Men of Boys Town (1941) User Reviews (16)

Mickey Rooney the center of attention

[mik-19 · 7/10 · 26 April 2005]

Father Flanagan desperately needs $200,000 to finance the two new wings of Boys Town, the community's young reformed mayor Whitey lets himself be adopted on a trial basis by a couple that might help raise the money, and a new kid, Ted with the broken back and the many ghosts in the closet, reluctantly enters Boy Town, and it seems like he is never going to trust humankind again.

Three years after the enormous success of 'Boy Town', director Norman Taurog and his brilliant cast is at it again, reforming young sinners and fighting their battle against the inhuman ways children were treated in reform schools. Father Flanagan preaches an anti-punishment policy way ahead of its time: "There is no redemption in a lash", he says.

It is Whitey, this time around, that gets to say the immortal words, "There's no such thing as a bad boy", and adds: "... someone told me once". And again Mickey Rooney is the center of attention here, I was once more amazed at this young actor's ease, the complete confidence that he exudes plus the vulnerability. Never once does he come across as too cocky, he is just always quite right, which is an art. Rooney was a brilliant, intuitive player, and it is about time someone gave him credit for it.

The rest of the acting is not quite on that level. Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan plays the easy part here, sufficing to smile warmly and speak heatedly, but he is nice to be in a room with.

As always, modern viewers cringe at the angelic choirs that accompany the miracles that make all the pieces fit together, and they must have sounded grating even in 1941. But, beggars can't be choosers, and I like this second round of Boys Town almost as much as the first.

Priest Stretched Too Thin

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 5 November 2006]

Norman Taurog directs and Spencer Tracy plays Father Flanagan in another film about the priest who walked the walk in his philosophy about their being no such thing as a bad boy.

Men of Boys Town finds Tracy burdened down with a lot of responsibility. His responsibility to each and every boy that he takes in at Boys Town and to the institution itself. Some of their stories overlap with Tracy's main concern about keeping the institution afloat.

One of those kids is Larry Nunn, a kid crippled after he killed a guard in a reformatory he was in. His story is similar to the one that was in the original Boys Town where Gene Reynolds was another kid who was crippled. Nunn is far more cynical and bitter after seeing and experiencing what he has in that other institution.

Another kid is Darryl Hickman, a young juvenile offender from that same place who sneaks out of the place with Mickey Rooney when Rooney goes to visit one of Nunn's friends. Talk about deja vu, in the original Boys Town it was Rooney who was the smart mouth who gets tamed by his experience at Boys Town. I guess the Deity and the scriptwriters have a sense of humor.

Besides Tracy and Rooney, Sidney Miller and Bobs Watson are retained from the original film. Rooney would be stealing this whole film if it weren't for Tracy. Nobody steals a scene from Spencer Tracy.

I guess since Boys Town is still here we do know that Father Flanagan did solve the problems shown in this film as well. Though it looks a whole lot like Tracy is getting stretched way to thin, in the movies and in life itself, problems sometimes do have a way working themselves out if we can only perceive the solution.

Anyway, Men of Boys Town is simply Spencer Tracy continuing his award winning role as the ever wise and patient Father Flanagan. Good enough reason to see this film.

Keep Your Tissues Handy

[dglink · 7/10 · 31 July 2006]

Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney return as Father Flanagan and Whitey Marsh in this sentimental sequel to the almost equally sentimental original "Boys Town." However, the sentiment is in a good cause, and both films are ideal for those rainy afternoons on the sofa with a pound of chocolates and a box of Kleenex.

As he was in the original film, Spencer Tracy is the rock at the center of "Men of Boys Town." His performance as Flanagan is solid, reassuring, and subtle. Tracy was a master of film acting and never indulged in histrionics; however, when he spoke his words carried weight, and his figure had a presence that commanded attention. Mickey Rooney, on the other hand, could overplay a part, and his Whitey Marsh in the original "Boys Town" teeters perilously on being over the top. However, three years later, both Rooney and Whitey are more mature, and the characterization benefits. Rooney has toned down and deepened his performance, and, with more screen time, he holds his own with Tracy.

