Brian's Song

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(November 30, 1971) that it was later shown in theaters, with a major premiere in Chicago; however, it was soon withdrawn due to a lack of business.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 1967 season.

Plot
The movie begins as Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers (Williams) arrives to team practice as an errant punt is sent to Sayers. Running back Brian Piccolo (Caan) comes by to retrieve the ball, as Sayers flips the ball to him. Sayers eventually heads into the team headquarters to meet with coach George Halas, whom Piccolo has told Sayers has a hearing problem as a prank. Later during practice, Piccolo struggles, compared to Sayers, who is doing rather well. Sayers pranked him back by placing mashed potatoes on his seat while Piccolo was singing his alma mater's fight song. Afterwards, Sayers and Piccolo are placed as roommates, a rarity during the racial strife at the time. Eventually, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sayers excels, until he injures his knee. To aid in Sayers's recovery, Piccolo brings a weight machine to aid in physical therapy for his knee. In Sayers's place, Piccolo rushes for 160 yards in a 17-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams, and is given the game ball. Piccolo later challenges Sayers to a running race across the park, where Sayers stumbles but gets up. In their room, Halas hands Piccolo the starting fullback position, and both Piccolo and Sayers eventually excel in games against teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in a different game, Piccolo starts to show signs of a decline in performance and weight loss. Eventually, before a loss, Halas reveals to Sayers that Piccolo has cancer. In an emotional speech to his teammates, Sayers states that they will give Piccolo the game ball. After a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sayers visits Piccolo's wife, who reveals that Piccolo has to have another surgery for his tumor. After he is awarded the George S. Halas Most Courageous Player Award, Sayers dedicates his speech to Piccolo. In a call, Sayers mentions that he gave Piccolo a pint of blood to aid him, while he was in critical condition. Piccolo dies with his wife by his side, and the movie ends with a flashback of Piccolo and Sayers running through the park while a voice over narrates that Piccolo died at age 26, and is remembered as he lived, rather than how he died.

Cast

 * James Caan as Brian Piccolo
 * Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers
 * Jack Warden as Coach George Halas
 * Shelley Fabares as Joy Piccolo
 * Judy Pace as Linda Sayers
 * Bernie Casey as J.C. Caroline
 * David Huddleston as Ed McCaskey
 * Ron Feinberg as Doug Atkins
 * Jack Concannon as Himself
 * Abe Gibron as Himself
 * Ed O'Bradovich as Himself
 * Dick Butkus as Himself
 * Chicago Bears as Themselves

Music
The musical theme to Brian's Song, "The Hands of Time", was a popular tune during the early 1970s and has become a standard. The music for the film was by Michel Legrand, with lyrics to the song by Marilyn and Alan Bergman. LeGrand's instrumental version of the theme song charted for eight weeks in 1972, peaking at #56. Nashville pianist Floyd Cramer performed a popular version of "The Hands of Time".

Awards and nominations
The film won an Emmy Award for Best Dramatic Program (1971–72). William Blinn won an Emmy for his teleplay, and Jack Warden won for his performance as Coach Halas. Caan and Williams were both nominated for best leading actor.

Remake
Thirty years after its original airing, a remake was aired in 2001 on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney starring Mekhi Phifer in Billy Dee Williams' original role as Sayers and Sean Maher as Piccolo, the character originally played by James Caan.