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      Champion

      Released Apr 9, 1949 1h 39m Drama Romance List
      94% 16 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 500+ Ratings Audience Score Scrappy Michael "Midge" Kelly (Kirk Douglas), on the run from a shotgun marriage and needing to help support his handicapped brother, Connie (Arthur Kennedy), angles his way into a short-term job as a boxer. His life of hard knocks has given Midge a fiery temper and a will to win that quickly makes him one of the most popular fighters on the circuit. But when he gets instructed to take a dive in a championship bout, his bosses learn that no one tells Midge Kelly what to do. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 17 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Leaburn O A reasonable boxing pic about a guy who goes from the gutter to world champ, loses his way a bit with women and friends etc. standard stuff but actually a decent ending that I wasn't expecting. Terrible boxing by Kirk as always in these films. Watched this on Sky cinema. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/16/23 Full Review steve d I am not much for this kind of film but Douglas gives one of his best performances. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Although it hardly breaks new ground, even back then, in terms of sports drama, Champion still tells a compelling and believable story of a gifted fighter with more ambition than loyalty. Kirk Douglas is great, and the film editing won an Oscar. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review s r A complicated drama. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A true masterpiece from start to finish. This film is worth adding to your collection. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member OK story but the fight scenes were very unconvincing and the music out of place and annoying. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Christy Lemire Associated Press A tight, gripping drama worth more to the movie customer than many multi-million epics. Jun 19, 2019 Full Review THR Staff Hollywood Reporter Frank Planer's photography has much drama as the script as it begins to tell the story right under the titles and continues compelling on its course through the grim, relentless narrative. Apr 9, 2019 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out The Set-Up, made the same year, is infinitely superior. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Elsa Branden Photoplay Long, loud cheers for the season's smashing movie of the fight game. Rated: 2/3 Aug 20, 2021 Full Review Michael J. Casey Michael J. Cinema In another movie, maybe a Hollywood melodrama, Kelly's defiance, and individualism would be celebrated, maybe even lauded, treating Kelly's rise from rags to riches as something distinctly American and noble. Rated: 3.5/5 Apr 12, 2021 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com In his first Oscar nomination in Mark Robson's compelling melodrama, Kirk Douglas gives a ferociously realistic performance as a boxer determined to succeed at all costs. Rated: A- Jul 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Scrappy Michael "Midge" Kelly (Kirk Douglas), on the run from a shotgun marriage and needing to help support his handicapped brother, Connie (Arthur Kennedy), angles his way into a short-term job as a boxer. His life of hard knocks has given Midge a fiery temper and a will to win that quickly makes him one of the most popular fighters on the circuit. But when he gets instructed to take a dive in a championship bout, his bosses learn that no one tells Midge Kelly what to do.
      Director
      Mark Robson
      Screenwriter
      Carl Foreman, Ring Lardner
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      Screen Plays Corp.
      Genre
      Drama, Romance
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 9, 1949, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 1, 2012
      Runtime
      1h 39m
      Sound Mix
      Mono
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.37:1)
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