The film's plot is melodramatic and includes a crippled boy, a dog, a potential adoption, an escapee from a reform school, and financial problems, all of which, not surprisingly, resolve themselves in a flood of tears and smiles in the best tradition of old MGM movies. Bobs Watson returns as Pee Wee, and, although he should have outgrown the game with the candy in the drawers, he remains memorable for the waterworks that he could evidently turn on and off at the director's command. Anne Revere, no slouch in the tears department herself, has a small memorable part near the film's conclusion. Lee J. Cobb, who took over for Henry Hull as Dave Morris, Father Flanagan's friend, is effective, although there is an initial jolt when he appears, because his is the only major role that was recast from the original film.

The original "Boys Town" and this sequel must have drawn millions into the coffers of Father Flanagan's home for boys. When the music soars over heart-rending scenes and Tracy intones his philosophy of there being no such thing as a bad boy, only the hardest curmudgeon would not be moved to reach for a checkbook.

The Miracle of Father Flanagan

[lugonian · 6/10 · 10 January 2011]

MEN OF BOYS TOWN (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1941), directed by Norman Taurog, is a worthy offering to the highly successful BOYS TOWN (1938), that reunites its original cast consisting of Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Bobs Watson and Sidney Miller. Aside from the difference in time frame where some of the boys have now grown to become the men of Boys Town, only the Dave Morris character, originally enacted by the thin, middle-aged Henry Hull, now played by the younger yet studier Lee J. Cobb. Taken from an original screenplay by James K. McGuinness, the theory of "There's no such thing as a bad boy" continues as Father Flanagan resumes his mission through faith in miracles while helping troubled youths with the assistance of a former delinquent himself, Whitey Marsh.

The sequel unfolds as Whitey Marsh (Mickey Rooney), newspaper editor, shortwave radio operator and mayor of Boys Town, arranges a welcoming home committee for Dave Morris (Lee J. Cobb), the pawnbroker responsible for helping Father Edward Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) financially in making Boys Town for him a reality. Being away a year, Dave finds the only thing that remains consistent is Father Flanagan's financial problems, now being heavily in debt of $200,000 for the construction of extra dormitories. Good deeds continue as Father Flanagan attends the murder trial of Ted Martley (Larry Nunn - in a sensitive performance), now paralyzed with a broken back thanks to the brutal guard he shot in the reformatory. With the prison sentence suspended by the judge (Addison Richards) Father Flanagan assumes responsibility for the troubled teen by taking him to where there are no high walls or guards to hold anyone prisoner, that being Boys Town. Due to Ted's bitter attitude, Father Flanagan's only hope by making the boy to at least smile actually comes not from the boys but from a do (belonging to the visiting Mrs. Maitland (Mary Nash), chairman of the State Parole Board, and her husband (Henry O'Neill)) given to him by Whitey. The Maitlands agree to offer the dog ("Beau Hunk" ) to Ted with the possibility of adopting a boy of their own, their selection being Whitey. Whitey leaves Boys Town on a trial basis for the high living with the Maitlands. Changes occur when Whitey, as a favor to Ted, comes to Marysports Reform School to visit with his friend, Miles Fenley. Because of his association with Flip Dwyer (Darryl Hickman), a juvenile reform school escapee he tries to help, rather than being a visitor, Whitey ends up as the reform school's inmate instead under the clutches of a corrupt cigar smoking superintendent (Ben Weldon) and brutal guard (Arthur Hohl) handy with the wooden club.

Regardless of Spencer Tracy's second go-round as the kind-hearted Father Flanagan, it is Mickey Rooney, in between film roles of the "Andy Hardy" film series and Judy Garland musicals, who's honored with the most screen time. No longer the delinquent introduced in BOYS TOWN, his Whitey Marsh becomes more beneficial to Father Flanagan's cause and teachings. On the amusing side, Rooney does a "Slow Motion Wrestling Match" done in slapstick violence with cartoonish sound effects in the tradition of The Three Stooges. This particular sequence was often edited from television broadcasts in the 1960s and 70s so to fit in the commercial breaks during a two hour time slot of a 107 minute movie presentation.

