Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Muna 1937, Rooney akawana mubhadharo wepamusoro saShockey Carter mu"Hoosier Schoolboy", asi basa rake guru somutambi wemitambo rakauya muna 1938 mu"Boys Town" achipesana naSpencer Tracy saBaba Flanagan, uyo anotarisira musha wevakomana vasina pokugara uye vasina pokugara. Rooney ane makore 18 okukura naDeanna Durbin ane makore 17 okukura vakapiwa mubayiro chaiwo weJuvenile Academy Award muna 1939
, "nokuda kwokubatsira kukuru mukuunza pachiratidziro mudzimu uye kuratidzirwa kwepwere". Wayne anorondedzera chimwe che"zviitiko zvakakurumbira zvikurusa" mufirimu racho, umo Rooney muduku akasimba ari kutamba poker nefodya mumuromo make, ngowani yake yakasungwa, uye tsoka dzake dziri patafura. "Tracy anomubata nemakumbo, anokanda fodya yacho kure, uye anomusundidzira pachigaro. 'Izvozvo zviri nani,' anoudza Mickey". Louis B. Mayer akati "Boys Town" yakanga iri firimu rake raaifarira mukati memakore ake paMGM.