Men of Boys Town

1941 film by Norman Taurog

April 11, 1941 (1941-04-11)

Running time

106 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$862,000^[1]Box office$3,166,000^[1]

Men of Boys Town is a 1941 American drama film directed by Norman Taurog and written by James Kevin McGuinness. It is a sequel to the 1938 film Boys Town. The film stars Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Bobs Watson, Larry Nunn, Darryl Hickman and Henry O'Neill. The film was released on April 11, 1941, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^[2]^[3]

Plot

Mr. and Mrs. Maitland, a childless couple, invite Whitey to their home on a trial basis. Whitey tries to visit a friend in reform school and inmate Flip is hiding in a car as Whitey leaves. Flip steals money and both boys go to reform school. (This is where the movie takes a darker tone as it depicts, using indirect camera angles, the physical abuse the boys suffer in detention at the facility). Father Flanagan exposes the conditions in the school and the boys are released to him. The Maitlands work to pay off the debts threatening Boys Town.

Cast

Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan
Mickey Rooney as Whitey Marsh
Bobs Watson as Pee Wee
Larry Nunn as Ted Martley
Darryl Hickman as Flip
Henry O'Neill as Mr. Maitland
Mary Nash as Mrs. Maitland
Lee J. Cobb as Dave Morris
Sidney Miller as Mo Kahn
Addison Richards as The Judge
Lloyd Corrigan as Roger Gorton
George Lessey as Bradford Stone
Robert Emmett Keane as Burton
Arthur Hohl as Guard
Ben Welden as Superintendent
Anne Revere as Mrs. Fenely
Wade Boteler as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
Frank Coghlan Jr. as Frank (uncredited)
Charles Smith as Slim

Reception

Critics singled out Darryl Hickman's performance, saying his juvenile delinquent character was "almost running away with Men of Boys Town right under Mickey Rooney's nose".^[4] The film was a hit and became the ninth most popular film at the United States box office in 1941.^[5] According to MGM records the film earned $2,009,000 in the US and Canada and $1,157,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $1,269,000.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study
^ Crowther, Bosley (1941-04-11). "Movie Review – The Screen; Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney Seen in Familiar Roles in 'Men of Boys Town' at Capitol". NY Times. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
^ "Men of Boys Town (1941) – Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
^ "Theaters". Mansfield News Journal. Mansfield, Ohio. April 13, 1944 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "FILM MONEY-MAKERS SELECTED BY VARIETY: ' Sergeant York' Top Picture, Gary Cooper Leading Star". The New York Times. 31 Dec 1941. p. 21.