Football Flick of the Week - “Brian’s Song” (1971)

Football season is finally upon us and for the September 3 and 10 editions, I will be checking out a few football-related films. For this edition, I took a look at the 1971 film “Brian’s Song.”

The TV production was such a success on ABC that it was later shown in theaters briefly by Columbia Pictures. Critics have called this film one of the finest TV movies ever made and a 2005 readers’ poll taken by “Entertainment Weekly” ranked “Brian’s Song” 7th in its list of the top “guy-cry” films.

Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers are teammates on the mid-1960s Chicago Bears. At a time when professional football still bears a certain amount of race-based segregation, the growing friendship between the white Piccolo and the black Sayers, as well as their wives, becomes a symbol of harmony during the civil rights era.

That bond grows stronger still when Piccolo receives some shattering and unexpected news.

The 1971 TV movie is one of the most successful TV movies ever, and it captivated audiences with its incredibly touching story of friendship and its heart-breaking portrayal of cancer. I remember seeing this once in school a very long time ago and felt it was finally time to revisit it. And, as soon as I rewatched the film for the first time in years, I can definitely say it will have you feeling extremely moved and teary-eyed by the end for sure.

“Brian’s Song” is definitely one of the most captivating films I have ever seen. The film’s main narrative that focuses on the powerful and unwavering bond between the two teammates is one of the major highlights of this film. Throughout the film, we see their friendship marked by competition, mutual respect and unwavering support as Piccolo faces his fatal illness.

It’s also truly compelling to see how Piccolo and Sayers went from being competitors for the same running back position to having such a close relationship. The chemistry between James Caan and Billy Dee Williams in this film is undeniably fantastic and their on-screen chemistry makes the final moments of the film truly powerful. The moment where Sayers tells Piccolo “I’ll see you tomorrow” is an iconic moment that will really make you tear up since the friends were saying farewell.

Decades after its debut, the film’s emotional power and the iconic portrayal of Sayers and Piccolo’s relationship continues to resonate with audiences, solidifying its status as a classic.

You can currently stream “Brian’s Song” on Tubi.

For the September 10 edition for football flicks, I will be taking a look at “Friday Night Lights” and “Varsity Blues.”

• Having played football in high school, James Caan was a more accomplished athlete than Billy Dee Williams. In the film, Gale Sayers is supposed to surpass Brian Piccolo in speed and playing ability, so Caan was forced to slow down considerably so that Williams could believably outplay him.

• James Caan initially turned down the role of Brian Piccolo, preferring to focus on his film career, but he liked the script so much that he eventually relented.

• Louis Gossett Jr. originally was cast as Gale Sayers. A few days before shooting began, Gossett tore his Achilles' tendon while working out. Studio executives quickly hired Billy Dee Williams as a replacement, leaving Gossett depressed over missing his "shot". Producer David L. Wolper promised Gossett the first great role that came along. Wolper cast Gossett as "Fiddler" in Roots (1977), the Emmy-winning role that made him a star.

• While it was not mentioned in the film for reasons of delicacy on prime time TV, Brian Piccolo had a metastasized version of testicular cancer ("testicle" was a censored word). He underwent multiple, extremely painful surgeries that, among other things, included a mastectomy, the removal of a chest wall, and a orchiectomy (removal of the testicle). The surgeon was later described as being too gung-ho because at the time and with the cancer at such an advanced state, there was nothing that could actually be done and the best thing should have been to focus on quality of life, as Brian's chances were virtually zero. In 1974 a doctor named Larry Einhorn developed a regimen that had a dramatic impact on this form of cancer. For someone in Brian's condition it would have given him a 70% chance of survival. For someone whose testicular cancer had not metastasized, the success rate was 99%. Today that form of cancer, when caught at the right stage, is the most treatable form of cancer.

• Gale Sayers wanted to play himself, but Bears training camp conflicted with shooting.

• Brian Piccolo is twenty-one years old at the outset of the film's narrative, while actor James Caan was actually thirty.