"The Road Home" is a family movie with an amazing cast of character actors. Two orphaned brothers hit the rails for Nebraska, and Father Flanigan (Mickey Rooney) Boys Town. In pursuit is a detective (Charles Martin Smith). Along the way the boys are aided by a group of hobos, the leader being Danny Aiello. To cross the DesMoines River, Kris Kristofferson, secrets the two on his boat. With the orphan's exploits documented daily in National newspapers, they become folk heroes to the many downtrodden of "The Great Depression". If you like a good clean movie which both kids and adults can enjoy together, with lots of steam locomotives, then seek out this obscure VHS titled "The Road Home". - MERK
4 Reviews
Depressing...but ultimately satisfying.
planktonrules7 January 2024
The story begins sometime between 1917 and the Great Depression. A couple boys are orphaned when the rest of their family is killed in a gas explosion. They are taken to a nearby Catholic orphanage, but soon the pair are separated. Some rich woman decide to adopt the youngest one and the older brother insists he's going to rescue his brother as their father would not have wanted them to be separated. The rest of the film consists of their struggle to go cross country, as they heard about Boys Town and Father Flanagan...and hope that if they make it there, they can remain together. Unfortunately, the rich woman sends out detectives to try to catch them as well as offering a huge reward.
The most interesting thing about the film is casting Mickey Rooney in a tiny role as Father Flanagan, as he starred in "Boys Town" back in 1937 as a particularly unruly kid who refused to adapt to the routine at the facility.
So is it any good? Yes. While one review says it's depressing throughout, it's not that bad...as it does have a happy ending. Plus, while some folks are quick to try to sell them out, many others are willing to help them. Overall, an enjoyable made for TV movie.
By the way, IMDB says the film is in color. The copy I saw on YouTube was in black & white...and considering the era in which it was set, I assume it was actually a black & white film.
The most interesting thing about the film is casting Mickey Rooney in a tiny role as Father Flanagan, as he starred in "Boys Town" back in 1937 as a particularly unruly kid who refused to adapt to the routine at the facility.
So is it any good? Yes. While one review says it's depressing throughout, it's not that bad...as it does have a happy ending. Plus, while some folks are quick to try to sell them out, many others are willing to help them. Overall, an enjoyable made for TV movie.
By the way, IMDB says the film is in color. The copy I saw on YouTube was in black & white...and considering the era in which it was set, I assume it was actually a black & white film.
The Great Depression
Snowgo10 April 2017
While I think this is a good story and had some good acting (Danny Aiello), there wasn't a happy moment in the movie. It was all depressing. When the kid they were traveling with got caught (and charged with kidnapping?) and then the homeless people that helped the kids got beaten up by FBI or investigators, that was enough for me. I don't know why the screenwriter insisted on writing a movie where no one was ever happy.., not even for a moment. By the way, having a kids' parents burned like that is not the way to start a movie. This should have been a movie about liberation and possibilities. The tone was more like terror and violence, though. The fact that I still gave it six stars shows that it had something. It could have been great.
Very good movie!!
srmccarthy15 April 2002
This is a touching story about two brothers who struggle to stay together after a tragic accident orphans them! While the brothers make their way to the only possible place available that might keep them together, a place called "Boys Town" Father Flanagan and the boys already entrusted to him follow every step these boys make untill they finally make their.
(There is no indication that this movie is factual, however, deliberately presents itself as being possible!) <Tear Jerker!>
(There is no indication that this movie is factual, however, deliberately presents itself as being possible!) <Tear Jerker!>
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
