Brian's Song: See below for more information about the movie!
Brian's Song - Brian Piccolo Jersey - click here to order Jersey review by James Brooks:
"Just received the Piccolo jersey. I cried. Outside of my wife and children that is the most awesome thing I have ever held. It is perfect. Piccolo along with my Mike Webster will generate a lot of conversation in my office. I sent a letter to James Caan to see if there is any way he would sign it for me. I want to write a review for your site. How do I do it. Thanks so much. Dave Brooks" |
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BRIAN'S SONG (1971)
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Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), who helps him through the difficult struggle. The production was such a success on ABC television (November 30, 1971) that it was later shown in theaters,with a major premiere in Chicago; however, it was soon withdrawn due to a lack of business. Many critics have called the movie one of, if not the finest telefilm ever made.
The movie is based on Sayers' account of his friendship with Piccolo and coping with Piccolo's illness in Sayers' autobiography, I Am Third. The film was written by veteran screenwriter William Blinn, whose script, one Dallas television critic called, "highly restrained, steering clear of any overt sentimentality [yet conveying] the genuine affection the two men felt so deeply for each other."
Although based on a true story, the film did include some fictional scenes. One example was when George Halas (played by Jack Warden) told Gale Sayers that he wanted to bench Brian Piccolo when he suspected that there may be a problem affecting his performance. He later learned of Brian's cancer. In reality, Jim Dooley was the head coach at that time, as Halas had retired from the position following the 1968 season.
Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), who helps him through the difficult struggle. The production was such a success on ABC television (November 30, 1971) that it was later shown in theaters,with a major premiere in Chicago; however, it was soon withdrawn due to a lack of business. Many critics have called the movie one of, if not the finest telefilm ever made.
The movie is based on Sayers' account of his friendship with Piccolo and coping with Piccolo's illness in Sayers' autobiography, I Am Third. The film was written by veteran screenwriter William Blinn, whose script, one Dallas television critic called, "highly restrained, steering clear of any overt sentimentality [yet conveying] the genuine affection the two men felt so deeply for each other."
Although based on a true story, the film did include some fictional scenes. One example was when George Halas (played by Jack Warden) told Gale Sayers that he wanted to bench Brian Piccolo when he suspected that there may be a problem affecting his performance. He later learned of Brian's cancer. In reality, Jim Dooley was the head coach at that time, as Halas had retired from the position following the 1968 season.
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Directed by
Buzz Kulik
Writing credits
Gale Sayers
(book "I Am Third") and
Al Silverman
(book "I Am Third")
William Blinn
(written by)
Cast
James Caan...Brian Piccolo
Billy Dee Williams...Gale Sayers
Jack Warden...Coach George Halas
Bernie Casey...J.C. Caroline
Shelley Fabares...Joy Piccolo
David Huddleston...Ed McCaskey
Judy Pace...Linda Sayers
Abe Gibron...Abe Gibron
Jack Concannon...Jack Concannon
Ed O'Bradovich...Ed O'Bradovich
The Chicago Bears Players...Themselves
The Chicago Bears Coaches...Themselves
The Chicago Bears Staff...Themselves
Harold 'Happy' Hairston...Veteran Player #1 (as Happy Hairston)
Ron Feinberg...Veteran Player #2 (Doug Atkins)
Ji-Tu Cumbuka...Roommate
Jim Boeke...Veteran Player #3
Larry Delaney...Dr. Fox
Stephen Coit...Mr. Eberle
Doreen Lang...Nurse #1
Jennifer Kulik...Nurse #2 (as Jeni Kulik)
Allen Secher...Hotel Man
Stu Nahan...Speaker
Mario Machado...Reporter #1
Bud Furillo...Reporter #2
Jack Wells...Toastmaster
Dick Butkus...Dick Butkus (uncredited)
January L'Angelle...Girl in Hospital (uncredited)
Produced by
Paul Junger Witt....producer
Tony Thomas....associate producer
Original Music by
Michel Legrand
Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc
(director of photography) (as Joe Biroc)
Film Editing by
Bud S. Isaacs
Art Direction by
Ross Bellah
Set Decoration by
Frank Lombardo
Production Management
Eddie Saeta....unit production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Saeta....assistant director
Richard Learman....second assistant director (uncredited)
Sound Department
George C. Emick....sound editor
Wayne Fury....sound editor
Ralph Hickey....sound editor
Marvin I. Kosberg....sound editor
Paul Laune....sound editor
William J. Montague....sound mixer
Alfred E. Overton....sound mixer
Monty Pearce....sound editor
Harold E. Wooley....sound editor
Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Friedman....still photographer (uncredited)
Casting Department
Renée Valente....casting executive (as Renee Valente)
Thanks
Ernie Ernse....thanks
Joe Guarracino....thanks
Jack Newman....thanks
Steve Sabol....thanks
Buzz Kulik
Writing credits
Gale Sayers
(book "I Am Third") and
Al Silverman
(book "I Am Third")
William Blinn
(written by)
Cast
James Caan...Brian Piccolo
Billy Dee Williams...Gale Sayers
Jack Warden...Coach George Halas
Bernie Casey...J.C. Caroline
Shelley Fabares...Joy Piccolo
David Huddleston...Ed McCaskey
Judy Pace...Linda Sayers
Abe Gibron...Abe Gibron
Jack Concannon...Jack Concannon
Ed O'Bradovich...Ed O'Bradovich
The Chicago Bears Players...Themselves
The Chicago Bears Coaches...Themselves
The Chicago Bears Staff...Themselves
Harold 'Happy' Hairston...Veteran Player #1 (as Happy Hairston)
Ron Feinberg...Veteran Player #2 (Doug Atkins)
Ji-Tu Cumbuka...Roommate
Jim Boeke...Veteran Player #3
Larry Delaney...Dr. Fox
Stephen Coit...Mr. Eberle
Doreen Lang...Nurse #1
Jennifer Kulik...Nurse #2 (as Jeni Kulik)
Allen Secher...Hotel Man
Stu Nahan...Speaker
Mario Machado...Reporter #1
Bud Furillo...Reporter #2
Jack Wells...Toastmaster
Dick Butkus...Dick Butkus (uncredited)
January L'Angelle...Girl in Hospital (uncredited)
Produced by
Paul Junger Witt....producer
Tony Thomas....associate producer
Original Music by
Michel Legrand
Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc
(director of photography) (as Joe Biroc)
Film Editing by
Bud S. Isaacs
Art Direction by
Ross Bellah
Set Decoration by
Frank Lombardo
Production Management
Eddie Saeta....unit production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Saeta....assistant director
Richard Learman....second assistant director (uncredited)
Sound Department
George C. Emick....sound editor
Wayne Fury....sound editor
Ralph Hickey....sound editor
Marvin I. Kosberg....sound editor
Paul Laune....sound editor
William J. Montague....sound mixer
Alfred E. Overton....sound mixer
Monty Pearce....sound editor
Harold E. Wooley....sound editor
Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Friedman....still photographer (uncredited)
Casting Department
Renée Valente....casting executive (as Renee Valente)
Thanks
Ernie Ernse....thanks
Joe Guarracino....thanks
Jack Newman....thanks
Steve Sabol....thanks