Champions (1984)
- Starring:
- John Hurt, Edward Woodward, (more)
- Director(s):
- John Irvin
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Format(s):
- DVD
| Digital SD
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Synopsis of Champions
John Hurt plays the British jockey Bob Champion in this true story of how Champion overcame cancer and the rigors of chemotherapy for an impressive personal and professional comeback. Just as Champion is in the middle of a vacation in Kentucky, he finds out he has cancer, and, like others before him, submits to the full, painful treatments of multiple injections and radiation, suffering as much or more from the cure as from the illness (these treatments are graphic). Gaunt and nauseous, Champion also endures realistic meetings with his doctors that hold forth no guarantee of a cure. His eventual remission leads to yet another grueling physical schedule to get him back into shape for the Grand National Steeplechase -- a 30-fence, well-publicized race that offers difficult hurdles for both the horses and their jockeys. If the 115-minutes running time of this film were cut in places, it would create a better, trim and slim, fast-paced telling of an even more focused tale. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 114 mins
Complete Cast of Champions
- John Hurt - Bob Champion
- Jan Francis - Jo
- Ann Bell - Valda Embiricos
- Alison Steadman - Mary Hussey
- Julie Adams - Emma Hussey
- Michael Byrne - Richard Hussey
- Andrew Wilde - Graham
- John Burke - Jockey Riding Double
- Antony Carrick - Ken
- Jonathan Newth - Mr. Griffith Jones
- Mark Burns - Thorne
- Frank Mills - Charles
- Ceri Jackson - Nurse
- Anthony Dawes - Fred
- Hubert Rees - Bill/Hiawatha
- Ben Johnson - Burly Cocks
- Mark Lambert - Sean
- Edward Woodward - Josh Gifford
- Peter Barkworth - Nick Embiricos
- Judy Parfitt - Dr. Merrow
- Kirstie Alley - Barbara
- Fran Brill - 2nd Nurse
- Carolyn Pickles - Sally
- Noel Dyson - Mrs. Champion
- Stephen Jenn - Bald Patient
- Leonard Trolley - Steward
- Edwin Richfield - Ashton
- John Woodnut - Mr. Champion
- Richard Adams - Nicky Hussey
- Wendy Gifford - Althea
- Fiona Victory - Helen
- Mick Dillon - Snowy
- Gregory Jones - Peter
- Richard Leech - Beck
- Director(s):
- John Irvin
- Writer(s):
- Tony Kayden, Evan Jones
- Producer(s):
- Peter Shaw
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Situations)
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