While the third-billed moon-faced Bobs Watson (Pee-Wee) continues the tradition by playing "find the candy in my office" game with Father Flanagan, it is Darryl Hickman's junior tough guy performance who draws most of the attention from the cast. As a juvenile delinquent who marvels in performing stick-ups, talking tough, and reading crime magazines, he goes on with his bad boy reputation at Boys Town by "taking candy from a baby," the "baby" being Pee-Wee. In a cross between humor and tear inducing sentiment, there's plenty more scene stealing antics provided by Hickman, Paaa-lenty!

As much as the situations provided in the screenplay might come across as contrived, a moral message is brought out through some of its passages, mainly that "things happen for a reason, and how even the most tragic results do resolve into something positive." Although there was no third installment to Father Flanagan's story of Boys Town, RKO Radio did attempt its own similar theme of FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE (1948) featuring Pat O'Brien as the kindly priest who takes in and cares for homeless boys, one played by non-other than the teen-aged Darryl Hickman.

Distributed to home video in the 1990s, MEN OF BOYS TOWN can be found on DVD as a flip side package to its predecessor, BOYS TOWN, or through occasional cable broadcasts on Turner Classic Movies. (**1/2)

I think somewhat better than the original

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 3 January 2012]

Could the sequel "Men Of Boys Town" be better than "Boys Town"? Well, I thought it was possible, because as good as the original was throughout most of its story, the ending was a bit illogical -- a dedicated priest leading a bunch of children to disarm and capture three men who were guilty of armed robbery and more.

And, the sequel started out well enough, although the talents of Henry Hull were sorely missing. Lee J. Cobb took his role here, and although Cobb is very likable, he doesn't provide the memorable performance that Hull did. Mickey Rooney seems more mature...and isn't overacting as much here, making his character much more likable, but unfortunately he goes a bit too far and, essentially, he becomes Andy Hardy. His slow motion fighting routine is a classic and really shows just how talented Rooney was. And, as the story begins we learn that a couple of years have passed and there have been improvements and additions to Boys Town. Then, Father Flanagan is called to a trial where a boy who is now paralyzed has murdered a guard at a reform school. All continues well. As the crippled delinquent's sour personality begins to improve, a couple comes to Boys Town to adopt, and adopts Rooney, and that leads to him to be placed in a reformatory himself, where he learns of the torture that takes place there. Rooney and Tracy straighten that out, the crippled boy walks again, and the couple get their adoptee, though not Rooney, who graduates from Boys Town at the end of the movie.

There are some good supporting performances here. The performance of young Darryl Hickman here is a hoot and not to be missed. Henry O'Neill is excellent, as always, as the adopting father, and Mary Nash is good as his wife.

I'm one of those few people who believes that this film IS better than the original. Tracy's acting is just as good, Rooney's is more realistic, and the story is more logical.

You can get the best of both worlds here -- the current iteration of the DVD has both films for your DVD shelf.

Good Sequel

[Michael_Elliott · 28 February 2008]

Men of Boys Town (1941)

*** (out of 4)

Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) and Whitey (Mickey Rooney) try to save Boys Town while at the same time trying to crack down on abuse in reform schools. I actually preferred this one to the previous film, although this one suffers from trying to do too much in its story. As with the first film there's a lot of sentimental value here but there's also the darker side with the reform schools, which I really enjoyed. Tracy gives another very good performance and Rooney was a lot better here as the older, more mature kid. It was also nice seeing Lee J. Cobb in an early role.

