The Champ (1931) | |
| Director(s) | King Vidor (uncredited) |
| Producer(s) | King Vidor, Harry Rapf (uncredited), Irving Thalberg (uncredited), William M. Weiss (uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Sports |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Boxing, Father Son, Horses |
Featured Cast:
The Champ Overview:
The Champ (1931) was a Drama - Black-and-white Film directed by King Vidor and produced by King Vidor, Irving Thalberg, William M. Weiss and Harry Rapf.
SYNOPSIS
Cooper and Oscar-winner Beery star in this classic tearjerker about a young boy's love for his washed-up boxer father. Champ's fighting career has hit the skids, but he is attempting to make a comeback. However, his frequent drinking and gambling keep getting in the way. Despite Champ's failures, his son, Dink, continues to believe in him. Meanwhile, Dink's mother, Linda, has come back into their lives. Since divorcing Champ, she's remarried and now wants to gain custody of her son to raise him in a better environment. Dink and Champ reluctantly agree but, very soon, the boy goes running back to his father - just in time to watch him face a Mexican fighter in a tough match that could be Champ's last. Remade in 1979.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1931/32 --- Ceremony Number 5 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | Wallace Beery | Won |
| Best Director | King Vidor | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Frances Marion | Won |
BlogHub Articles:
Music Review : The Mountain Goats – Beat the Champ (2015)
By Michael on Apr 23, 2015 From Le Mot du CinephiliaqueMusic Review : The Mountain Goats – Beat the Champ (2015, Merge) With their indie rock infused with melancholy and a certain naive charm, The Mountain Goats released a new record based around wrestling and the ecosystem it is linked with. Scrumy basement rings and a respect for the discipli... Read full article
The Champ – the tears were flowing
By Eric on Feb 16, 2013 From Classic Film TalkI watched this incredibly emotional story last night. Made in 1931, I was not expecting it to have such an impact. Let’s face it, the acting in those days was exaggerated, often wooden with those lilting tones in the voices. There was some of that, particularly coming from the lead actress, Ir... Read full article
Break out the champagne (again), the '55 Hitchcock...
By The Lady Eve on Apr 15, 2012 From Lady Eve's Reel LifeAlfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief screens today at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival. In celebration of the third annual greatest-classic-film-festival-in-the-world, I’m posting this new and improved version of a piece on To Catch a Thief that first appeared here on New Year’s D... Read full article
Break out the champagne (again), the '55 Hitchcock...
By The Lady Eve on Apr 15, 2012 From Lady Eve's Reel LifeAlfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief screens today at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival. In celebration of the third annual greatest-classic-film-festival-in-the-world, I’m posting this new and improved version of a piece on To Catch a Thief that first appeared here on New Year’s D... Read full article
Break out the champagne (again), the '55 Hitchcock...
By The Lady Eve on Apr 15, 2012 From Lady Eve's Reel LifeAlfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief screens today at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival. In celebration of the third annual greatest-classic-film-festival-in-the-world, I’m posting this new and improved version of a piece on To Catch a Thief that first appeared here on New Year’s D... Read full article
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Quotes from
Dink Purcell: The Champ and I ain't fixed up swell as this, but our joint's more lively.
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Facts about
Although the AFI Catalogue specifies the world premiere was in Hollywood (at Grauman's Chinese Theater) on 13 November 1931, the New York Times review of 10 November 1931 says "last night it succeeded in stirring the emotions of an audience in the Astor..." Since the review concludes that the film is AT THE ASTOR, it seems likely that it was ready for public viewing immediately. The AFI Catalogue world premiere statement is probably wrong, and that it was just a Hollywood premiere.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie onNovember 13, 1939 with Wallace Beery reprising his film role.
read more facts about The Champ...
