Review of Boys Town (1938) by Daniel Eagan for Film Journal International — 27 Oct 2005

Shameless but effective weepie about wayward orphans.

This review of Boys Town (1938) was written by Daniel Eagan and published by Film Journal International on 27 Oct 2005.

Boys Town has generally received positive reviews.

Was this review helpful?

Yes

More reviews of this movie:

More Reviews of Boys Town

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Natalie M (473) on 05 Jul 2012

A sweet story based on the real Boys Town, but the characters and plot seemed a bit oversimplified and sentimentalized…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Christian B (433) on 29 Jan 2011

What an amzing classic. this is a fantastic movie that is funny cute and sad…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Cathal M (121) on 14 Oct 2010

Growing up, I used to watch Family Classics on WGN out of Chicago. Boys Town was a film I remember seeing several times, and loving it every time…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By A;Slkfj A (24) on 28 Dec 2008

Schmaltzy at times but worth watching for its phenomenal performances. Mickey Rooney is outstanding…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Daniel S (2,332) on 25 Aug 2009

Based on the true story of Father Flannigan, a catholic priest who faught for years against a flawed system to take boys off the streets…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By André D (1,970) on 23 Nov 2014

Spencer Tracy obtuvo el Oscar como mejor actor interpretando al Padre Flanagan y su ciudad de muchachos, en esta melodramática y extremadamente…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Variety Staff (1,156) for Variety (12,700) on 26 Mar 2009

Tracy, showing necessary restraint, makes his portrayal of Flanagan sincere and human…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By I Don't Know W (791) on 16 Jun 2011

And Oscar makes two…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Gordon T (252) on 10 Apr 2011

SPENCER TRACEY is FATHER FLANAGHAN and MICKEY ROONEY is WHITEY MARSH I LOVE THIS MOVIE . . . I saw it on TCM during Mickey Rooney Month…

Read Review

Review of Boys Town (1938)

By Devon B (391) on 18 Jul 2010

Spencer Tracy plays Father Flanagan, the creator of Boys Town, in this sentimental film from 1938…

Read Review

More reviews of this movie

Reviews of Similar Movies

Review of Miracles from Heaven (2016)

By Gameguardian21 (109) on 20 Mar 2016

If your a religious, you will like this movie. If your not, like me, then you wont enjoy it…

Read Review

Review of Yes, God, Yes (2020)

By Preacher_68 (1) on 25 Apr 2021

The movie was well done and interesting. Alice really did a marvelous job…

Read Review

More Reviews

Popular Movies Right Now

The Judge

2014

67%866 Reviews

Joker

2019

81%299 Reviews

Parasite

2019

87%251 Reviews

A Quiet Place

2018

76%1,685 Reviews

Inside Out

2015

86%1,276 Reviews

Oppenheimer

2023

85%310 Reviews

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

2023

85%233 Reviews

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

2019

81%344 Reviews

Purple Hearts

2022

56%11 Reviews

Where the Crawdads Sing

2022

63%92 Reviews

Movies You Viewed Recently

Boys Town

1938

73%87 Reviews

Animal Farm

1954

69%189 Reviews

The Young Philadelphians

1959

76%28 Reviews

The Darjeeling Limited

2007

72%806 Reviews

Searching

2018

77%739 Reviews

Coco

2017

84%1,516 Reviews

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

2000

59%789 Reviews

Lilo & Stitch

2002

76%787 Reviews

Turbo

2013

62%676 Reviews

Bambi

2013

67%533 Reviews