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Champion Movie Review

Champion is a 1949 sports drama film directed by Mark Robson and starring Kirk Douglas. It’s a flawed, but solidly made and acted boxing feature.

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“For the first time in my life,

people cheering for me“

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The story recounts the struggles of boxer “Midge” Kelly fighting his own demons while working to achieve success in the ring. Champion came out two years after ‘Body and Soul’, which was a much more interesting and overall stronger boxing movie. Thus, this film suffered in comparison. But it was still important for its early performance from Kirk Douglas.

This was one of the first roles of Douglas, one that propelled him into star status. He ended up being nominated for an Oscar, though he lost and would never get a competitive statue in his life. It is easy to see why this remained one of his favorite roles as he was so well cast as Midge and he delivered a very moving, believable and just phenomenal performance.

He was so good here that the rest of the performers couldn’t quite compete, but the cast is still pretty good overall. Marilyn Maxwell is solid in a smaller role and Arthur Kennedy was quite effective in a minor, but important supporting turn that also lent him an Oscar nomination. The characterization of these people is weak, but the protagonist is well fleshed out for sure.

Champion is very memorable in its final sequence that ended unexpectedly grimly. It took me by surprise and I have to say that it impressed me quite a bit. The movie’s treatment of a very complex, flawed individual as its hero was unique and this edge and darkness gave it a noirish quality, though I wouldn’t classify the movie itself as a noir.

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The inherent darkness in its tone was strikingly unique, the movie is solidly directed by Mark Robson and the editing is also strong. The Academy honored the movie in the editing department for a good reason. I just wished that the movie featured less boxing and more character moments as this is where it was the most effective. The pacing is also weak and some scenes felt repetitious to me.