Fighting Father Dunne

Fighting Father Dunne

Year: 1948

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Ted Tetzlaff

DramaCrime

This is His Real-Life Story A dedicated priest tries to reform a group of homeless boys in turn-of-the-century St. Louis.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Fighting Father Dunne (1948)

Trace every key event in Fighting Father Dunne (1948) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Preserving the sidewalk slab

Renovations begin on the News Boys' Home in St. Louis. Fred Carver asks that the sidewalk slab containing two sets of footprints—his boyhood print and Father Dunne's—be preserved. He then recounts the priest's story and the founding of the building as work proceeds.

1905 Front of the News Boys' Home, St. Louis
2

Two boys seek help from Dunne

Tony and Jimmy tell Dunne about their sick friend living in a cardboard box, and Dunne takes action. He brings the boys to his sister Kate's house where she and her husband Emmett agree to shelter them temporarily until a permanent solution can be found.

1905 Dunne's parish; Kate's house
3

Dunne pursues support for a home

Dunne visits Archbishop John Joseph Glennon to outline his plan for a home for newsboys and other street children. The Archbishop pledges support but makes clear the diocese cannot contribute money. Undaunted, Dunne starts persuading local businesspeople to donate materials and funds, and he rents a run-down townhouse to begin renovations.

1905-1906 Archbishop's office; local businesses, St. Louis
4

Legal help and donations enable renovation

Dunne enlists attorney Thomas Lee to negotiate on behalf of the project and provide free legal counsel. Local businesses donate materials for the refurbishment, and the townhouse renovation gathers momentum. The early work lays the groundwork for a larger, permanent home.

1905-1906 Townhouse in St. Louis; local businesses
5

The home fills with youths and mentorship begins

As the house improves, more troubled youths arrive seeking shelter and guidance. Dunne provides food and care, and begins mentoring especially Matt Davis, a boy scarred by abuse. The home becomes a stabilizing force for them.

1905-1906 News Boys' Home, St. Louis
6

Bullying escalates and a brutal incident

The older delivery boys bully the younger ones, challenging Dunne's authority. Matt organizes the boys to stand together, but violence escalates and a horse loaned for deliveries is killed, while Jimmy is crushed beneath a wagon. Matt flees the home in shame.

late 1905 Delivery routes near the home; streets of St. Louis
7

Pressure from the paper owner shifts the balance

Dunne convinces Michael O'Donnell, the paper owner who lent the company a horse, to threaten eviction of the newspaper if the violence continues. The tactic pressures the older delivery boys, and the newspaper relents, offering support to the youths instead. The immediate threat helps avert further violence.

1905 Newspaper offices; storefronts
8

Planning and building a permanent home

With the threat resolved, Dunne focuses on fundraising for a larger, permanent home. O'Donnell and Lee help form a board of directors to oversee the drive. The new home is eventually built and opened to house the growing numbers of youths.

1906-1907 St. Louis; construction site
9

Matt's return and the attempt to surrender

Matt arrives at the home seeking help after fleeing from a robbery and confrontation with the police. Dunne agrees to help but urges him to turn himself in, hoping to face responsibility. Before any surrender, they are interrupted by a police officer, and Matt—mistaking him for his drunk father—shoots and kills the officer.

circa 1907 News Boys' Home vicinity
10

Matt surrenders and is sentenced to death

Matt surrenders to authorities and is sentenced to death. Dunne intercedes with the governor in an appeal for clemency, but the execution proceeds. The tragedy weighs heavily on Dunne and the remaining boys.

1907-1908 Missouri state prison; Governor's office
11

Dunne returns to the home after the execution

After the execution, Father Dunne returns to the News Boys' Home and finds solace in the boys who have looked to him as their savior. They await him and signal the ongoing impact of his work. His mission to rescue street children remains a beacon for them.

late 1907-1908 News Boys' Home, St. Louis
12

Legacy of the home and footprint slab

The building stands as a lasting symbol of Dunne's work and the protection he offered to countless youths. Carver's preserved footprint slab acts as a tangible reminder of the history shared by the priest and the community. The story closes with a sense of hope and remembrance for the children he saved.

post-1908 St. Louis; the preserved sidewalk slab

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:12

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fighting Father Dunne

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