Des hommes vivront

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.