Boys Town (1938)

Father Flanagan listens to a prisoner's bitter account of how he became a murderer. He believes that if the prisoner had received help as a child, he may not have ended up in prison. With the reluctant but supportive help of pawnbroker Dave Morris, Father Flanagan creates the first "Boys Town" for poverty-stricken boys. Initially, the courts, the press, and even the bishop doubt that he can be successful. However, as the priest continues to plead and pray, the community grows. Whitey Marsh, a thoroughly bad boy, comes to live there, and initially scoffs at the ideals. He tries to get his own way, but the other boys stand up to him. He runs away but comes back due to hunger. Later, when he loses a fight, he runs away again, but returns when his friend Pee Wee is hit by a car. Still an outcast, Whitey runs away for a third time and joins his brother, an escaped convict, and hides with him and his gang. A couple of boys find the hideout and inform Father Flanagan, who returns with the boys and captures the criminals. The reward money saves "Boys Town."

Books with substantial mentioning of Boys Town

		James Robert Parish Prison Pictures from Hollywood, Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 293 Theatrical and Made-for-Television Releases Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 1991

		Donald Descher The Films of Spencer Tracy New York, 1968