The Champ (1979)

	Directed by: Franco Zeffirelli	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Kinasyndromet RUNNING TIME 121 minutes
	Produced by: Dyson Lovell
	Written by (based on a story by Frances Marion): Walter Newman

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Billy Flynn	Jon Voight
Annie	Faye Dunaway	½
T.J. Flynn	Ricky Schroder
Jackie	Jack Warden	½
Mike	Arthur Hill	-
Riley	Strother Martin	-
Dolly Kenyon	Joan Blondell	-
Georgie	Elisha Cook Jr.	-

Review

Although Franco Zeffirelli's The Champ is uneven, few can deny that in emotional output, this cross between Rocky and Kramer vs. Kramer remains second to none. The recipe is twofold: (1) the remarkable Ricky Schroder in the role of T.J., and (2) Zeffirelli's impudent inclination and ability to exploit said talent. A talent based not only on Schroder's singular tear production, but also on his genuine compassion for Voight and the 8-year-old's wonderful ability to communicate this compassion. Ricky Schroder's T.J. ranks up there with Jackie Cooper's The Kid and some of Elijah Wood's early work as among the best child performances in film history.

On their way, a dimmed Jon Voight and an inexplicably stiff Faye Dunaway battle it out as a rather unappealing odd couple. The problem is largely Dunaway's part. The contrast between the somewhat unmotivated aloofness of her past and her sudden emotional awakening seems constructed for the plot, and Dunaway lacks the sensitivity to make her Annie believable in these circumstances. Her caresses and affection seem unnatural – possibly because Dunaway still was not a mother herself at this point.

Still, Zeffirelli's film is beautiful and poignant at its best. The relationship between father and son is heartrendingly portrayed, equalling Dustin Hoffman and Justin Henry from the same year. The Champ isn't as potent a social comment as Kramer vs. Kramer, but it competes well on the sentimental impact. The skilled Italian in the director's chair knew exactly which buttons to push, and with Schroder as his instrument, he pushed them relentlessly.