I guess Boys Town hadn't been founded yet or otherwise young Tommy Ryan would have been sent there. But he has information as to the identity of a gang he helps pull an armored car heist with. So Bruce Cabot has to get it out of him one way or another, but Ryan's a tough 10th Avenue Kid.
So help me God in this film that includes shooting his father John Wray who was one of the gang and then trying to adopt young Ryan. This all the while reporter Beverly Roberts keeps writing some unflattering articles about.
Although the cast tries their best 10th Avenue Kid is a third rate ripoff of Boys Town where Bruce Cabot and Tommy Ryan try to be Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. Being that Cabot is a reporter and not a priest he's allowed a love interest in Roberts. His household consists also of punch drunk pug Horace McMahon who understands Ryan a lot better than Cabot does at times.
The cast gives some sincere performances and Ben Welden is also quite good as the head of the gang Wray and Ryan were part of. But the story is just way too preposterous.