The 1938 film "Boys Town" is based on the real-life home for boys established by Father Edward Flanagan, an Omaha Nebraska Roman Catholic priest, in 1917. The film is based on a true story but includes a fictional boy "troublemaker." Spencer Tracy plays Father Flanagan and Mickey Rooney plays the boy named Whitey Marsh. In 1917 Father Flanagan opens a home for boys which becomes a permanent establishment in 1921. Father Flanagan partners with a storekeeper to raise funds for the institution. Scenes of fundraising include various coins and a currency note in a cash register.

Father Flanagan and some reporters hear the last confession of condemned man Dan Farrow.

Dan Farrow blames his situation on being poor, homeless, and abused as a child. Father Flanagan decides to open a home for boys and gets permission from his bishop to do so. Father Flanagan meets Dave Morris, a storekeeper, who assists him.

A local storekeeper, Dave Morris, joins Father Flanagan as an accountant and financial advisor. Father Flanagan visits John Hargraves, a newspaper publisher, to ask for assistance.

Father Flanagan believes that "there is no such thing as a bad boy." The publisher does not believe that Boys Town will succeed but does run some stories. The newspaper stories bring in some money.

Some stamped envelopes are opened.

A cash register with coins and a currency note are shown. The coins appear to be small motion picture prop or imitation coins.

The bill is a copy of a Mexican Revolution Sonora "two-head" note. For more information on these bills please visit: Mexican Revolution Currency Notes.

Boys Town becomes a reality.

The Boys Town and its associated ranch and farm are running but the accountant Dave Morris frequently comes to Father Flanagan with bad news about the finances. The story changes with the arrival of fictional teenage gangster Whitey Marsh. Whitey's older brother, serving a life sentence in prison, asks Father Flanagan to take his brother. Father Flanagan goes to see Whitey.

Whitey plays the "tough guy" but finds that Father Flanagan is tougher. Father Flanagan brings Whitey to Boys Town.

Whitey is a show-off and alienates the other boys. He is also a politican and runs for "mayor."

Whitey only gets a couple of votes and runs away after seeing another boy hit by a car.

Unknown to Whitey, his brother has escaped from prison. Whitey walks near a bank in Omaha which coincidentally his brother and two others have robbed.

Whitey is accidently shot by his brother.

Whitey is taken back to Boys Town and placed in an infirmiry where Father Flanagan and a policeman question him. Whitey mentions to another boy where his brother is hiding. Since Whitey was a resident of Boys Town the newspaper publisher uses the connection to call for the closure of the place.

Whitey leaves Boys Town and heads for his brother's hideout. The brother's partners do not trust Whitey and plan to eliminate him. The boys find out where the Whitey and the gang are and decide to "take care" of them. Father Flanagan joins the group headed to the hideout.

The boys invade the place and they and Whitey overpower the three robbers.

Whitey pleads that he was not involved in the robbery and is allowed back in Boys Town.

The accountant is happy until Father Flanagan asks the cost of adding a dormitory for more boys.

At a meeting of the residents Whitey is elected "mayor."

Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan
Mickey Rooney as Whitey Marsh
Henry Hull as Dave Morris
Bobs Watson as Pee Wee
Leslie Fenton as Dan Farrow
Director: Norman Taurog
Writers: Dore Schary, Eleanore Griffin, John Meehan