Sensitive film contains heart-warming drama , love , friendship , a blazingly effective sentiment

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 23 July 2021]

A righteous and interesting portrayal of Father Flanagan and the creation of Boys Town . This is a sequel to 1938's Boy Town , the Oscarized film about Father Flanagan who founded a home for orphan young boys , this Men of Boys Town 1941 has the same sentimentality , even more if that's possible . Father Flanagan's reformatory faces closure , while the kids reach out an embittered new inmate. Worth watching for the ace cast reprising their characters . This true-ish story focusing on a lasting bond between Catholic Father Tracy and teen Rooney. This is the story of Father Flanagan and the City for boys that he built in Nebraska . There is such a place as Boys Town . There is a such a man as father Flanagan . This picture is dedicated to him and his splendid work for homeless , abandones boys , regardless of race , creed or color. Father Edward Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) decides to begin a home for young boys . Father Flanagan eventually establishes Boys Town on 200 acres of land 10 miles outside of Omaha , Nebraska. There Flanagan creates a home for juvenile soon-to-be-delinquents . Much of the movie takes Flanagan's tryings to influence one youngster called Whitey Marsh (Mickey Rooney) , who will become again a crook if he doesn't change his ways . When Whitey is implicated in a bank robbery, it puts all of Boys Town at risk. BOYS' TOWN IS Real! Greater than the imagination of the best writers! NOMINATED FOR THE "TEN BEST HEART-DRAMAS OF ALL TIME!" . Not since "Captains Courageous"...such a heart-winning drama. The life story of a boy who was "born to be hung"! .The greatest heart drama of the year.

This follow-up to the Oscar Winning film, ¨Boys Town¨ (1938) is followed , being titled ¨Men of Boys Town¨1941 by Norman Taurog stars again Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy return in an acceptable sequel , this time the school faces financial trouble as Flanagan attempts to help every little boy he meets , then the good Father Flanagan discovers a reform school that has neither reforming nor schooling. This is a sensitive , good feeling and nostalgic , including emotion , love , coming-of-age stories and enjoyable relationship between Flanagan and his protected boys . This quintaessential orphan, waif kiddies saga dealing with boyfriendship and religious protection , as the familiar elements of the genre are all strongly and gratingly in place . Being based on facts , with an attractive and charming screenplay . Said to have been producer Louis B. Mayer's favourite movies . Stars Spencer Tracy as the priest who founded a sanctuary for wayward boys . He and Michael Rooney were among the world's most popular stars at the time and the public flocked to watch the picture . But Spencer Tracy decided that the Oscar he had won really belonged to the real-life Flanagan . He sent it along the priest that a new inscription which read ¨To father Edward J Flanagan , whose great human qualities , kindly simplicity and inspiring courage were strong enough to shine through my humble effort : Spencer Tracy¨. The picture will appeal to Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney fans .

"What brand do you smoke, sweetheart?"

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 19 April 2014]

Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) has his hands full with huge debts that threaten to close the doors of Boys Town, plus more troubled boys to save such as a crippled boy convicted of manslaughter! Also the Father's prize pupil Whitey (Mickey Rooney) goes to live with a foster family and gets into trouble, thanks to a pint-sized tough guy (Darryl Hickman).

Good sequel to Boys Town reunites Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, as well as a few of the kid actors who were in the last film. Henry Hull's part is recast with, of all people, Lee J. Cobb in one of his first significant roles. Rooney's star had risen since 1938 and in many ways he was more of the star of this one than Tracy was. Darryl Hickman is so cute as the little hoodlum Flip. He really steals the movie. A little long and the plot's kind of scattered but it's enjoyable and pleasant with lots of tear-jerking moments.

Late night viewing with Mickey and Spencer prompted my tear ducts so be forewarned this is a real tear jerker

[Ed-Shullivan · 8/10 · 22 November 2017]

Let me be clear that the film Men of Boys Town is well worth the watch if for no other reason than the re-matching of the two great actors Spencer Tracy who plays Father Flanagan and Mickey Rooney who plays Whitey Marsh, the Mayor of Boys Town. Mickey's role is key to the film in terms of him being portrayed as the protector of all boys who end up in a reform school. Of course there is abuse at some of these school for boys and you only have to be reminded of the Catholic Churches in Boston who eventually paid out tens of millions of dollars for their decades of abuse of young boys in their control.

