The priest so beloved, 2,000+ soldiers named him 'dad' in their will.
Father Edward J. Flanagan is a familiar name to many Americans, often for the Oscar-winning 1938 film starring Spencer Tracy about Flanagan’s groundbreaking child welfare organization. But the story extends far beyond that, to a man whose name and legacy are still well-known as far as Germany and Japan. Flanagan gained influence and admiration over the course of his life from Presidents, CEOs, celebrities and more, but none mattered more to him than that of the children for whom he tirelessly worked. A sobering reminder of this was during WWII, as Flanagan saw droves of former Boys Town citizens go off to war. In fact, so many former Boys Town boys named Flanagan as their next of kin that the American War Dads Association named him as America’s No. 1 War Dad.
Production
Rare WWII footage of Boys Town boys shipping out—haunting archival power.
Writing
Jonathan Roumie's narration gives unexpected spiritual warmth without preachiness.
Director
Daniel Gebert
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Father Flanagan personally interviewed every boy admitted to Boys Town until his death in 1948—roughly 6,000 interviews.
Boys Town's 1938 film win made Flanagan a celebrity priest decades before televangelism; this doc quietly argues that fame was the original sin that complicated his legacy.
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