Champion (1949)

Boxer Midge Kelly rises to fame...mainly by stepping on other people.

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Carl Foreman (screenplay), Ring Lardner (story "Champion")

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, Arthur Kennedy, Marilyn Maxwell

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kirk Douglas	...	Midge
Marilyn Maxwell	...	Grace
Arthur Kennedy	...	Connie
Paul Stewart	...	Haley
Ruth Roman	...	Emma
Lola Albright	...	Palmer
Luis Van Rooten	...	Harris
Harry Shannon	...	Lew
John Daheim	...	Dunne (as John Day)
Ralph Sanford	...	Hammond
Esther Howard	...	Mrs. Kelly

Storyline

Midge Kelly, hitchhiking west with lame brother Connie, is hustled unprepared into a pro boxing match. Though he's severely beaten, manager Tommy Haley finds him promising. Arrived in California, Midge and Connie find nothing but a menial job from which Midge gets relief by seducing Emma, a lovely young waitress. One shotgun marriage later, ambitious Midge falls back on the only option he knows: boxing. Seduced by cheering crowds, money, and a succession of blondes, Midge becomes more and more of a hero in public...and a heel in private.

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Plot Keywords:

boxing | boxer | gym | waitress | promoter | 

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Taglines:

Fighting or loving, he was the... CHAMPION

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

De kampioen

Filming Locations:

Pacific Coast Hwy & Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$600,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,500,000, 31 December 1949

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Plays, Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 17, 1950 with Kirk Douglas reprising his film role.

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Goofs

Midge mangles the sculpture that Palmer has made of him, twisting the head out of alignment. In next shot, the head of statue is back in its original location.

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Quotes

Connie: Oh, this rotten business!
Midge: Aw, lay off the business. It's like any other business, only here the blood shows.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer-colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Diamonds (1999)

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Soundtracks

Never Be It Said
By Dimitri Tiomkin and Goldie Goldmark (as "Goldie" Goldmark)
Sung by Polly Bergen (uncredited)

User Reviews

What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?

spoilers 1949's "Champion" explores this idea, and does it with a straightforward economy of style typical of the noir style. I'm not sure if I'd go all the way and label it noir - like Robert Wise's "The Set-Up" it feels like too much of a boxing film for me to do that, but it does come awfully close.

There are echoes of Howard Hawks' "Scarface" in "Champion", what with a lower class boy coming to power through violence and force of will. However, Kirk Douglas does it through reputable, official violence. On the other hand, although Midge Kelley distances himself from his family, Tony Camonte keeps his family close - the difference that it makes is that in the end, when both larger than life figures are near the end, Tony Camonte has his sister fighting by his side, whereas Midge has no one and nothing but madness.

The Director, Mark Robson, manages to make Midge's slow removal into being an asshole and a money-centered jerk convincing. You can't tell at first, but all the clues are there. It's a natural development, and really it is quite amazing to think back that this man, who does these awful things, started out so charming and sincere. All in all, well-done. The cinematography is great, too.