A former boxer discovers that his biggest battle of all is going to be with his ex-wife, Annie, who returns after abandoning their young son seven years prior.
Director:
Franco Zeffirelli
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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 | |
Edit
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 most poignant love-triangle of all - a father, his son, and the woman who came between them. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
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 1979Gross 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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Annie: T.J.'s Timmy, isn't he?
Billy: Yeah, T.J. is Timmy. So you figured it out, so what? Even a dumb horse knows her own foal.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
At just age nine, Ricky Schroder won the Golden Globe Award for "Best New Male Star of the Year in a Motion Picture" for his performance as T.J. Flynn in this film. 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: No smoking in the barn area. What do you want?Annie: T.J.'s Timmy, isn't he?
Billy: Yeah, T.J. is Timmy. So you figured it out, so what? Even a dumb horse knows her own foal.
See more »
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This is arguably Jon Voight's finest acting performance with the possible exception of The Odessa File.
Jon Voight plays Billy Flynn an ex boxing champion with Ricky Shroder playing his eight year old son, T.J Flynn. Billy Flynn is now a horse trainer bringing up his son after a divorce some seven years ago when T.J. was just a baby. Billy loves a drink and is addicted to gambling and bringing up his son does have problems.
The problems intensify when his ex-wife, now remarried, appears on the scene to see her son after seven long years. T.J. knows her only as Annie and is played by Faye Dunaway. Annie starts to come between Billy and T.J even though T.J has undying love for his father. As Billy gets further into trouble, his only way of securing a life for his son is to make one last come-back into the boxing ring.
The film is very poignant, emotional and has so many sad sequences. Poor T.J. is constantly in tears and whenever his tears flowed, so did mine. The Champ is a superb movie, a must see, and although over 20 years old, still has a place today. The problems that existed then, still exist today. Booze, gambling, single parentage, divorce and reconciliation. Only the clothing fashions are different.