The Champ

Released Nov 21, 1931

1h 26m

Drama

List

96%

23 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Champ (Wallace Beery) is a down-on-his-luck boxer in Tijuana whose son, Dink (Jackie Cooper), adores him despite Champ's addictions to alcohol and gambling. When Champ wins enough money from a bet to buy Dink a horse, they enter it into a race, where they encounter Linda (Irene Rich), Dink's mother, whom he has never met. Linda's rich new husband, Tony (Hale Hamilton), convinces Champ to let Dink come and stay with them, but Dink's love for his father brings him back to Tijuana.

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Nathan A

I think this movie is a must view for its portrayal for in my opinion at what really is the focus of a young child caught between the separation of parents not only the story of a boxer that returns to the ring. The young child in the film or named Dink is nothing short of remarkable and is comparable in my opinion to national velvet for a child acting in a film. Exemplary into what a movie should be as far as I'm concerned in viewing and observing films. It has the creativity/imagination or artistry of its own story line that is for me a requirement towards the movie rated with full stars.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 26 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/23

Full Review

Louisa E

I thought this was a charming movie. I enjoyed the plot and was really annoyed that Andy couldn't shape up! The acting was superb. I am amazed that Jackie Cooper did a better acting job than most full-grown actors of the time. Wallace was very believable and engendered sympathy for a man with terrible habits. I wish the boxing scenes were more believable and there was more rapport between Dink and his mother before the end. 7/10.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I can tell when a filmmaker wants me to cry. It works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. I know I am being manipulated. "The Champ" does that. It is overly special, at times syrupy. And...that can be okay. The film might be working over my emotions, but I allow it on occasion, especially when the acting is good and the story is sincere. Wallace Beery won a Best Actor Oscar as the down and out boxer who can hardly take care of his son, played with gusto by a young Jackie Cooper. That sincerity makes thee film more than watchable. I did care about little Cooper, while hoping Beery gets his act together. Not great storytelling, but sometimes I don't mind so much being manipulated.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This tells the story of a washed up alcoholic boxer attempting to put his life back together for the sake of his son. Beery won the Best Actor Oscar, Frances Marion won for Best Story. This along with Beery's role in Min and Bill catapulted his career. This was an inverted women's film, because men are not generally depicted at the top of the socio-economic ladder but are shown as a primary childcare provider. In the famous final scene, Cooper's weeping face has been compared to similar aggressive camera work in other films. The movie had a great cultural effect as a number of films in the 1930s had the same basic story about a man surrendering to drink and redeemed by the love of his long-suffering son.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Andy Purcell is an alcoholic gambler trying to get back into his old heavyweight boxing career, and who has custody of his young son Dink, who idolizes him, despite their living in a squalid apartment and Andy's vices of gambling and drinking. He manages to win a racehorse in a bet, giving it to his son, but ends up running into his ex-wife and her new wealthy husband. Andy ends up gambling further and loses the racehorse, and has to take a $300 bribe from his ex-wife to allow Dink to visit her. The mother can provide a better life for Dink...but will he leave his father? The movie has its contrivances, namely the fact that Andy has custody of his son rather than his mother, which rarely happens either in the past or nowadays unless the mother is clearly unfit (hardly indicated in the story). Also, Beery was supposed to do a poor job of boxing in the fight scene, but he overdoes it, throwing his arms all over the place. Still, the movie works thanks to the performances by the two leads.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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King Vidor

Director

Wallace Beery

Champ

Jackie Cooper

Dink

Irene Rich

Linda

Roscoe Ates

Sponge

Edward Brophy

Tim

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Globe Staff

Boston Globe

Wallace Beery, one of the finest actors In Hollywood, plays the co-starring role with Jackie. It is a real treat for film fans to see the two together.

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

The Champ may be hokum. but if so it's the sort of hokum that this old world of ours loves -- and needs.

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

Edwin Schallert

Los Angeles Times

Perhaps The Champ is the old Stella Dallas recipe for film-making, perhaps It is overstressjd in its emotion, perhaps it is slow and even dull in the opening reels but the punch of the finish is terrific.

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“The Champ” is heavy on melodrama and some could argue that it milks emotions dry. I think all of that works because we never lose our investment in the two lead characters.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Shadow Stage

Photoplay

It's one of the best talkies of the year, and if you don't get many times your money's worth out of it, you'd better see a psychiatrist.

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

Picture Parade

Motion Picture Magazine

Was there, by any slightest chance, the tiniest bit of doubt in your mind when you heard that Wally Beery and Jackie Cooper were to be co-starred, that the picture would be a wow?

Dec 8, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Champ (Wallace Beery) is a down-on-his-luck boxer in Tijuana whose son, Dink (Jackie Cooper), adores him despite Champ's addictions to alcohol and gambling. When Champ wins enough money from a bet to buy Dink a horse, they enter it into a race, where they encounter Linda (Irene Rich), Dink's mother, whom he has never met. Linda's rich new husband, Tony (Hale Hamilton), convinces Champ to let Dink come and stay with them, but Dink's love for his father brings him back to Tijuana.

Director: King Vidor
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 26m

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