Customer Reviews

Champ [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although this flick is essentially sheer hokum, THE CHAMP was made with such superb professionalism in all departments that it achieved record business in depression - stricken 1931; it also gave Wallace Beery and screenwriter Frances Marion Academy Awards. It was M-G-M's biggest smash hit of the year. This third ideal role Marion wrote for Beery was that of a broken-down boxer who made a comeback for the sake of his idolising son, Jackie Cooper. The nine-year-old graduate from OUR GANG got even praise from the critics - and audible sobbing from audiences! The great director, King Vidor, extracted genuine pathos from both stars and there is also good work from the likes of Roscoe Ates, Irene Rich and Hale Hamilton.

I enjoy watching The Champ movie because it is well acted in both the father and son roles. Wallace Beery gives a convincing performance as a despairing father who was driven to drinking and gambling but cared much for his son. He was aware that he had become a "has been" in the sport of boxing and was desperate to find a way to support himself and his child. Though Andy Purcell (Beery) had allowed these vices into his life, his love and sensitivity toward his son came through brilliantly in the generosity he showed to keep the boy happy.

Purcell's son Dink, played by Jackie Cooper, was completely devoted to his father. Dink was being raised in a less-than-desirable environment and had adopted some crude ways but, in spite of everything, was charming, friendly, and caring to his father and to friends. Though Andy disappointed him on a few occasions in the movie, Dink's loyalty and love for him came shining through to the very end when the boy witnessed the death of his father.

The story, acted out, brings tears, sentiment, and evokes tender feelings for both Andy who wanted so much to make his son happy and for Dink who remained faithful to his father through it all. The honesty in Dink's character provides a moral lesson and example for children today to stay faithful and to love and honor their parents, no matter what may happen.

This is a wonderful drama, social, human and familial. As all good classics there's more to the story than just surface plot. You can see it from multiple perspectives, among them the social one is always very present in Vidor's films.

But first of all this is a great, great movie. One of those that will make you cry in a couple of scenes at least; if you don't, you'd better check your pulse.

Now, here are the subterraneous plots that I see:
1) The familial, the relation between a divorced father and his little son, whom he loves immensely and by whom he is likewise corresponded. This, actually, is not a plot but a naturalistic depiction of this relationship thru story details and characterization.
2) The social. The incompatibility between high-class minded people and simple minded/humble people.
3) The individual relationships between the three main characters or roles: the uneducated and loving father, the apparently educated and classy mother and the innocent child. This triangle gives a lot of food for thought about the mysteries of the human soul. And every viewer will have his own take on this side of the story.

I hope we'll be able to see soon on dvd more of Vidor's great classics, like "The Crowd", "The Fountainhead", "Our Daily Bread", or the great "The Big Parade".

One more thing: The quality of the dvd is exeptional. It doesn't seem like you are watching an old movie at all.

It would be easy to dismiss "The Champ" as merely a manipulative tear-jerker. Possibly, but if you're going to be manipulated at least have it done by the best. There is nothing slick here. Director King Vidor vividly captures the desolate seediness of Depression-era Tijuana. The film's climactic fight scene is very realistic. Wallace Beery won the Oscar for his role as the Champ but he could very well have shared it with young Jackie Cooper(not even nominated) as his wise beyond his years son,Deke. The chemistry is dynamic between the lovably grizzled Beery and the heart-rending Cooper. The formula here is timeless so the story doesn't date in the least. You could remake it today and I have no doubt it would still work. Which leads me to the 1979 remake with Jon Voight and Ricky Schroder. Despite the generally negative buzz that surrounded it at the time it's not that bad.

I was very familar with the reputation of the movie "The Champ" but never saw it until last night. I was prepared for a film heavy on sentimentality, a fair amount of action (in the ring), and a cute child actor. I got all of that but in a better package than I had expected. Although I was hesitant to give the movie a 5 Star rating, I did so on the exceptional acting from the two stars.

I have seen a number of other films with Wallace Beery and his character is generally the same in every movie; a sort of Victor McLaughlin with a lower voice. He's quite the likable character but what impressed me the most was the many times he spoke his lines as though they were an "in-character" ad lib offering. As I noticed those scenes, I saw others in which he seemed to speak as though from a script. However, his "aw shucks" style never varied and the way the words flowed seemingly spontaneously is probably the reason he won the Best Actor Oscar for "The Champ".

Beery had real competition for that award from young Jackie Coogan. I was equally impressed with his acting and I felt that there were parts of the movie that the director may have turned him loose to do his own ad-libbing. His emotions were very effective and never overdone, even at the end. The scene where he discovers that the drunk being brought to jail in the paddy wagon is actually his father is outstanding. There were many other noteworthy scenes of his as well. The supporting cast is rather standard fare and serves only to fill in the roles necessary for Beery and Coogan to strut their stuff.

