Brian's Song
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Brian's Song is a 1971 made-for-TV movie, recalling the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), a football player stricken with terminal cancer, and his friendship with Chicago Bears teammate Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), who helps him through the difficult struggle. The true story was such a success on television that it was later shown in theaters. A remake was filmed in 2001 for ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney starring Mekhi Phifer and Sean Maher. The movie is based on Sayers' account of his friendship with Piccolo and Piccolo's illness in his autobiography, I Am Third. The film was written by veteran screenwriter William Blinn.
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".
Synopsis
Brian Piccolo is an All-American running back for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team in 1964. Despite leading the country in rushing yardage and being named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, he is not drafted into professional football because of his relative lack of size and speed. Piccolo decides then to try out as a free agent for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL).
Piccolo (aka. "Pic") makes the team as a back up to running back Gale Sayers. Sayers is also a first year player and a former All-American from the Kansas Jayhawks. With his great speed and elusive running style, Sayers is highly touted coming into the NFL and was picked high in the 1965 draft.
Due to the fact that Piccolo and Sayers are both rookie players of the same postion, team coach George Halas decides that the pair should room together during training camp and road games. Given the fact that Piccolo is white and Sayers is African-American during a time when blacks are still fighting for civil rights in America, this is viewed as a progressive if not controversial decision. No black player has ever been the roommate of a white player in the history of the NFL.
Piccolo, exercising his endearing wit and relentless sense of humor, finds it within himself to make light of the boarding circumstances as well as his inevitable lack of playing time in games. In a short time, he and Sayers - who is as stoic and shy as Pic is extroverted - become fast friends.
In a game in 1968, Sayers, now a full fledged star in the NFL, is the victim of a severe knee injury that sidelines him for remainder of the season. Piccolo seizes the opportunity and perfoms well as Sayers' replacement. Off the field, Pic's uncompromising support of Sayers during the rehabilitation of his damaged knee increases the bond between the two men.
Entering the 1969 season, Halas comes to recognize the dual talents he has in the backfield and decides to move Piccolo to the starting fullback position. Now Pic and his best friend Sayers play side by side.
The celebration that follows is short lived. It becomes obvious through weight loss, a consistent cough and a drop off in his playing performance, that something is not right with Piccolo. Before the season concludes, Piccolo is sent to a doctor who discovers a cancerous tumor in his lung. Less than nine months later, Piccolo succumbs to his illness much to the dismay of Sayers and his Bears teammates and coaches.
External links
| Chicago Bears American Football Club |
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