The Champ (1979)

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

Frances Marion (story)
Walter Newman (writer)

Release Date:

4 April 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The most poignant love-triangle of all - a father, his son, and the woman who came between them.

Plot:

Billy Flynn, an ex box champion, is now horse trainer in Hialeah. He makes just enough money to raise his little boy T.J...

Plot Keywords:

Irish American | Tragedy | Wife | Bell | Boxer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Jon Voight	...	Billy
Faye Dunaway	...	Annie
Rick Schroder	...	T.J. (as Ricky Schroder)
Jack Warden	...	Jackie
Arthur Hill	...	Mike
Strother Martin	...	Riley
Joan Blondell	...	Dolly Kenyon
Mary Jo Catlett	...	Josie
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Georgie (as Elisha Cook)
Stefan Gierasch	...	Charlie Goodman
Allan Miller	...	Whitey
Joe Tornatore	...	Hesh
Shirlee Kong	...	Donna Mae
Jeff Blum	...	Jeffie
Dana Elcar	...	Hoffmaster
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Bowers
Kristoff St. John	...	Sonny (as Christoff St. John)
Gina Gallego	...	Cuban Girl
Jody Wilson	...	Mrs. Riley
Reginal M. Toussaint	...	Groom
Bob Gordon	...	TV Reporter
Gene Picchi	...	Dolly's Trainer
Anne Logan	...	Horse Owner
Bill Baldwin	...	Race Track Announcer
Rita Turner	...	Lady at the Rail
Dorothy Streisin	...	Dolly's Guest
Lionel Dozier	...	Hot Walker
Charles W. Camac	...	Head Starter
David Peden	...	Ship's Captain
William Fuller	...	Steward
Vanna Salviati	...	Pitch Lady
Maurice Pete Mitchell	...	Gambler
Ernesto Morelli	...	Bar Patron
Robert Ray Sutton	...	Second Gambler
Philip Tuersky	...	Bartender
Micki Varro	...	Nikki
Geoff Marlowe	...	Security Guard
George Stidham	...	Exercise Rider
Willie White	...	Willie
Curtis Jackson	...	Sparring Partner
Wally Rose	...	Bowers' Manager
Dick Young	...	Referee
Sonny Shields	...	Bowers' Handler #1
Larry Duran	...	Bowers' Handler #2
Lars Hensen	...	Ring Doctor
Jeff Temkin	...	Ring Announcer
Eddie 'El Annimal' Lopez	...	Boxer Corner Man
Ralph Gambina	...	Timekeeper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Levi Forte	...	Boxer in Gym (uncredited)
Tremel James	...	Billy's Sparring Partner (uncredited)
Christine Page	...	Race horse owner (uncredited)

Directed by
Franco Zeffirelli

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Frances Marion		story
Walter Newman		writer

Produced by
Dyson Lovell	....	producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp

Film Editing by
Michael J. Sheridan

Casting by
Joyce Agu		(as Joyce Robinson)
Sam Christensen

Production Design by
Herman A. Blumenthal

Set Decoration by
James W. Payne
Rick Simpson

Costume Design by
Theoni V. Aldredge

Makeup Department
Michael Corsentino	....	hair stylist
Robert Dawn	....	makeup artist (as Bob Dawn)
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist (as Lee C. Harmon)
Kaye Pownall	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Maurice Vaccarino	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Silver	....	assistant director
Jerry Sobul	....	second assistant director
Fred Wardell	....	second assistant director (as Fred R. Wardell)

Art Department
Martha Johnston	....	set designer
Ron Scelza	....	second props
Richard Valesko	....	property master

Sound Department
Jerry Jost	....	sound
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound
William L. McCaughey	....	sound (as William McCaughey)
John Riordan	....	sound editor
Aaron Rochin	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Benson	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Benson)
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Stephen Wever	....	still photographer (as Steve Wever)

Casting Department
Dee Miller	....	location casting

Editorial Department
Richard Lane	....	assistant editor
Reginald Mills	....	consulting editor
Eric A. Sears	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
Richard Perry	....	music consultant
Joe Tuley	....	music editor

Other crew
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Linda McGowan	....	location manager
Don Morgan	....	unit publicist
Jerry Riley	....	stand-in: Ricky Schroeder
Jan Walchko	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Rick Schroder's debut.

Quotes:

[Billy just sees Annie after 7 years]
Billy: You know what I told T.J.? That you died that you were killed in a car wreck and that you were a tramp and we were better off without you.
Annie: I am his mother.
Billy: You're dead, the kid's got no mother.
Annie: I'm here, I am his mother.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979)

A true tearjerker, I have never cried so much in a film

This is arguably Jon Voight's finest acting performance with the possible exception of The Odessa File.

Jon Voight plays Billy Flynn an ex boxing champion with Ricky Shroder playing his eight year old son, T.J Flynn. Billy Flynn is now a horse trainer bringing up his son after a divorce some seven years ago when T.J. was just a baby. Billy loves a drink and is addicted to gambling and bringing up his son does have problems.

The problems intensify when his ex-wife, now remarried, appears on the scene to see her son after seven long years. T.J. knows her only as Annie and is played by Faye Dunaway. Annie starts to come between Billy and T.J even though T.J has undying love for his father. As Billy gets further into trouble, his only way of securing a life for his son is to make one last come-back into the boxing ring.

The film is very poignant, emotional and has so many sad sequences. Poor T.J. is constantly in tears and whenever his tears flowed, so did mine. The Champ is a superb movie, a must see, and although over 20 years old, still has a place today. The problems that existed then, still exist today. Booze, gambling, single parentage, divorce and reconciliation. Only the clothing fashions are different.