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Champion is a 1949 movie that tells the story of Midge Kelly (Kirk Douglas), a boxer who rises to fame and fortune through his sheer will and determination. At the start of the movie, Midge and his brother Connie (Arthur Kennedy) are struggling to make ends meet in their hometown of Los Angeles. They work odd jobs and take part in small-time boxing matches to earn a living.

One day, Midge gets into a fight with one of his opponents who insults him, and he knocks him out cold. That catched the attention of a promoter, who sees great potential in him and offers him a spot on his team. Midge takes the offer and starts winning match after match. He quickly becomes a national sensation and a contender for the world championship.

As Midge's career takes off, he becomes increasingly ruthless and ruthless, using anyone he can to get ahead. He leaves his brother behind, falls out with his girlfriend Emma (Marilyn Maxwell), and even cheats and uses illegal tactics to win his matches. His ultimate ambition is to become world champion, and no amount of damage to himself, or others, can stop him.

The movie provides a complex character study of Midge, who is depicted as a brutal and emotionally unstable person who will sacrifice anything to achieve his goals. Despite his moral failings, it's difficult not to have sympathy for Midge's quest to break out of poverty and become something more. However, the movie also highlights the devastating consequences of his choices, both on himself and those around him.

Kirk Douglas gives a mesmerizing performance as Midge, convincingly portraying the character's passion and ambition, as well as his vulnerability and inner turmoil. His portrayal of a fighter who refuses to acknowledge failure or weakness, despite obvious physical and emotional pain, is both touching and chilling at the same time.

Arthur Kennedy is also impressive as Midge's brother, Conny, providing a strong counterbalance to his brother's aggressive nature. Marilyn Maxwell delivers a solid performance as Emma, Midge's loyal girlfriend who tries to keep him grounded.

The movie is visually stunning with fantastic boxing scenes that are still exciting to watch today. The black and white photography expertly captures the gritty and violent nature of the sport, and the film's score adds to the movie's overall tension and suspense.

Champion is an intense, well-crafted movie that explores the dark side of ambition and the high stakes of professional sports. It's a gripping and thought-provoking drama that has stood the test of time and remains a classic of the genre.

Champion is a 1949 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.