Champion (1949)


Champion
Release Date09 April 1949
TaglineThis is the only sport in the world where two guys get paid for doing something they'd be arrested for if they got drunk and did it for nothing.
GenreDrama, Film-Noir, Romance, Sport
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
Sound MixMono
ColorBlack and White
Film TypeFeature
Film ClassSports Drama
ThemesAll Washed Up, Boxers, Rise and Fall Stories
TonesAngry, Atmospheric, Forceful, Gritty, Harsh
TagsBoxer, Brother, Bum, Champion, Family, Handicap, Rags To Riches, Sports, Star, Upward Mobility
  • Champion
  • Champion
  • Champion
  • Champion
  • Champion

Champion (1949) is an American film noir drama based on a short story by Ring Lardner. Filmed in black-and-white, it recounts the struggles of boxer "Midge" Kelly fighting his own demons while working to achieve success in the boxing ring. The drama was directed by Mark Robson, with cinematography by Franz Planer. The drama features Kirk Douglas, Marilyn Maxwell, and others.


Cast and Crew


Cast

Kirk Douglas
Michael 'Midge' Kelly

Marilyn Maxwell
Grace Diamond

Arthur Kennedy
Connie Kelly

Paul Stewart
Tommy Haley

Ruth Roman
Emma Bryce

Lola Albright
Palmer Harris

Luis Van Rooten
Jerome 'Jerry' Harris

Harry Shannon
Lew Bryce

John Daheim
Johnny Dunne

Ralph Sanford
Hammond

Esther Howard
Mrs. Margaret Kelly

Bill Baldwin
Bill Brown, ringside broadcaster

Sam Balter
Championship fight announcer

Polly Bergen
jukebox singer , Radio

Don Brodie
Reporter

Ralph Brooks
Reporter at benefit

Sayre Dearing
Reporter at benefit

Paul Dubov
Gangster

Jimmie Dundee
Tough tramp in boxcar

Chuck Hamilton
Fight stadium guard

Mike Lally
Well-wisher in nightclub

Hal March
Mobster

George Meader
Fight doctor

Ralph Montgomery
Reporter

Forbes Murray
Speaker at benefit

Jack Perry
Referee

Tim Ryan
Al - Kansas City manager

Court Shepard
Fighter

Charles Sherlock
Dunne's cornerman

Charles Sullivan
Kansas City referee

Director

Mark Robson
-

Writer

Carl Foreman

Producer

Stanley Kramer
producer

Robert Stillman
associate producer

Original Music

Dimitri Tiomkin
-

Cinematographer

Franz Planer

Editor

Harry W. Gerstad

Production Designer

Rudolph Sternad
-

Set Decorator

Edward G. Boyle
-

Makeup Department

Gustaf Norin
makeup supervisor

Gertrude Wheeler
hair stylist

Production Manager

Clem Beauchamp
production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Ivan Volkman
assistant director

Sound Department

Jean L. Speak
sound engineer

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Joe King
wardrobe: men

Adele Parmenter
wardrobe: ladies

Music Department

Dimitri Tiomkin
music director

Joseph Dubin
orchestrator

Manuel Emanuel
orchestrator

Paul Marquardt
orchestrator

Herbert Taylor
orchestrator

Other Crew

Mushy Callahan
technical advisor

Don Weis
dialogue director

Sally Hamilton
executive secretary

Stanley Kramer
presenter

Dale Tate
title designer

Production Company

Stanley Kramer Productions

Distributor

United Artists

Astor Pictures Corporation

Artisan Entertainment

Herbert Richers Produções Cinematográficas

Republic Pictures Home Video

Miscellaneous

Marcus and Kessler
furs by

Sound Services
sound recording