Billy Flynn is an ex-champion boxer who was KO'd by booze and gambling. When the wealthy, estranged mother of his young son begins trying to lure the boy away from him, Flynn must return to ... Read allBilly Flynn is an ex-champion boxer who was KO'd by booze and gambling. When the wealthy, estranged mother of his young son begins trying to lure the boy away from him, Flynn must return to the ring to provide for his child.Billy Flynn is an ex-champion boxer who was KO'd by booze and gambling. When the wealthy, estranged mother of his young son begins trying to lure the boy away from him, Flynn must return to the ring to provide for his child.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 8 nominations total
- Georgie
- (as Elisha Cook)
- Bowers
- (as Randall Cobb)
- Sonny
- (as Christoff St. John)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt 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.
- GoofsAt the gym in the beginning of the film, Tex Cobb is being battered in a sparring match and his seconds call him Tommy. At the end of the film, Cobb is featured as Roland Bowers, Heavyweight Contender.
- Quotes
Ring Doctor: [SPOILER]
[Champ has just died]
Ring Doctor: I'm sorry.
T.J.: [Georgie and Jackie start to cry, TJ is shocked] No! Champ! No! Champ. Is he out? Is he out? What's the matter, Champ? Champ, wake up! Wake up! Wake - wake up!
[kisses his head]
T.J.: Champ, wake up, Champ! Hey, don't sleep now. We got to go home. Got to go home, Champ.
[Georgie collapses into sobs]
T.J.: Georgie. Don't cry. Georgie.
[TJ goes to the doctor]
T.J.: Mister, help me. Wake him up! Wake him!
Ring Doctor: We're all real sorry.
T.J.: Please, wake him up!
Ring Doctor: Let's go outside.
T.J.: No, no! I don't want to! I don't want to!
[runs to Jackie]
T.J.: Jackie! Wake him up! Wake him!
Jackie: TJ, please.
T.J.: I want Champ!
Jackie: TJ...
T.J.: I want Champ!
Jackie: TJ. Please, TJ, listen to me. He's gone. He's gone, son. He's gone.
T.J.: [shakes his head and backs away from Jackie] No. No! He's not gone! He's not! He's not!
Jackie: [Annie comes in, a smile on her face until she sees Champ and Jackie trying to calm TJ] Please.
T.J.: He is not dead! He is not dead! I want Champ!
Jackie: Please, listen to me, son.
T.J.: I want Champ!
Jackie: TJ, please, listen to me!
T.J.: I want Champ! Champ! He is not gone!
Jackie: [he and the doctor try to drag TJ away from Champ] Come on, son. Come on. TJ.
Annie: TJ.
[TJ walks towards her and hugs her, holding on tightly as he sobs]
What you have here is an epic movie that deserves a 9/10. It's the story of the love between a boy and his father, and the boy trying to make it on his own when his mother and father can't.
The movie starts out very big on horse-racing, showing how Jon Voight, "The Champ", is and gives brief glimpses into his past life. After awhile though, his whole past comes back to him when his son unknowingly meets his mother and develops a bond with her. Conflict between him and his wife rises and we see even deeper into what was a merely a shell of his life in the beginning of the film; he is complicated and emotionally bruised man, snapping sometimes at his son that he loves with all his heart.
The film has the most believable performances I have ever seen on screen, and is a tearjerker. But it doesn't try to make you cry once; the entire second half of the film is full of these scenes. Some work while others don't. Either way, it shows the true power and delicacy of unconditional love, and the way it ends leaves you gasping for breath because of the emotional impact it leaves. Not perfect, but it deserves a solid 9.0/10.
- Winds_of_Destination
- May 12, 2007
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $30,441,738
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,972,684
- Apr 8, 1979
- Gross worldwide
- $30,441,738
- Runtime2 hours 1 minute
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1