Wallace Beery, one of the finest actors In Hollywood, plays the co-starring role with Jackie. It is a real treat for film fans to see the two together.

The Champ may be hokum. but if so it's the sort of hokum that this old world of ours loves -- and needs.

Perhaps The Champ is the old Stella Dallas recipe for film-making, perhaps It is overstressjd in its emotion, perhaps it is slow and even dull in the opening reels but the punch of the finish is terrific.

“The Champ” is heavy on melodrama and some could argue that it milks emotions dry. I think all of that works because we never lose our investment in the two lead characters.