Champion (1949) on Netflix
Midge Kelly and his brother Connie leave Chicago for California, where they hold a share in a restaurant. A bout in Kansas City catches the eye of the trainer Tommy Haley.
- Netflix4.2/5
- IMDb7.3/105,430 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes94%
Trailer
Plot summary
Michael Kelly, known as Midge, and his brother Connie are traveling west from Chicago toward California, where they hold a share in a restaurant. On the way they catch a ride with the boxer Johnny Dunne and his girlfriend Grace Diamond, who are headed to Kansas City for a fight. Needing cash, Midge takes a spot on the undercard for $35; he loses, and the promoter hands him $10, keeping the rest as management fees. The trainer Tommy Haley watches the bout and invites Midge to work out at his gym in Los Angeles. There the brothers learn the restaurant deal was a con and take work as waiters and dishwashers. Midge takes up with Emma, the owner's daughter; her father forces them to marry, and Midge leaves her to train at Haley's gym.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Champion (1949)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- RKO Pictures sued the makers of Champion for $500,000 and asked a federal court to block its release, claiming it copied RKO's The Set-Up. The studios settled out of court when United Artists agreed to cut 101 feet of film, roughly 1% of the movie, and two words of dialogue.
- Champion's success changed the careers of the people who made it: Kirk Douglas signed a seven-year, million-dollar contract with Warner Bros., director Mark Robson was signed by Samuel Goldwyn, writer Carl Foreman was suddenly in demand, and Lola Albright and Ruth Roman were signed to studio contracts.
