Champion

Champion is a gritty boxing movie that is ahead of its time. A combination of Rocky and Raging Bull.

It features a bravura performance from Kirk Douglas as a drifter who graduated from the school of hard knocks.

Douglas plays Midge Kelly, a man who has had to fight all his life for a bit of respect. He has a permanent chip on his shoulder.

Midge and his brother Connie (Arthur Kennedy) who has a gammy leg go out west where they think they have a share in a diner. Along the way Midge fills in at a boxing match when one of the undercard is declared unfit to box.

When the ownership of the diner turns out to be a mirage, they work as waiters. Midge romances the boss's girl Emma (Ruth Roman) and is forced to marry her. Midge abandons her soon after and hooks up with manager Tommy Haley (Paul Stewart) who teaches Midge how to box.

Midge has a natural toughness and shows promise as a boxer. However his refusal to throw a fight causes consternation with a gambling syndicate.

In order to progress Midge abandons Tommy Haley and he soon becomes a world champion.

Douglas plays Midge as pig headed, amoral and uncompromising. He learns quickly from Tommy as to how to box. His brother Connie acts as his conscience.

Women like Grace Diamond and Palmer Harris are there for a good time and help him progress in the boxing game.

Kirk Douglas was Oscar nominated for his performance. He can certainly do the physical side, there is a training montage that would have inspired Rocky. Douglas also shows just how driven Midge is, it eventually becomes a win at all cost mentality. Yet more often than not, Midge remains charming albeit selfish.

Champion also displays the seedy underbelly of boxing. The gamblers who fix matches. Managers like Tommy who know they will be eventually discarded. Even some of the boxers hate it and want to be out of it.