In this film there is one young man named Ted Martley, played by Larry Munn, who is beaten so badly by the guards at his reform school that he cannot even walk due to paralysis of the leg. Father Flanagan travels over a thousand miles to bring the young and disengaged Ted Martley to Boys Town where he encourages his greatest supporter Whitey Marsh, the so-called ordained Mayor of Boys Town, played by Mickey Rooney, to show this young man that everyone deserves a second chance and that there are people out there who truly care for the impoverished youth of society to ensure they grow up with both a spiritual and moral compass.

Whitey Marsh is the epitome of believing in himself and the younger boys of Boys Town so he sets his goal to make this paralyzed youth Ted Martley recognize that he does have true friends at Boys Town. Oh, and of course the director, Norman Taurog, brings in a cute little dog who just loves to jump on Ted's lap and lick his face so much so that Ted finally comes out of his self absorbed shell and cracks his first smile while sitting up in his bed.

The Men of Boys Town is aptly named as these young boys must face real challenges both in life and in death, and no one can bring these emotions to life better than Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy. This is well worth the watch even in this century some 76 years later from its initial release. Be sure to keep a box of tissues close to you though, especially late at night when your guard may be down, as mine was. Tears will flow, but joy and redemption is their main message.

I give the film an 8 out of 10 rating.

There Is A Good Reason Few People Know This Film

[ccthemovieman-1 · 4/10 · 23 October 2006]

I had an inkling, despite the fine cast in here, that this sequel wasn't close to the original or it would have been better known. Few people even know this exists. That's not a big loss to them, as this isn't much.

It was just too sappy and there was too much focus on this pouting teenager who had been abused at another institution, a place where the good Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) was going to expose.

This one just didn't have the charm of "Boys Town." Too bad wasting the talents of Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Bobs Watson, Darryl Hickman, Henry O'Neil, Lee J. Cobb and others. Wait - I shouldn't say that about Rooney. He's the star of this film and puts in another good performance.

Mickey Rooney Is The Star Here

[muffinheuer2003 · 10/10 · 27 August 2005]

Mickey Rooney's performance is what makes this film terrific. I'm always amazed at the talent of Mickey Rooney. In my opinion he is a much underrated performer. He could do it all.Make you laugh, make you cry, make you jump for job. Mickey Rooney is the star of this movie, Men Of Boys Town. His performance is tops. He ease and dramatic and comedy talents are well on display here. In my opinion, he far outshines Spencer Tracy in both Boys Town and Men Of Boys Town. Mickey should have one the Oscar for this one. If you want to see more great acting by Mickey Rooney check out Young Tom Edison, Drive A Crooked Road, Huckleberry Finn etc. You wil be glad you did. Mickey Rooney, forever may he shine. He was and is the tops. The King Of Hollywood!

Where's Henry Hull?

[HotToastyRag · 5/10 · 16 September 2019]

They're back! Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Bobs Watson, Sidney Miller, and the memorable structure and story of Boys Town return in Men of Boys Town. Aren't we forgetting someone? The person who made Boys Town possible by continually funding it in the first movie-where's Henry Hull? I don't know if he refused to be in the sequel or if Hollywood forgot to invite him to the party, but since I'm a fan of his, I missed him. His character was still in the movie, but Lee J. Cobb replaced him, and the audience was not supposed to notice.

This one's a bit weird, with a subplot that seemed to summon the expertise of a therapist, not a priest. Mary Nash and Henry O'Neill play a couple whose child has died, and they're on the lookout to adopt from Boys Town. Instead of choosing a younger boy, they set their sights on Mickey Rooney, one of the oldest in the home, because he's the age their son would have been. When they start suggesting he call them Mom and Dad, it feels really strange. Larry Nunn and Darryl Hickman are the new boys, but there's no way to repeat the heartwarming feeling you get from watching the original Boys Town. I know you'll want to rent it, but just don't expect too much out of it.

