Billy Flynn, a former boxing champion, is now horse trainer in Hialeah. He makes just enough money to raise his little boy T.J., over whom he got custody after his wife Annie left him seven... See full summary »

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Annie
...
...
Jackie
Arthur Hill ...
Mike
...
Riley
...
Dolly Kenyon
...
Josie
...
Georgie (as Elisha Cook)
...
Charlie Goodman
...
Whitey
Joe Tornatore ...
Hesh
Shirlee Kong ...
Donna Mae
Jeff Blum ...
Jeffie
...
Hoffmaster
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Storyline

Billy Flynn, a former boxing champion, is now horse trainer in Hialeah. He makes just enough money to raise his little boy T.J., over whom he got custody after his wife Annie left him seven years ago. T.J. worships The Champ who is now working on his come-back in order to give his boy a better future. But suddenly Annie shows up again ... Written by Willy Vanhaelen <willy.vanhaelen@advalvas.be>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The most poignant love-triangle of all - a father, his son, and the woman who came between them. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Sport

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

4 April 1979 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El campeón  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Franco Zeffirelli wanted to contrast the stark realism of the ring fighter boxing world and racetrack and gambling scene with something colorful and flamboyant so he chose the Vizcaya Fashion Show, with outfits and costumes from the Helen Larson Collection, as a fashion show set-piece for the film. Moreover, interestingly, actress Faye Dunaway's previous picture had been the fashion photography thriller Eyes of Laura Mars (1978). See more »

Goofs

When The Champ slaps T.J. he slaps him while standing up but, in the very next shot, he's kneeling down by T.J. See more »

Quotes

[Billy and T.J. are playing in the ocean]
T.J.: Champ, did you love her?
Billy: Who?
T.J.: Annie.
Billy: Of course I loved her, that's why we had you.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Excellent
13 July 2002 | by (Seattle, WA. USA) – See all my reviews

After seeing this movie again (it's been over 20 years), I can't think of enough positive things to say about it. The honesty of the script tends to overcome any sense of melodrama, and it turns out to be a 10-hanky tearjerker. The acting is great all around as well. I didn't know what I'd think since it's been so long, and was a bit surprised to find this film has lost nothing in the intervening years -- if anything, it views even better than it did when it was released. I'm also a bit surprised to see it so far down on the IMDB ratings chart. Almost too painful to watch at times (maybe that's why).

9/10


25 of 26 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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