''Tennessee Champ'' is a 1954 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

with strong

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

overtones directed by Fred M. Wilcox and starring Shelley Winters, Keenan Wynn, Dewey Martin, and Charles Bronson Mounted as a title to fill out double and triple bills (a

B-movie A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second ...

), ''Tennessee Champ'' was one of several films

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

shot in its pet process of Ansco Color, a ruddy-looking process employed on the same year's '' Brigadoon''. The film marked a return to Hollywood for star Shelley Winters, who hadn't appeared in a film in almost two years because of her marriage to

Vittorio Gassman Vittorio Gassman (; born Gassmann; 1 September 1922 – 29 June 2000), popularly known as , was an Italian actor, director, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the greatest Italian actors, whose career includes both important producti ...

(which ended in June 1954) and the birth of their child, Vittoria. The lull came just as she seemed to be on an upswing after roles in '' Winchester '73'' (1950), '' Phone Call from a Stranger'' (1952), and her breakthrough tragic performance in '' A Place in the Sun'' (1951).

Plot

Sarah Wurble's husband Willy is the larceny-inclined manager of an illiterate, and very religious boxer from Tennessee named Danny. Gifted with a powerful punch and a nickname that gives the film its title, Danny mistakenly believes he killed a man defending himself in a street brawl, and goes on the lam as a prizefighter. His

convictions turn out to be both a source of inspiration and, ultimately, conflict when Willy urges him to throw a fight (while mistakenly fearing Willy will turn him in on the murder charge if he doesn't). Credulity flies out of the window when Danny discovers the man he is to take on in the fixed fight is actually the man he thought he killed, Sixty Jubel, The "Biloxi Blockbuster." Danny's example of unwavering faith causes Willy to rethink his sinful ways.

Cast

* Shelley Winters as Sarah * Keenan Wynn as Willy * Dewey Martin as Danny * Earl Holliman as Happy * Dave O'Brien as Luke MacWade * Charles Bronson as Sixty * Yvette Dugay as Blossom * Frank Richards as J.B. Backett * Jack Kruschen as Andrews

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $555,000 in the US and Canada and $214,000 elsewhere, making a loss to the studio of $189,000.

References

External links

* * * 1954 films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1954 drama films American drama films Films directed by Fred M. Wilcox 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-US-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links