Brian's Song

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

One of the best known and most enthusiastically reviewed made for television films of the 1970's, this drama was based on the true story of football greats Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo. Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) and Piccolo (James Caan) both joined the Chicago Bears the same year, and while it was obvious from the start Sayers had the talent and drive to be a great player, Piccolo seemed destined to be an also-ran on the team. However, Sayers and Piccolo struck up a friendship which brought out the best in both players, and coach George Halas (Jack Warden) chose them for a special assignment -- they became the first interracial roommates in the history of the NFL. When Sayers suffered a knee injury that threatened to end his career, Piccolo took it upon himself to help his friend through rehabilitation so he could rejoin the team. But when Piccolo began having heath problems, it was a problem too great for Sayers to handle -- his close friend had developed cancer. Adapted from Sayers' autobiography I Am Third, Brian's Song also features Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus as himself. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: 5.1, PCM Mono
• Screen: Pan and Scan
• Subtitle: Spanish, English, Korean, Thai, Portuguese
• Features:
  • • Digitally mastered audio and video
    • Full-screen presentation
    • Audio: English mono
    • Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai
    • James Coan and Billy Dee Williams audio commentary
    • Featurette: "Gale Sayers First and Goal"
    • Bonus trailers
    • Talent files
    • Interactive menus
    • Production notes
    • Scene selections

AWARDS

• Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

•     Won Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special - 1972

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Motion Picture Made for Television - 1971

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Buzz Kulik

• Producer:

  Paul Junger Witt

• Screenwriter:

  William Blinn

• Cinematographer:

  Joseph Biroc

• Composer (Music Score):

  Michel Legrand

• Associate Producer:

  Tony Thomas

REVIEW:

• At 74 minutes, Brian's Song is one of the most effective and efficient television movies ever made. Documenting the true and tragic friendship between legendary Chicago Bears stars Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccolo (played by Billy Dee Williams and James Caan, respectively), the film also manages to overcome the trappings of a typical buddy film or sports drama of this sort by also addressing some of the larger social issues -- primarily racism -- of the time period. That said, director Buzz Kulik simply doesn't have enough time to adequately explore these topics -- considering the ground he attempts to cover over the course of the film's spartan running time. Instead -- and rightly so -- emphasis is given to the unique, socially defiant relationship the two men had, the success of which rests squarely on the performances of Williams and Caan. And both actors rise to the occasion and then some with amazing portrayals layered with a tremendous psychological depth, as well as a profoundly touching camaraderie. While far from a superior film, Brian's Song is still a moving dramatic document that holds a special place in the hearts of American-style football enthusiasts everywhere. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi