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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 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.

Directed by Norman Taurog

Writing credits: Dore Schary, Eleanore Griffin, John Meehan,
and  Dore Schary

Cast:

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

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

Runtime: 96 min / 93 min (DVD version)
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Sound Mix: Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification: Finland:S / Australia:G

Trivia: The day after Spencer Tracy won the Best Actor Oscar for his
performance in this film, an MGM publicist released a statement--without
consulting Tracy first--that the actor would donate his Oscar to the real Boys
Town in Nebraska. Tracy agreed to make the donation if the Academy would
send him a replacement Oscar. When the replacement arrived, the engraving
on the award read: "Best Actor - Dick Tracy."

Quotes: Father Edward J. Flanagan: There is no such thing as a bad boy.
Father Edward J. Flanagan: Eternity begins in 45 minutes.
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.
Father Edward J. Whitey Marsh: He ain't heavy, he's my brother.

Awards: Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 nominations

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