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Title: The Champ (1979)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jon Voight | ... | Billy | |
| Faye Dunaway | ... | Annie | |
| Ricky Schroder | ... | T.J. | |
| Jack Warden | ... | Jackie | |
| Arthur Hill | ... | Mike | |
| Strother Martin | ... | Riley | |
| Joan Blondell | ... | Dolly Kenyon | |
| Mary Jo Catlett | ... | Josie | |
| Elisha Cook Jr. | ... | Georgie (as Elisha Cook) | |
| Stefan Gierasch | ... | Charlie Goodman | |
| Allan Miller | ... | Whitey | |
| Joe Tornatore | ... | Hesh | |
 |
Shirlee Kong | ... | Donna Mae |
|
|
Jeff Blum | ... | Jeffie |
| Dana Elcar | ... | Hoffmaster | |
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Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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 comeback in order to give his boy a better future. But suddenly Annie shows up again. Written by Willy Vanhaelen <willy.vanhaelen@advalvas.be>
Taglines:
The More You Love, The Harder You Fight. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
4 April 1979 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El campeón See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$1,972,684, 8 April 1979, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$30,441,738Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
4-Track StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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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 »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film's two adult leads had recently won Best Acting Academy Awards. Jon Voight, Best Actor for Coming Home (1978), and Faye Dunaway, Best Actress for Network (1976). See more »Goofs
When Champ is badly beaten up in the ring near the end of the movie, he is almost unconscious. To try to make sure he is okay, Jackie asks Champ, "What day is it today?" Champ says, "Thursday, May 23rd." The film takes place in 1979. May 23rd, 1979 was actually a Wednesday. 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 »
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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