W. Sweatt ... Jackie (Prologue) (uncredited)
Phillip Terry ... Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
Johnny Walsh ... Charley Haines (uncredited)
Sonny Boy Williams ... Boy on Bannister (uncredited)
Robert Winkler ... (uncredited)
William Worthington ... Governor (uncredited)
John Wray ... Weasel (uncredited)
Walter Young ... Judge (uncredited)
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Directed by
Norman Taurog 
 
Writing credits
John Meehan (screenplay) and
Dore Schary (screenplay)

Dore Schary (story) and
Eleanore Griffin (story)

Produced by
John W. Considine Jr. .... producer
 
Original Music by
Edward Ward 
 
Cinematography by
Sidney Wagner (photographed by)
 
Film Editing by
Elmo Veron 
 
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons 
 
Makeup Department
Robert J. Schiffer .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Urie McCleary .... associate art director
Edwin B. Willis .... associate art director
 
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer .... recording director
 
Special Effects by
Slavko Vorkapich .... montage effects
 
Music Department
Leo Arnaud .... music arranger
 
Other crew
Carl 'Major' Roup .... script clerk (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Boys' Town (USA) (poster title)
more
Runtime:
96 min | 93 min (DVD version) | West Germany:107 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #4528) | Canada:G (video rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | West Germany:12 | Finland:S | Australia:G
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The famous line, "He ain't heavy, he's my brother" comes from this film. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the march to the tavern, Tony is to the left in all but two shots when he is to the right. more
Quotes:
Father Edward J. Flanagan: I know that a mother can take a whip to the toughest boy in the world, and he forgets it because he knows that she loves him. more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful.
A Classic, 1 January 2001
10/10
Author: reversal68 from Illinois

I have enjoyed this movie since I was a child. I saw it for the first time when I was about ten-years-old and have watched it many times since. While parts of it may seem "hokey" by today's standards, the performances of Tracey and Rooney are memorable. The tensions between the "tough-love" priest and the wise-mouthed swaggering delinquent make for timeless drama. I have to admit though, that every time I watch this movie, there is a part of me that wants Whitey Marsh to stay bad, remain a delinquent and fail to succumb to the straight-laced rules of Boys Town. (Perhaps, that is the rebellious residue of a Catholic education.) In any event, I agree with the sentiments reflected by a prior poster, that when Pee Wee gets hit by the car, and Whitey starts sobbing, well, it is hard not to sob along with him.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Boys Town (1938)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Fr. Flanagan saved my life x_Amadaeus_x
running time of Boys Town? 4friedchickensandacoke
Who was the president? loadofsmith
Filming locations on campus.. dallas_osborn
Whitey Marsh leroykevin
No DVD??? FibberMcGee18
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