"The Champ" is the most disgraceful sort of manipulative melodrama. A pointless remake of a has-been 1931 film of the same name, this one pummels its audience--employing filmic techniques developed since the original--in its comeback to try to inflict even more tears than its saccharine predecessor.The 1931 version is bad, but at least the camerawork allowed some distance for the actors to develop a decent father-son bond on screen before the hokey histrionics are punched up. Not so here--zoom-ins, especially on the kid and mother, and a greater emphasis on close-ups force the audience to see every tear in the characters' eyes and, the filmmakers' hope seems to be, likewise force the waterworks out of viewers, as well. To today's eyes, at least, even the look and any deterioration of the 1970s film stock has the appearance of being filmed through a teary lens. Moreover, there are a greater series of crying scenes in the remake before the finale compared to the original. Early talkies, such as the 1931 "The Champ," also didn't feature non-diegetic musical scores. This 1979 remake, however, adds one, which rarely allows a moment without informing us what we're supposed to feel. This manipulative music was nominated for an Oscar. It's bad enough that there was never anything intelligent or particularly interesting from Frances Marion's script, another inexplicable Oscar honoree, but the remake doesn't even allow for any genuine emotional involvement. Every time I felt the film's machinations working, it inevitably left me feeling betrayed and abandoned, like T.J. ultimately is at some point by both parents.Padding is added to the narrative, compared to the original, to allow for the heightened sentimental shenanigans. The original also had an injury at the horse track that foreshadows the film's finale, but this one adds more clutter there. I don't get the Old Tom Parr reference, either. Given the ending, is that supposed to be ironic? There are also two swimming scenes with T.J. and another pointless scene where we watch the father watching children playing on a beach (c'mon, we already know he likes kids). With star Faye Dunaway in the role, the part of the mother is expanded, too. It's over an hour and a half before the Champ begins training for his comeback--a length longer than the entire 1931 film.In the wake of "Rocky" (1976), the boxing scene in the 1979 "The Champ" is certainly better than that in the 1931 version, which might be the most laughably-pathetic boxing contest ever filmed, and there's a brief Rocky-esque training montage. Wallace Berry, another undeserving Oscar winner, was literally unfit for the role of a former heavyweight champion. At least, Jon Voight was in better physical shape, and he doesn't ludicrously lunge forward, throwing haymakers each round. Jack Warden, who played a similar role in the prior year's "Heaven Can Wait," another pointless sports-related remake, is brought in as the Champ's trainer, although he's introduced rather late in the feature--seemingly relying on his credibility from the prior film instead of developing his character here.Part of the surge in boxing films piggybacking on the success of "Rocky," "The Champ" also seems to somewhat anticipate the anti-Feminist message of "Kramer vs. Kramer," released later in 1979, by focusing on a father-son relationship under threat from the re-emergence of the mother who abandoned them. Yet, it's shallow on both accounts, boxing and child custody. Emotional manipulation is the contest of concern here. Hopefully, you come out unscathed.

This movie was telecast in TV in Sri Lanka on last Saturday.TJ who was with his father for 7 years finally found his mother. But just before he starts living with his mother, he lost his father. How sad? His father wanted his son to have the best life. He did everything for his son. He wanted to have his wife back and even at the last moment he was worried about the money which were bet on his victory....

Just watched this film again after many, many, years and it still packs an emotional wallop! Maybe more so, now that I am older and view it in a different light. I always felt that Rick Schroeder did a great job in this film however the true acting chops were offered by Jon Voight. What an incredibly believable job. Not for a second was I taken out of the film. The rest of the cast are a who's who of character actors that have appeared in many other films. I found this to be better than the original, especially with the two leads. I don't remember what the film was up against in regard to the academy Awards, however I am surprised that Jon and Rick were not nominated. If you have not seen this film, do yourself a favour and watch it. You will be entertained and, most likely, emotionally drained. But you are definitely in for a treat!

There are success stories ;"the champ " is a "failure" one.The first version was released at a time people were not smiling because of the world crisis.In 1979,after stuff like "Rocky" ,"the champ number two" was not a blockbuster.The problem is that Jon Voigt is much too good-looking ,too healthy ,too fit to portray a wreck successfully.Wallace Beery was the champ and it's him that will be remembered .On the other hand ,although a bit too clean and too cute ,the young Ricky Schroeder's performance compares favorably with that of Jackie Cooper. The part of the mother was fleshed out ,because it was Oscar-winner Faye Dunaway who reprised Irene Rich's role.Franco Zephirelli was more talented when he filmed "Romeo and Juliet and his Jesus remains the best of the genre.Not as "swell" as the 1931 movie,but children fond of melodrama will like it.