The 1931 film "The Champ" is a classic boxing film about a former boxing champion who lives with his eight-year old son who idolizes him. The film stars Wallace Beery as Andy "Champ" Purcell and Jackie Cooper as his son Dink. Andy lives with his son Dink in a run-down apartment in Tijuana, Mexico. He always hopes to box again but likes to drink and gamble. Andy encounters Linda, his ex-wife and Dink's mother, and Linda, now married to Tony, a wealthy man, wants her son back. Andy gets a chance to fight the current champion, stops drinking and gambling to train for the fight, which leads to a bittersweet ending. At one point after a night of drinking, Andy finds a coin in his pocket and decides to visit the local casino. He asks Dink to kiss the coin for "good luck." At the casino dice table there are piles of coins.

Andy "Champ" Purcell, a former boxing champion, lives with his son Dink in Tijuana, Mexico. Andy sometimes has enough energy to train for boxing.

Andy's two friends Sponge and Tim are in the car while Andy is running followed by Dink.

Dink loves his father but is disappointed with his drinking and gambling. Dink's best friend, a local boy named Jonah, is almost always with him. Andy heads for a local bar, gets drunk, comes home, goes to sleep, wakes up, starts dressing, and finds a coin in a pocket.

Andy decides that the day is a "lucky day" and asks Dink to kiss the coin for "good luck."

The coin is "lucky" as Andy wins a lot of money and buys Dink a horse.

Andy and Dink name the horse "Little Champ" and they head for the racetrack to enter the horse in a race. A wealthy couple, Tony and Linda, own another horse in the race.

Linda sees Andy, her ex-husband, with the boy and realizes that the boy is her son. It is not explained in the film why Andy and Linda split up or why Dink lives with Andy and not his mother. Dink has always believed that his mother had died. Linda sees Andy and asks for custody of the boy, claiming that her wealthy husband can provide "advantages" for the boy. Andy allows Dink to visit his mother at her apartment.

Dink respects her but prefers to live with his father. He then heads back to Tijuana and back to his father. In Tijuana, Andy heads to the casino for another night of gambling.

A pile of currency and stacks of coins are shown on the table. Andy loses all of his money and is forced to sell the horse.

A close-up of the prop coins on the table:

The coins are Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company Motion Picture $1.00 prop coins.

Aluminum, 38 mm, 6.29 gm
Obverse:
LOS ANGELES RUBBER STAMP CO.
MFR'S OF / MOVING / PICTURE / MONEY / AND / BADGES
Reverse:
RETURNABLE / FOR CREDIT AT LB. RATE / 1 00

For more information on these prop coins please visit: Motion Picture Prop Coins

Back at home, Dink is disappointed with Andy again but still loves him. Boxing promoters visit Andy and convince him to return to boxing. They have arranged a big match with the current champion. Andy goes into training and this time really gives up drinking and gambling. Andy and Dink head for the big fight, and among the spectators are Linda and Tony.

Andy is beaten pretty badly but manages to down his opponent.

Andy sees his son's happiness and then collapses. The doctor tells everyone that Andy is dying.

Andy's mother appears and he runs to her.

Wallace Beery as Andy "Champ" Purcell
Jackie Cooper as Dink Purcell
Irene Rich as Linda Purcell
Jesse Scott as Jonah
Director: King Vidor
Writers: Frances Marion, Leonard Praskins