Movies weren't supposed to end like this back then. They were supposed to end with smiles, laughter, and kisses. If there were tears, they were tears of joy, not tears of pain and sadness. I salute you "The Champ."
"The Champ" was about an incorrigible drunk called Champ (Wallace Beery) due to his one-time glory of being a champion boxer. Everyone called him Champ, even his own son Dink (Jackie Cooper). Since then he couldn't pull himself away from the saloons and gambling houses which kept him broke. He was raising Dink (Jackie Cooper) all by himself even though he was a terrible influence.
Champ was a perennial screw up. If he did something right, he'd undo it moments later. Truthfully, it wasn't fair to Dink and it was no way for a child to be brought up. Champ loved Dink and Dink loved Champ, but love didn't prevent Champ from coming home sloppy drunk or having Dink in illegal casinos with him.
Dink had a chance at a better, more structured home life when Champ came in contact with Dink's mother Linda (Irene Rich). Apparently, years ago the two had a relationship and Champ got custody of their baby. It's also apparent that Linda was out of Dink's life completely because she didn't even recognize the boy when she saw him again. She wanted to get Dink out of the deplorable situation he was in and Champ finally had to agree. He couldn't get his act together and he knew he wasn't what was best for Dink.
For the most part "The Champ" was frustrating. Champ was a natural born loser and he was dragging his young son down with him. Sure, they loved each other, but their situation still was harmful for a young, growing, impressionable boy. It was hard to like Champ no matter how sorry he was for his mistakes or how childishly simple he behaved.
Then he went and sacrificed himself and I couldn't dismiss that. He took a fight that he had no business taking. He was overmatched in every facet and even his son, Dink, knew it. The doctor told Champ that his heart couldn't handle the intensity of a fight, but Champ dismissed him. When the Champ started getting pummeled by his opponent, Manuel Quiroga (Frank Hagney), his own son wanted to throw in the towel to save him, but he wouldn't allow it.
The Champ won the fight, but lost his life.
It was sad enough that he died for his son. He needed the money to send his son to school and to get his son's horse Little Champ back. It was exponentially sad to see Dink bawling his eyes out as he called for his dead father. I wasn't ready. I thought I could handle the cries of a little kid who would quickly turn the page and start looking at things positively. That didn't happen and I couldn't have appreciated it more.
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"The Champ" was about an incorrigible drunk called Champ (Wallace Beery) due to his one-time glory of being a champion boxer. Everyone called him Champ, even his own son Dink (Jackie Cooper). Since then he couldn't pull himself away from the saloons and gambling houses which kept him broke. He was raising Dink (Jackie Cooper) all by himself even though he was a terrible influence.
Champ was a perennial screw up. If he did something right, he'd undo it moments later. Truthfully, it wasn't fair to Dink and it was no way for a child to be brought up. Champ loved Dink and Dink loved Champ, but love didn't prevent Champ from coming home sloppy drunk or having Dink in illegal casinos with him.
Dink had a chance at a better, more structured home life when Champ came in contact with Dink's mother Linda (Irene Rich). Apparently, years ago the two had a relationship and Champ got custody of their baby. It's also apparent that Linda was out of Dink's life completely because she didn't even recognize the boy when she saw him again. She wanted to get Dink out of the deplorable situation he was in and Champ finally had to agree. He couldn't get his act together and he knew he wasn't what was best for Dink.
For the most part "The Champ" was frustrating. Champ was a natural born loser and he was dragging his young son down with him. Sure, they loved each other, but their situation still was harmful for a young, growing, impressionable boy. It was hard to like Champ no matter how sorry he was for his mistakes or how childishly simple he behaved.
Then he went and sacrificed himself and I couldn't dismiss that. He took a fight that he had no business taking. He was overmatched in every facet and even his son, Dink, knew it. The doctor told Champ that his heart couldn't handle the intensity of a fight, but Champ dismissed him. When the Champ started getting pummeled by his opponent, Manuel Quiroga (Frank Hagney), his own son wanted to throw in the towel to save him, but he wouldn't allow it.
The Champ won the fight, but lost his life.
It was sad enough that he died for his son. He needed the money to send his son to school and to get his son's horse Little Champ back. It was exponentially sad to see Dink bawling his eyes out as he called for his dead father. I wasn't ready. I thought I could handle the cries of a little kid who would quickly turn the page and start looking at things positively. That didn't happen and I couldn't have appreciated it more.
Free on Odnoklassniki.