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Spencer Tracy won his second (consecutive) Academy Award for his portrayal of Father Flanagan, a man who firmly believed “there are no bad boys.” In the movie and in real life, Flanagan built an educational refuge for homeless and delinquent boys to prove his theory, and the facility still operates today. Mickey Rooney plays the toughest of Flanagan’s kids, a boy whose defiance and criminal connections almost cause Boys Town to be shut down. I love the film’s climax, when Flanagan and all the older boys storm a bank robber’s hideout in a last ditch effort to save the institution’s good name. I know Boys Town is sentimental and maybe even a tad bit ingratiating, but I guess I have a soft spot for stories about children who band together, and for the most part, take care of themselves. Boys Town is a genuine feel good movie about having faith in your fellow man and making the best of what you have. And as far as great heroes of the movies go, I’d put Flanagan right up there with Atticus Finch.

Academy Awards: Best Actor (Spencer Tracy), Best Writing – Original Story

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Norman Taurog), Best Writing – Original Screenplay