Are you MAN enough?

[lrrap · 8/10 · 25 December 2010]

Yes...man enough to risk breaking down in tears and crying like a baby at the aftermath of Bo Hunk's demise? When Ted Maitland...that poor kid who suffers so much pain and heartbreak...finally summons the strength to pull himself together and (literally) stand on his own, with Herbert Stothart's background music sounding as if the Heavens have opened and angel voices are cascading down from above (he actually quotes the carol "Angels We Have Heard on High" at this point).... I thought I'd never recover from this scene, which must be among the most heart wrenching in all cinema.

Of course, bear in mind that it's the Louis B. Mayer/MGM special brand of heartstring tugging, which many people regard as hopelessly old-fashioned and manipulative. But so what? That's what audiences of the day knew, living through the desperation and darkness of the Depression, where young children who were orphaned or abandoned often faced the cruelty of the world by themselves, where a saint-like character such as Father Flanagan represented both spiritual and physical salvation. "Men of Boy's Town" is certainly as maudlin and sentimental a film as you are likely to encounter, but it serves as a testament to the time in which it was made....and as such remains a valuable social document, both in terms of its subject matter and the way in which audiences of the day reacted to it.

That being said, the Darrell Hickman character---the pint-sized hood "Flip"---seems about as exaggerated and far from reality as can be imagined, but then again, what do I know? I wasn't alive back then; maybe such characters actually existed. (And yes, the "SLO-MO" comedy act that the boys perform to cheer up Ted in his hospital room goes on AT LEAST 3 times as long as it should have).

Still, first-rate performances all around.

It's a pity that this film is practically un-noticeable as a bonus on the same DVD along with "Boy's Town", so little attention is it given; I at first thought it was a short documentary or something of that sort; but no, it is a full-length, and very substantial sequel to the fine original film.

More Boys in the Hood

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 18 August 2007]

More "Boys Town" fun from director Norman Taurog and company; including Spencer Tracy as the good Priest, and Mickey Rooney as Bad Boy (turned good). Mr. Tracy continues to fight for his homes for "Delinquent Boys"; Mr. Rooney begins to fight for wayward boys, too, proving the Priest's theories work. Again, Tracy makes a good case for nurture over nature. Again, the film suffers through mugging slapstick, and oversentimentality. It's difficult to take the movie seriously after the slow-motion fight scene. Larry Nunn steals the film, with a more consistent performance than Spencer Tracy! Mickey Rooney! and Bobs Watson! If you must take another trip to "Boys Town", watch Larry Nunn as "Ted" turn in a fine performance amid all the overacting and underplaying.

***** Men of Boys Town (4/10/41) Norman Taurog ~ Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Larry Nunn, Bobs Watson

The legend meeting between Rooney and Tracy

[moatazmohsen78 · 8/10 · 16 June 2008]

Spencer Tracy was a great actor made an influence for many actors as (Michael Kean) by his glamorous roles especially his role in this film that he won on it an Oscar prize best leading role in 1942> He made a golden duet with Rooney by focusing on children and teenagers who suffered from dangerous atmosphere that will cause to prison as a cancer of bad habits.

Tracy played a role of Priest that tried to narrow the gap between children and their society as a satisfy between them forever due to build a new society with low rank of crimes , problems and negative points.

Not as good as the original, but nice to see Mickey and Spence together again.

[k_jasmine_99 · 8/10 · 6 May 2000]

This isn't as good of a film as Boys Town, but then most sequels don't live up to the original. Mickey Rooney gives a refreshingly toned-down portrayal of an older, more mature Whitey Marsh, and of course Spencer Tracy fits right back into the role of Father Flanagan. A bit idealistic and old-fashioned, but perhaps that is exactly what draws me to films like these? Any fan of classic movies, Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, or all of the above will have a nice time watching this movie.