The Champ

This is a remake of the classic Wallace Berry original from 1931, it was well made and is a more modern uptake of the original. The theme and plot of this movie is timeless, it transcends eras and is as relevant today as it was in 1931! This is a "must see", I also recommend you find the time to watch the 1931 original, BOTH are excellent watches and well worth the time. I sometimes wish Holleywood would get back to movies like these, they are always worth the price of admission and are good for the heart. We can only hope! This will be a great movie to view with the whole family, just put on the pop corn, fill your glass with your favorite beverage and prepare to be completely entertained! Your children will remember this one!

I cannot believe the rating this movie is only a 5.8. Have they seen the same movie as I have? I have watched "The Champ" several times and every time I cry even when I know what is going to happen. It is a story of a retired boxer and his son and the love the boy has for his father would be any father's dream. Even though the father has his faults (like we all do) he loves his son and tries to give his son a better life. I was just shocked at the rating and was compelled to vote. Usually the IMDb community gets it right but in this case they are dead wrong. 10 all they way!!! Great! Super! and very emotional. My whole family cried including my dog.

Bill Flynn (John Voight) works in the back-stretch at Hialeah when no drinking or gambling his money . He is an alcoholic ex-boxer who struggles to provide a good living for his son T. J. Flynn (Ricky Schroder at his absolute best) . Despite his frequent binges, his frequent gambling and their squalid living conditions , T. J. loves his alcoholic father, ex-heavyweight boxing champion . His son calls him Champ and he tells his friends about his father's comeback , which never seems to happen . Flynn was badly wounded in his last bout , his only loss , and fear prevents him from going back into the ring . When Bill loses the horse gambling and winds up in jail after a drunken tirade, he realizes T. J's place is with his mother (Faye Dunaway) . T. J tearfully goes but sneaks out and returns at his first opportunity , filling a depressed Bill with a desire to make good. So Bill goes into training after his managers arrange a boxing match with a world champion. The knockout picture of the year! . The More You Love, The Harder You Fight !. Loved this boy of his more than anything else in the world-but knew that the best thing he could do for him was to go out of his life forever...A world of pathos and cheer in a picture you will never forget. Here's The Picture We're Proud to Recommend To You - Words Can Not Describe It! If You've Got a Heart in You...You'll laugh and cry like a child, unashamed! Don't fail to get a ringside seat!

This remake is a first-classs tearjerker about a father and his son who are separated against their will. Dealing with an attractive and poignant love-triangle of all - a father, his son, and the woman who came between them. The main reason for this stunning flick turns out to be Ricky Schroder. This little actor projects joy , sensibility , wisdom , fear , and innocence equally well . The fabulous trio protagonist : John Voight , Ricky Schroder , Faye Dunaway are stunningly accompanied by a very good support cast , such as : Jack Warden , Arthur Hill ,Strother Martin , Joan Blondell , Elisha Cook Jr. , Joe Tornatore, Dana Elcar, Randall 'Tex' Cobb , among others . This is a pretty good film , though it results to be a simple remake to superior The Champ 1931 by King Vidor with Wallace Beery who won Oscar-winning title role as Andy 'Champ' Purcell , Jackie Cooper and Irene Rich .

It contains exquisite cinematography by magnificent cameraman Fred J. Koenekamp . Unforgettable and hauntingly wonderful musical score by Dave Grusin. The motion picture was well directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Notorious Italian writer/director Franco Zeffirelli manages to make even the hokiest bits of hokum work in this four-hankie feast of sentimentality .He was a production designer and director, known for The taming of shrew (1967), Romeo and Juliet (1968), La Traviata (1982) , Champion , Jane Eyre , Endless Love , Hamlet , Otello , Turandot , Sparrow , Callas Forever and the TV series Jesus of Nazareth . Received a Special 1962 Tony Award "for designs and direction of the Old Vic's 'Romeo and Juliet'." The following year, in 1963, he was nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Scenic Designer for "The Lady of the Camellias." Being one of eight Italians to have been nominated for the Academy Award for 'Best Director'. Rating : 7/10. Worthwhile watching , better than average .

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

I first watched this film in 1980 as a five year old with my gran and we managed to distort the credits through our tears and sobbing. I received the video about four years ago, and as a twenty-two year old it had the same effect. Last night, I watched the Champ with my girlfriend and I am happy to say that the years haven't mellowed me and we were both in floods of tears before I switched the film off. I defy anybody who has an emotional bone in their body not to be touched by the story of Billy Flynn, and more importantly TJ. I won't give any of the storyline away as it will make it all the better for watching if you haven't seen it. As for me, I can't wait until the Champ get's it DVD release as I will be first in the queue.

"I want the Champ !"