The Champ (1931) vs. The Champ (1979)
Oct 7, 2021 2:41:00 GMT
mattgarth, teleadm, and 1 more like this
Post by lune7000 on Oct 7, 2021 2:41:00 GMT
Just saw the '79 version of this so it was an interesting compare- both are great films.
Some impressions
The Champ: I felt Beery was better here as he really looks like a boxer and an alcoholic- casting is very important. Voight seemed like a model.
The Kid: Jackie Cooper was great at being the Champ's caretaker- a role children of alcoholics often have to assume- but in the all important final scene I felt Ricky Schroder did a phenomenal job and won this
The mom and new hubby: I saw this as a wash- the actors did their roles well but stayed in the background for the most part
The boxing match: the '79 version seemed so much better here
The atmosphere: I felt the '31 version was better on this score. The Champ is about desperate people clinging to each other for dear life. I really felt the poverty and emptiness of their lives in the '31 version- rooms, clothing , etc. were really shabby and seemed urine/booze soaked (dirty socks, etc.). The '79 version felt a too clean and suburban- like a festival. Alcoholism isn't fun.
Of note: Joan Blondell was in the '79 version but she could have easily been in the '31 also
Some impressions
The Champ: I felt Beery was better here as he really looks like a boxer and an alcoholic- casting is very important. Voight seemed like a model.
The Kid: Jackie Cooper was great at being the Champ's caretaker- a role children of alcoholics often have to assume- but in the all important final scene I felt Ricky Schroder did a phenomenal job and won this
The mom and new hubby: I saw this as a wash- the actors did their roles well but stayed in the background for the most part
The boxing match: the '79 version seemed so much better here
The atmosphere: I felt the '31 version was better on this score. The Champ is about desperate people clinging to each other for dear life. I really felt the poverty and emptiness of their lives in the '31 version- rooms, clothing , etc. were really shabby and seemed urine/booze soaked (dirty socks, etc.). The '79 version felt a too clean and suburban- like a festival. Alcoholism isn't fun.
Of note: Joan Blondell was in the '79 version but she could have easily been in the '31 also