The plot is rather predictable and you could sense the ending almost from the beginning. Much of the plot is there to enhance our appreciation of this father/son relationship. At times the scenes let us know how bad a father Beery is while other scenes (often the same ones) let us know how devoted a son Coogan is. I usually succumb to a good tear-jertker but "The Champ" left me more inspired by the acting than teary-eyed from the plot. Either way, this is a worthwhile movie to see.

Wallace Beery plays a prizefighter past his prime, more interested now in boozing and gambling than in fighting anymore. His son (Jackie Cooper) lives with him and idolizes him. Beery accidentally runs into his ex-wife one day - she's now rich - and she convinces him that Cooper would be better off with her. (Child custody "laws" were quite different back then.) He reluctantly goes with his mother, but before long runs away back to dear old dad. The climax comes during a boxing match in which Beery, after being terribly pummelled by his younger opponent, miraculously wins with his last punch, only to die in the dressing room a short while later.

Beery is engrossing - the role fits him like a glove, and Cooper isn't too bad either (except for the long crying jag at the end, which tore audiences up back then, and may still do so today). The technical limitations of 1931 contribute a great deal to the overly theatrical and somewhat wooden acting styles, but the movie is not afraid to wear its emotions on its sleeve, which was always its great appeal. Beery won an Oscar as The Champ.

It's a good thing "The Champ" is a usually jovial drunk, because he seems to get drunk a lot and has a small son to raise at the same time. Down in Tijuana, Mexico, the Champ is a washed up boxer training for a big comeback but having a hard time getting an actual fight set up. He's just too out of shape and too hooked on drinking and gambling, and the only thing he loves as much as his vices is his 8-year-old boy, Dink, who basically takes care of him. When Dink's mother surprisingly turns up in town at the horse races and discovers her boy for the first time since he was a baby, she immediately wants custody restored to her and her wealthy husband, but Dink and the Champ are a pair that just can't be broken up. The film plays out one very charming, often funny, but very powerfully heartbreaking drama throughout as the Champ struggles to prove himself in the eyes of his son, while the boy's mother tries desperately to be rejoined with him.

I have to admit that I resisted seeing this film for a long time because I expected a sports/boxing movie, and I'm just not into sports. However, I always enjoyed Jackie Cooper in the Our Gang/Little Rascals shorts and had heard so much about this one that I knew I had to see it. I caught it one night, not so long ago, on a TCM airing, and I had to buy the film right away! It's truly a masterpiece. Wallace Beery (The Champ) and Jackie Cooper (Dink) are magic together! It's no wonder the film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar in 1931 (and Best Director, King Vidor) and Beery won for Best Actor (the film also got Best Story)! And, being a Disney fanatic, I was immediately reminded of Baloo and Mowgli in Disney's take of "The Jungle Book", one of their most beloved animated features. There's no way the makers of that movie weren't playing off this movie. Baloo IS Wallace Beery's "The Champ", and even the story plays out similarly. In fact, while everyone should see this film, I especially recommend it to fans of Disney's animated "The Jungle Book". Having said that, this film is just beautiful and the final scene... wow, it's the tearjerker of tearjerkers.

The DVD is very nice with its selection of extras: Theatrical Trailer, full hour-long Lux Theater Radio Production, and a live-action comedy short, "Crazy House" (though it's pretty awful, ha). If you love movies and want a great DVD collection, you GOTTA have this one. It's an essential for sure.

One can't help, but think of 'The Little Rascals' when watching this entertaining film. Jackie Cooper does an amazing job as he carries this film from beginning to end. It's a bit sappy by today's standards, but that is the way they used to do it back in the day. Wallace Beery won an Oscar for the title role which tied with Fredric March's Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Personally I think Cooper should have won the Oscar! It was nominated for two more Oscars Best Director and Picture. The DVD sports a nice clean transfer and some welcome extras.

Take a sentimental journey but don't forget to bring your Kleenex! This old time film classic will transport you right back to the 30's like few else can. As a kid I remember waiting up til 11 o'clock at night to see the Late Show or even the Late Late Show just to see Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper....who said big girl's don't cry? DMM

The Champ is a film about an ex-fighter turned drunken gambler (Wallace Beery) who lives with his young son Dink (Jackie Cooper). The two live in poverty, fed by the few spurts of money coming from dice throwing. Dink's mother finds him and wants to adopt him, but he prefers the company of his hero, the Champ.

Wallace Beery is wonderful as the Champ. His usually overbearing nature is appropriate to the film, and he does a great job at being vulnerable despite the tough character. It is no wonder that he won an Academy Award for his performance.

Jackie Cooper is amazing as Dink. In some scenes, he almost seems like a wise adult stuck in a child's body. In others, he is appropriately immature and sweet. There just aren't child stars like him anymore.

The film is fluid and fast-paced. The characters are both realistic and relatable, so the film is not a chore to watch in the least. The story is modern; the divorced parents of Dink do not associate with each other, but they both love the son they share. The picture is clear. The only minor problem with the film is during the fight; the sped up projection speed during scenes which don't need much sound is dated by today's standards.

Overall, this is an excellent, timeless film.