Champion (1949 film)
- Kirk Douglas: Michael Kelly
- Lola Albright: Palmer Harris
- Esther Howard: Margaret Kelly
- Arthur Kennedy: Connie Kelly
- Marilyn Maxwell: Grace Diamond
- Paul Stewart: Tommy Haley
- Ruth Roman: Emma Bryce
- Luis Van rooting: Jerome Harris
Between women and ropes ( in the original Champion ) is an American film drama from the era of film noir by Mark Robson from the year 1949. The screenplay is based on the story by Ring Lardner and premiered on April 9, 1949. In Germany the film was first published on 18 December 1951 in the cinemas.
Action
Michael Kelly and his brother Connie draw as Tramps from Chicago to California. You want there to compete for their partnership at a restaurant. During their journey they are carried along by the professional boxer Johnny Dunne. Dunne is with his girlfriend Grace Diamond go to a fight to Kansas City.
Michael, who needs money, is offered a fight for $ 35. But after fighting him just ten dollar paid. The boxing coach Tommy Haley is aware of Michael and offered him to train at his studio in Los Angeles. But Michael refuses disinterested.
When the two brothers arrive in Los Angeles, they find out that they have been cheated. The two hired themselves out as a waiter and dishwasher, with both in Margaret, the daughter of the owner fall in love. When Michael is discovered with her, the angry father forces him to marry. Shortly after the wedding, Michael leaves his wife and flies with his brother in Haley's studio.
Michael was skeptical at first, but after a few victorious battles in the neighborhood, it is touring the country. Soon, he can challenge Harry Dunne to a fight. Scammers do however attempt to persuade Michael to defeat, but he should next year may fight for the championship. Michael goes into the scam, but in the fight he already defeated Dunne in the first round.
Grace Diamond now turned to Michael. They convinced him to get involved Jerome Harris as manager. However, Harris is working with the scammers. Michael sees this as the only way to fight for the title can and says to. His brother Connie is outraged by Michael's decision. He leaves him and returns to start with Michael's abandoned wife a new life.
Michael wins the championship and is a popular BoxStar. With the help of Harris ' wife Palmer, he becomes a sports icon. Palmer falls in love with Michael, who tries to persuade Harris to divorce. Harris refuses and offers Michael money in return for it to when he no longer sees Palmer again. Michael takes the money and Palmer breaks so the heart.
Michaels challengers are rather mediocre. But then challenges him Dunne who wants to try a comeback. Michael Dunne looks excellent form, he has to work hard on themselves in order to win the fight can. He hired his old coach Haley, also Connie returns to the studio to support his brother. Connie married Michael's ex-wife, but she seduces Michael, even to himself something to prove.
The battle between Michael and Dunne is the sporting event of the year. Already in the first round beats Michael Dunne to the ground, but make it back to his feet. The fight soon turns to Dunnes favor. Michael is getting heavier in place so that Haley wants to throw in the towel. But Michael refuses and continues to fight. At the end of the fight he is recovering a little, but his injuries by Dunnes hits are so hard that he dies on them.
Reviews
" A critical in the description of the marketed boxing film with dense milieu description and excellent design of the main role, but this remains to be undecided in the final phase of history. "
" Schonunglos realistic. "
" A hard, but instructive picture of questionable methods in Boxgeschäft, cinematically and dramatically well designed. For adults only. "
Awards
- Oscar Best Picture section at Harry W. Gerstad
- Nomination for Best Actor at Kirk Douglas
- Nomination for Best Supporting Actor Arthur Kennedy
- Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at Carl Foreman
- Nomination for Best Cinematography ( s / w) to Franz planner
- Nomination for Best Original Score to Dimitri Tiomkin
- Golden Globe Best in the former category camera to Franz planner
- Nomination in the former category Best Young Actress Ruth Roman
Further nominations
Background
The film was the second production work of the later Star - director Stanley Kramer, Lola Albright, it was the first role in a feature film in which she is mentioned in the credits. Luis Van rooting was born in Mexico. He presented three times in his career the Reichsführer- SS Heinrich Himmler dar.
A native of Austria cinematographer Franz planner is listed in the credits as Frank planner. Oscar - winner Harry W. Gerstad was three years later another Oscar win ( for twelve clock noon). For the same movie Dimitri Tiomkin won two Oscars (music and song ), two more Oscars followed in 1955 and 1959. For the equipment of the future Oscar - winner Edward G. Boyle was responsible. As Production Manager worked Clem Beauchamp, who was honored in 1936 in the defunct Best Director assistant. The athletic advisor to the film was the former middleweight boxing champion welterweight (now junior welterweight ) Mushy Callahan.