• G, 1 hr. 36 min.
  • Drama, Classics
  • Directed By:
    Norman Taurog
    In Theaters:
    Sep 9, 1938 Wide
    On DVD:
    Nov 8, 2005
  • MGM Home Entertainment
  • Boys Town
    1 minutes 3 seconds
    Added: May 9, 2008

Opening

80% Fast & Furious 6 May 24
27% The Hangover Part III May 23
100% Epic May 24
95% Before Midnight May 24
67% We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks May 24
83% Fill the Void May 24
—— A Green Story
—— Alyce Kills May 24

Top Box Office

86% Star Trek Into Darkness $70.2M
78% Iron Man 3 $35.8M
49% The Great Gatsby $23.9M
46% Pain & Gain $3.2M
69% The Croods $3.0M
77% 42 $2.8M
56% Oblivion $2.3M
98% Mud $2.2M
37% Peeples $2.2M
8% The Big Wedding $1.2M

Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
88% The East May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31

Boys Town Reviews

Page 1 of 1

TV Guide's Movie Guide

One of the more overrated films of its era.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Original Score: 3/4

February 10, 2012
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

There's only one Christmas scene, but the movie's sentimental mood makes for nice holiday viewing.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Original Score: 3/4

December 25, 2009
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

Full Review Source: Variety

March 26, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Film Threat

A dated but entertaining tale of friendship

| Original Score: 3/5

August 9, 2007
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

a watershed film that discusses an important societal development

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Original Score: 3.5/5

November 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

At the time, the real-life Flanagan complained that MGM made Boys Town look so neat, clean, and well managed that he had trouble raising money for the center

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Original Score: B

November 3, 2005
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International

Shameless but effective weepie about wayward orphans

| Original Score: 4/5

October 28, 2005
Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Goatdog's Movies

Tracy is always good -- was he ever bad in a film in his entire career?

Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies | Original Score: 3/5

January 15, 2005
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Superior high-minded 'quality' movie, but in its heart it's a soap opera.

| Original Score: 4/5

January 21, 2004

Film4

These days you might gag at some of the more saccharine aspects.

Full Review Source: Film4

May 24, 2003
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

A classic with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney squaring off magnificently.

| Original Score: 5/5

March 13, 2003
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Mickey Rooney is a hard case, but eventually he cracks -- as will you, under the relentless, flat sentimentality of Norman Taurog's direction.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

January 1, 2000
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

| Original Score: 3/5

September 28, 2005
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

| Original Score: 3/5

November 23, 2004
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

| Original Score: 4/5

February 8, 2004
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

| Original Score: 3/5

July 1, 2003
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

| Original Score: 4/5

May 8, 2003
Brandon Judell
PopcornQ

| Original Score: 4/5

December 19, 2002
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

| Original Score: 3/5

July 29, 2002
Page 1 of 1
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