Boys Town (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1938, Boys Town is a drama film directed by Norman Taurog, running about 96 minutes. “"No boy is bad, if given a chance!"” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Devout but iron-willed Father Flanagan leads a community called Boys Town, a different sort of juvenile detention facility where, instead of being treated as underage criminals, the boys are shepherded into making themselves better people. But hard-nosed petty thief and pool shark Whitey Marsh, the impulsive and violent younger brother of an imprisoned murderer, might be too much for the good father's tough-love system.
Who’s in it. Boys Town stars Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan, Mickey Rooney as Whitey Marsh, Henry Hull as Dave Morris and Leslie Fenton as Dan Farrow, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Boys Town has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Boys Town page.
If you liked it. Fans of Boys Town tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Boys Town (1938)?
- In US, Boys Town is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Boys Town worth watching?
- Boys Town holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Boys Town?
- Boys Town stars Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, Henry Hull, Leslie Fenton and Gene Reynolds.