Boys Town (1938)

Spencer Tracy won an Oscar for his portrayal of Father Flanagan, who opens Boys Town and dedicates himself to helping juvenile delinquents go straight. Mickey Rooney plays one of the tougher kids, figuring out early on that Flanagan is nobody’s fool. Warmhearted and inspiring, the film’s inevitable sentimentality is nicely cut by Tracy’s performance and a smart script by Eleanore Griffin and Dore Schary (who also won Oscars). A good film for all ages, directed by Norman Taurog (Adventures of Tom Sawyer).

• Bonus movie sequel: Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney in Men of Boys Town (1941)
• Vintage featurette: The City of Little men
• Good News of 1939 readio show excerpt with Tracy and Rooney
• Girls and Boys Town promotional featurette
• Theatrical trailers