1938 – Spencer Tracy
Boys Town
Spencer Tracy was really the hot ticket in the late 30s. He had won the Best Actor award the previous year for Captains Courageous, and here he is again, winning for Boys Town. And he played a completely different character in each film. I mean night and day difference. And there was a reason for all the recognition. He was really a skilled actor who never failed to look completely at ease in front of the camera. And his role in Boys Town, Father Flanagan, seemed to suit him perfectly.
He played a saint of a man, a priest, whose motives were as wholesome as anyone could want. He seemed to be perfect, maybe a little too perfect. But I don’t blame Tracy for that. That was how the script was written. But Tracy was a natural in the part. He always had the right motives, and always knew the right things to say. He was calm and mild mannered, until the climax of the film where a strong right hook was needed to save the day. He took being good and kind and gentle to a whole new level. Such a man could easily have been a caricature, but I don’t think he was. Tracy was good enough to prevent that from happening.
Tracy played Father Flanagan as the priest we all whished we knew. He had a burning desire to help people, and he didn’t just talk about it. He took action to improve the lives of those in need. When he saw a need to help young boys who were living on the streets, he moved proverbial mountains to give them food, a home, educations, activities, and a sense of social responsibility. He did things that should have been impossible, accomplishing miracles through the strength of his convictions and his devout faith in God. And when you watch Tracy play the part, you feel that it isn’t just a role in a movie for him. It’s as if the actor is playing out his own beliefs.
If the character had any flaws, it would be that he was a bit of a bully, except that his motives were always in line with Godly behavior and wholesome Christian values. The thing is, he would use his faith and the weight of his position as a man of God to pressure and manipulate people to do what they normally wouldn’t do. Now, was that a bit of mild thuggery, or just a priest being passionate, and being able to convince people to do what he needed them to do. Maybe a bit of both, I think. It’s a fine line.
But another thing that stood out to me about Tracy’s performance is that he was obviously good with children. He loved the young boys in a completely wholesome and acceptable way. He seemed to put his own love for children into his performance, and it showed. So, nicely done, Tracy.