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Title: Champion (1949)
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More Like This
The Set-Up
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Edit
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 | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Taglines:
Every woman goes for a... CHAMPION See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
20 May 1949 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
De kampioen See more »Filming Locations:
Pacific Coast Hwy & Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades, California, USAEdit
Box Office
Budget:
$600,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$2,500,000, 31 December 1949Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
Midge: Aw, lay off the business. It's like any other business, only here the blood shows.
See more »
By Dimitri Tiomkin and Goldie Goldmark (as "Goldie" Goldmark)
Sung by Polly Bergen (uncredited)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on October 13, 1949 with Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Maxwell reprising their film roles. See more »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. See more »Quotes
Connie: Oh, this rotten business!Midge: Aw, lay off the business. It's like any other business, only here the blood shows.
See more »
Alternate Versions
Also available in a computer-colorized version. See more »Soundtracks
Never Be It SaidBy Dimitri Tiomkin and Goldie Goldmark (as "Goldie" Goldmark)
Sung by Polly Bergen (uncredited)
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
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.