Men of Boys Town

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Bobs Watson, Larry Nunn, Darryl Hickman, Henry O'Neill, Mary Nash, Lee J. Cobb
Directed by: Norman Taurog
Rating: Passed
Genre: Drama
1941

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) continues his work at Boys Town, helped by Whitey (Mickey Rooney) who is serving as Mayor.

Review:

Tim: After winning an Academy Award for playing Father Flanagan and starring in the popular Boys Town, Spencer Tracy once again teamed with director Norman Taurog and MGM to bring us a sequel, Men of Boys Town. While this film might not quite reach the level of the original, it follows a very similar formula and again works on multiple levels. I have to say, I rather enjoyed this film. In a time when sequels weren't all the rage, it was great getting to see these characters once again.

The film picks up a few years after the events of the first film and works well as a continuation of the story. Father Flanagan is still selflessly working to build and expand Boys Town, once again running into money troubles, as his ambition far exceeds his wallet. Whitey is now the Mayor of Boys Town and truly a convert, both to the town and Flanagan's ways. Even Pee Wee is back for the sequel. Like the first film, we have a mix of different stories. There's a new boy in town, one who will not crack a smile. Much of the film is dedicated to the gang trying to break through to him. He actually has a very dark, sad story and I enjoyed the scenes trying to get him to overcome his past. The slow-motion wrestling scene was certainly a highlight- I really loved it. There's also a subplot where Whitey gets adopted and sees a reformatory for boys. I was actually surprised by the gritty, dark portrayal of the reformatory. We basically see boys tortured, beaten, and one actually dies as a result of his wounds. This served as a stark reminder of how troubled boys are treated outside of Boys Town. I applaud this film for not shying away from showing the horrors many troubled boys had to deal with. Sure, it all gets wrapped up pretty nicely at the end, but this contrast was a memorable one.

Spencer Tracey once again works well as Flanagan. He doesn't necessary have a difficult role- it's restrained and his biggest challenge was just showing the warmth and passion of the character. Mickey Rooney was even better this time around. It felt like he was more comfortable and didn't have to try quite as hard to impress. There were still a few scenes where he overacted, but he was mostly very good. I was so glad to see Bobs Watson back as Pee Wee- he adds so much to the film. I also enjoyed Darryl Hickman as Flip- he's a precocious, memorable kid and he brought great energy to the part.

While this movie (like its predecessor) is a little preachy, it does offer an interesting glimpse into what troubled and orphan boys faced in this country decades ago. I shudder to think how similar it still is today. I loved that this movie continued the story of Father Flanagan and further served as a reminder that there isn't such thing as a bad boy. I was entertained during this worthy sequel, and while it might not be as good as the previous film, it's still a strong effort.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Boys Town, The City of Little Men