Awards
| Award | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Production | Nominated | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (John W. Considine, Jr, Producer) |
| Best Director | Nominated | Norman Taurog |
| Best Actor | Won | Spencer Tracy |
| Best Writing, Screenplay | Nominated | John Meehan and Dore Schary |
| Best Writing, Original Story | Won | Eleanore Griffin and Dore Schary |
In February 1939, when he accepted his Oscar for the role, Spencer Tracy responded graciously by spending all of his acceptance speech talking about Father Flanagan. "If you have seen him through me, then I thank you." An overzealous MGM publicity representative announced that Tracy was donating his Oscar to Flanagan without confirming it with Tracy. Tracy's response was: "I earned the damn thing. I want it." The Academy hastily struck another inscription, Tracy kept his statuette, and Boys Town got one, too. It read: "To Father Flanagan, whose great humanity, kindly simplicity, and inspiring courage were strong enough to shine through my humble effort. Spencer Tracy."
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