Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) is a man on a mission, to help the troubled and disadvantaged young men in his community. He starts a home to give them shelter, food, and guidance, which eventually grows into Boys Town — a self-sufficient town run by the boys, where they can gain leadership skills and stay on the right path.
Spencer Tracy is absolutely the heart and soul of this film. It’s a film about Father Flanagan’s work, his quest to help others, so naturally much of the focus is on him as a character. But that’s not all. Tracy is perfectly cast in the role, a man determined to devote his life to those who have nowhere else to turn. He comes off as very distinguished — an honest, trustworthy, persevering, and genuinely good man.
Attention is paid to several of Flanagan’s students/residents, including Mickey Rooney’s character of Whitey, but the emphasis remains focused on Flanagan’s work and the organization he created.
Boys Town itself — the real place — is a fascinating concept, and comes across as such on film. Set up like a city, it has an elected resident mayor, its own judicial process, assigned jobs, and commerce. It’s an innovative idea for bettering the futures of at-risk children. Children of the Corn‘s “kids-only town” concept gone right!
The Motion Pictures 