Andy Purcell is an alcoholic gambler trying to get back into his old heavyweight boxing career, and who has custody of his young son Dink, who idolizes him, despite their living in a squalid apartment and Andy's vices of gambling and drinking. He manages to win a racehorse in a bet, giving it to his son, but ends up running into his ex-wife and her new wealthy husband. Andy ends up gambling further and loses the racehorse, and has to take a $300 bribe from his ex-wife to allow Dink to visit her. The mother can provide a better life for Dink...but will he leave his father? The movie has its contrivances, namely the fact that Andy has custody of his son rather than his mother, which rarely happens either in the past or nowadays unless the mother is clearly unfit (hardly indicated in the story). Also, Beery was supposed to do a poor job of boxing in the fight scene, but he overdoes it, throwing his arms all over the place. Still, the movie works thanks to the performances by the two leads.
Review of The Champ
