Boys Town

TCM's Alicia Malone introduces Boys Town, 1938.

TCM's Alicia Malone introduces Boys Town, 1938.

TCM's Saturday afternoon host Tiffany Vazquez introduces Boys Town, 1938.

Having rushed into court to defend some of his charges, Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) persuades pawn-broker Dave (Henry Hull), merchant Kahn (Sidney Miller), and the judge (Addison Richards) that little harm was done, early in Boys Town, 1938.

Pee Wee (Bobs Watson) greets financial backer Dave (Henry Hull) and Burton (Robert Emmett Keane) who find Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) trying to prevent newcomer Whitey (Mickey Rooney) from escaping, in MGM's Boys Town, 1938.

One of the finest scenes for the overlooked Liverpool-born actor-turned-director Leslie Fenton as convict Dan, with the warden (John Hamilton), then Academy Award-winning star Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan, Roger Converse and Walter Young in support, opening the MGM hit Boys Town, 1938.

Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy) lobbies Nebraska newspaper magnate Hargraves (Jonathan Hale), a montage creates the buildings, and financier Dave (Henry Hull) frets, in MGM's Boys Town, 1938.

Father Flanagan (Spencer Tracy), sent by the convict brother of delinquent Whitey (Mickey Rooney), forcibly recruits him, in their first meeting in MGM's Boys Town, 1938.

Spencer Tracy won his second Best Actor Oscar in a row portraying Father Flanagan in Boys' Town (1938).