Brian's Song

Infobox Film
name


caption =
director = Buzz Kulik
producer = Paul Junger Witt
writer = Gale Sayers with Al Silverman (original book); William Blinn (teleplay)
narrator =
starring = James Caan
Billy Dee Williams
Jack Warden
Shelley Fabares
music = Michel Legrand
cinematography = Joseph F. Biroc
editing = Bud S. Isaacs
distributor = Screen Gems / Columbia Pictures "(producers)"
ABC "(original broadcaster)"
released = 30-Nov-1971
runtime = 73 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0068315
book = blank

"Brian's Song" is a 1971 made-for-TV movie, recalling the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), a white football player stricken with terminal cancer, and his friendship with black Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), who helps him through the difficult struggle. The true story was such a success on ABC television (November 30, 1971) that it was later shown in theaters.

The movie is based on Sayers' account of his friendship with Piccolo and Piccolo's illness in Sayers' autobiography, "I Am Third". The film was written by veteran screenwriter William Blinn, but there is also a book version.

Music

The musical theme to "Brian's Song", "The Hands of Time," was a popular tune during the early 1970s. The music for the film was by Michel Legrand, with lyrics to the song by Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Nashville pianist Floyd Cramer performed a popular version of "The Hands of Time".

Remake

Thirty years after its original airing, a remake [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289873/ Brian's Song (2001)] ] was aired in 2001 on ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney" starring Mekhi Phifer and Sean Maher.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068315/ Brian's Song (1971)] at The Internet Movie Database
* [http://www.seanmaher.info/brianssong.html SeanMaher.info: Brian's Song]