REGENT

Evening Star, Issue 23354, 25 August 1939, Page 3

REGENT

‘ Boys’ Town,’ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s emotional drama, is the story of the experiment of an American priest, Father Flanagan, who believes that there is ho such phenomenon as a “bad” boy. Twenty-five years ago, when he was an unknown parish priest, Father Flanagan saidl of the numerous criminals with whom he had become acquainted: “Everyone of these could have been saved if he had had one good friend when he was 12.” From this remark sprang the idea of his colony of homeless and potentially criminal boys. He borrowedl enough money from a Jewish pawnbroker, with his bishop’s permission, to buy an old house, which became the nucleus of a colony from which he has now sent 4,500 boys into the world, not one of whom has ever faced a criminal charge since he left Boys’ Town. To-night the Regent will show on the screen M.G.M.’s conception of this true-life story of humanitarianism and devotion to the cause of the homeless. ’ Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney are the featured artists, and both are said to give worthy performances. Spencer. Tracy’s portrayal of Father Flanagan 1 earned him the Academy Award for 1938, this marking the second occasion on which be has been so honoured.