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IMDbPro

Champion

  • 1949
  • Passed
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
4.6K
YOUR RATING
Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
Champion: Big Shot
Play clip2:23
Watch Champion: Big Shot
1 Video
30 Photos
DramaFilm-NoirSport

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

  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • Carl Foreman
    • Ring Lardner
  • Stars
    • Kirk Douglas
    • Arthur Kennedy
    • Marilyn Maxwell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    4.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • Carl Foreman
      • Ring Lardner
    • Stars
      • Kirk Douglas
      • Arthur Kennedy
      • Marilyn Maxwell
    • 64User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Champion: Big Shot
    Clip 2:23
    Watch Champion: Big Shot

    Photos30

    Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas and Ruth Roman in Champion (1949)
    Joe Gray in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas and Joe Gray in Champion (1949)
    Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas in Champion (1949)
    Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Midge Kelly
    Arthur Kennedy
    Arthur Kennedy
    • Connie Kelly
    Marilyn Maxwell
    Marilyn Maxwell
    • Grace Diamond
    Paul Stewart
    Paul Stewart
    • Tommy Haley
    Ruth Roman
    Ruth Roman
    • Emma Bryce
    Lola Albright
    Lola Albright
    • Mrs. Jerome Harris aka Palmer
    Luis Van Rooten
    • Jerome Harris
    Harry Shannon
    Harry Shannon
    • Lew Bryce
    John Daheim
    John Daheim
    • Johnny Dunne
    • (as John Day)
    Ralph Sanford
    Ralph Sanford
    • Hammond - Kansas City Promoter
    Esther Howard
    Esther Howard
    • Mrs. Kelly
    Bill Baldwin
    Bill Baldwin
    • Bill Brown - Ringside Broadcaster
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Balter
    Sam Balter
    • Championship Fight Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Polly Bergen
    Polly Bergen
    • Radio and Jukebox Singer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Don Brodie
    Don Brodie
    • Newspaper Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Brooks
    • Newspaper Reporter at Benefit
    • (uncredited)
    Mushy Callahan
    Mushy Callahan
    • Referee Title fight
    • (uncredited)
    Sayre Dearing
    Sayre Dearing
    • Newspaper Reporter at Benefit
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • Carl Foreman
      • Ring Lardner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The address, 49 Eagle Street, that Kirk Douglas mentions, was actually the address where he grew up as a child.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Midge: For the first time in my life, people cheering for me. Were you deaf? Didn't you hear 'em? We're not hitchhiking any more. We're riding!

    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer-colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Special London Bridge Special (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Never Be It Said
      By Dimitri Tiomkin and Goldie Goldmark (as "Goldie" Goldmark)
      Sung by Polly Bergen (uncredited)

    User reviews64

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    An intensely gripping film. Douglas is perfect!
    Kirk Douglas plays Midge Kelley, a talented boxer who uses everyone around him for his own gain. This may be Douglas' finest effort on film. The editing won an Oscar and rightfully so. This might be the finest movie involving boxing ever produced. Available in color but see the original black and white version. Listen for Polly Bergen's voice as a radio/juke box singer.
    helpful•7
    0
    • gitrich
    • Jan 14, 1999

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 20, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sampion
    • Filming locations
      • Pacific Coast Hwy & Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades, California, USA(diner scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Screen Plays
      • Stanley Kramer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell in Champion (1949)
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