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The Champ

  • 19311931
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, and Irene Rich in The Champ (1931)
Trailer for this drama directed by King Vidor
Play trailer1:26
1 Video
23 Photos
  • Drama
  • Family
  • Sport

An alcoholic ex-boxer struggles to provide a good living for his son.An alcoholic ex-boxer struggles to provide a good living for his son.An alcoholic ex-boxer struggles to provide a good living for his son.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • King Vidor
  • Writers
    • Frances Marion(story)
    • Wanda Tuchock(additional dialogue)
    • Don Marquis(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Wallace Beery
    • Jackie Cooper
    • Irene Rich
Top credits
  • Director
    • King Vidor
  • Writers
    • Frances Marion(story)
    • Wanda Tuchock(additional dialogue)
    • Don Marquis(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Wallace Beery
    • Jackie Cooper
    • Irene Rich
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Champ
    Trailer 1:26
    The Champ

    Photos23

    Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, and Jesse Scott in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in The Champ (1931)
    Jackie Cooper in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, and Irene Rich in The Champ (1931)
    Jackie Cooper and Irene Rich in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in The Champ (1931)
    Jackie Cooper, Marcia Mae Jones, and Jesse Scott in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery in The Champ (1931)
    Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in The Champ (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Wallace Beery
    Wallace Beery
    • Andy 'Champ' Purcellas Andy 'Champ' Purcell
    Jackie Cooper
    Jackie Cooper
    • Dink Purcellas Dink Purcell
    Irene Rich
    Irene Rich
    • Lindaas Linda
    Roscoe Ates
    Roscoe Ates
    • Spongeas Sponge
    Edward Brophy
    Edward Brophy
    • Timas Tim
    Hale Hamilton
    Hale Hamilton
    • Tonyas Tony
    Jesse Scott
    • Jonahas Jonah
    Marcia Mae Jones
    Marcia Mae Jones
    • Mary Louas Mary Lou
    Dannie Mac Grant
    Dannie Mac Grant
    • Boy Taunting Dinkas Boy Taunting Dink
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Hagney
    Frank Hagney
    • Manuel Quiroga - Mexican Champas Manuel Quiroga - Mexican Champ
    • (uncredited)
    Dell Henderson
    Dell Henderson
    • The Doctoras The Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Tom McGuire
    Tom McGuire
    • Los Angeles Promoteras Los Angeles Promoter
    • (uncredited)
    Walter Percival
    • Los Angeles Promoteras Los Angeles Promoter
    • (uncredited)
    Bob Perry
    • Refereeas Referee
    • (uncredited)
    Lee Phelps
    • Louie - the Bartenderas Louie - the Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    Andy Shuford
    Andy Shuford
    • Boy at Racetrackas Boy at Racetrack
    • (uncredited)
    Dan Tobey
    Dan Tobey
    • Ring Announceras Ring Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • King Vidor
    • Writers
      • Frances Marion(story)
      • Wanda Tuchock(additional dialogue)
      • Don Marquis(dialogue) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Dink Purcell loves his alcoholic father, ex-heavyweight champion Andy "Champ" Purcell, despite his frequent binges, his frequent gambling and their squalid living conditions. And there's nothing Andy wouldn't do for Dink. When Andy wins a race horse gambling, he gives it to Dink and they race it at a Tijuana track. There, Dink meets Linda Carleton, a race horse owner herself, and they have an immediate rapport. But Linda's rich husband sees Andy and realizes Dink is Linda's son, who she gave up when she and Andy divorced. Andy is bribed $200 to allow Dink to visit with Linda, but refuses to allow Dink to spend six months with the Carletons. When Andy loses the horse gambling and winds up in jail after a drunken tirade, he realizes Dink's place is with his mother. Dink tearfully goes but sneaks out and returns at his first opportunity, filling a depressed Andy with a desire to make good. So Andy goes into training after his managers arrange a boxing match with the Mexican champion. —Arthur Hausner <genart@volcano.net>
    • racetrack
    • alcoholic
    • tijuana mexico
    • single father
    • heart attack
    • 32 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He loved this boy of his more than anything else in the world-but knew that the best thing he could do for him was to go out of his life forever...A world of pathos and cheer in a picture you will never forget. (Print Ad- Philadelphia Inquirer, ((Philadelphia, Penna.)) 23 December 1931)
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Family
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Wallace Beery actually got one less vote than Fredric March in the 1931/1932 Academy Awards voting for best actor, but the rules at the time considered anyone with one or two votes less than the leader as being in a tie. So both got Academy Awards.
    • Goofs
      As Dink plays on the balcony awaiting his meeting with Linda, he steals chewing gum and candy for himself off of a table on the balcony. He then steals the contents of a box of cigarettes, saying that he'll "bring some home for the Champ", and stuffs them into his right jacket pocket. However, during the ride home, Andy reaches into Dink's right jacket pocket and finds cigars rather than the cigarettes which we clearly saw Dink steal.
    • Quotes

      [Dink compares the swanky home to his own]

      Dink Purcell: The Champ and I ain't fixed up swell as this, but our joint's more lively.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Our Gang Story (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      The Monkeys Have No Tails in Pago Pago
      (uncredited)

      Composer uncertain

      Sung a cappella by Wallace Beery

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    Swell!
    I had seen the 1979 remake starring Jon Voigt and Faye Dunaway (the female part was much more important ) and I was not that impressed.Jon Voigt was too good-looking and too handsome to portray the champ successfully.The original really blew my mind:the Wallace Beery /Jackie Cooper team was a winning one and it's one of the best pairings man/boy in the history of cinema ,with echoes of Charlie Chaplin's "the kid" .Although the movie takes place in the prizefighters milieu,the plot is pure melodrama ,mainly aimed at the female audience .The reactionary side of the melodrama -the posh lady horrified at the people around her boy, a "normal" wealthy family is the safe way to happiness,etc- is present but emotion survives the tear-jerker side .And I dare you not to shed a tear when the boy screams "I want the champ!".
    helpful•10
    1
    • dbdumonteil
    • Nov 2, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Şampiyon
    • Filming locations
      • Agua Caliente Racetrack, Baja California Norte, Mexico
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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