Yes, "Boy's Town" was influenced by a true story, made a film because of the success of "Dead End". In a short period of just two years, there were dozens of films about problem teens, all tough talking with hidden big hearts underneath the snarling dialog. The Little Tough Guys and East Side Kids got together for this Universal programmer which features Billy Halop and Huntz Hall (no Leo Gorcey), focusing on Halop, a street punk whose brother was sent to death row, creating a resentment towards the cops even if it's obvious that they are trying to help them go straight.
The young Darryl Hickman is an instant scene stealer as the neighborhood mascot, a young kid whose involvement with the gang leads to violent showdowns with real criminals and creates a lot of violence. Halop and Hall are joined by Gabriel Dell, with Anne Gwynne initially seen sauntering across the screen as if she was Lana Turner and "They Won't Forget". Dick Foran plays the neighborhood cop who wants to give the tough kids a chance to make good. this is filled with the same cliches as the dozens of other films of this type made during that two year period. Still pleasant enough entertainment even with all those cliches that made all of these films seem pretty much the same.
The young Darryl Hickman is an instant scene stealer as the neighborhood mascot, a young kid whose involvement with the gang leads to violent showdowns with real criminals and creates a lot of violence. Halop and Hall are joined by Gabriel Dell, with Anne Gwynne initially seen sauntering across the screen as if she was Lana Turner and "They Won't Forget". Dick Foran plays the neighborhood cop who wants to give the tough kids a chance to make good. this is filled with the same cliches as the dozens of other films of this type made during that two year period. Still pleasant enough entertainment even with all those cliches that made all of these films seem pretty much the same.