Brian's Song

Plot synopsis:
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) goes to retrieve the ball, and Sayers flips it to him. Before Sayers meets with coach George Halas (Jack Warden) in his office, Piccolo tells him – as a prank – that Halas has a hearing problem, and Sayers acts strangely at the meeting. Sayers pranks him back by placing mashed potatoes on his seat while Piccolo is singing his alma mater's fight song. During practice, Piccolo struggles while Sayers shines. Sayers and Piccolo are placed as roommates, a rarity during the racial strife at the time. Sayers quickly becomes a standout player, but he injures his knee in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. To aid in Sayers' recovery, Piccolo brings a weight machine to his house. In Sayers' place, Piccolo rushes for 160 yards in a 17–16 win over the Los Angeles Rams, and is given the game ball. Piccolo challenges Sayers to a race across the park, where Sayers stumbles but wins. Piccolo is given the starting fullback position, and both he and Sayers excel. But Piccolo starts to lose weight and his performance declines, so he is sent to a hospital for a diagnosis. Soon after, Halas tells 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, telling the crowd that they had selected the wrong person for the award and saying, "I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too. And tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him." In a call, Sayers mentions that he gave Piccolo a pint of blood while he was in critical condition. Piccolo dies with his wife by his side. The movie ends with a flashback of Piccolo and Sayers running through the park, while the narrator says that Piccolo died at age 26 and is remembered as he lived, rather than how he died.

Tags: prank

Review:
Billy Dee Williams and James Caan were just starting out their careers and TV movies were still fairly new.
In times of racial trouble, inner family strife, and complete distrust of your fellow man, this movie showed what the world would really be like if people got rid of "oneupmanship" and lived life for life itself.I HIGHLY recommend the original version (1971)The acting was not campy, there was nothing to be really showy about, the football clips were some of the best ever incorporated (they actually became part of the plot), and other male leads were extremely believable in their roles.The females weren't too bad, either..
The film does a fantastic job of establishing a strong bond between the two lead characters, played by James Caan and Billy Dee Williams.
Then, at the end, when Billy Dee says "I love Brian Piccolo..." I lost it!
It is a story of 2 men--Gale and Brian...2 unlikely people to become the best of friends...The actors were well cast--James Caan and Billy Dee Sayers fit their roles to a tee.
I saw a remake of this film quite recently but I think the original movie was much better than the remake..
I still remember sitting down with my family to watch "Brian's Song", the made for TV movie in 1971.
It is a touching tribute to a ordinary football player, Brian Piccolo, who lead a extraordinary life.
Billy Dee Williams (Sayers) and James Caan (Piccolo) give the exact right emotional level to their parts, and it brings the rest of the cast into the story.
I do agree with the previous reviewer that if you can watch Sayers' speech upon winning the George Halas "Most Courageous Player" award without tearing up (or, more accurately, blubbering like a buffoon), you're probably not human.DO NOT watch the remake - it was horrible.
It's a football movie, a buddy movie, a comedy and a tragedy, with actual game footage of the inimitable Gale Sayers.
James Caan and Billy Dee Williams are perfect as the two teammates who become friends and then even more.
The portrayed the guys friendship so well.It's too bad we all can't know a friend like these two had!Watch the original movie!.
It just seems to have a strange effect on men.The film tells the true story of two football players, Gale Sathers and Brian Picola and the struggles they must face as the first Black and White roomates in professional sports.That alone would be interesting enough, as the first half of the movie proves, but there's more to this story than that.
I don't want to give anything away so I will wrap up by saying that both James Caan and Billy de Williams are exceptional in this film and I would highly recomend it to anyone..
It was the story of two Chicago Bears Football players, one black and the other white, who become close friends and room mates until cancer claims the life of one of them.
James Caan and Billy Dee Williams give splendid performances as did the rest of the supporting cast.
The final scene when Piccolo is dying bring tears to my eyes every time I watch the film (I've seen it at least ten times.)  It's an unforgettable story of courage and true friendship.
In 1965, Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccolo were rookie running backs for the Chicago Bears.
For I would say two thirds of its short run time (minus TV commercials, it comes in at a little under an hour and a quarter) this is essentially a football movie.
The friendship is well developed, but there's a heavy emphasis on training shots and a lot of really good real football footage, mostly of some spectacular runs by Sayers.
The movie also features a pretty strong performance from Jack Warden as the legendary Chicago bears coach George Halas.
As a big fan of TV-movies from the 70's, you'd think I'd have seen "Brian's Song" a lot sooner.
I finally watched it, and wasn't disappointed.You know the story, two football players, one white, one black, become best buds and help each other out.
James Caan is superb as always, and Billy Dee Williams is pretty good.At first, it seemed a major part of the plot would have involved race.
The whole movie actually is pretty good, and the friendship is built up nicely, We never really know why Caan as Picolo chose Billy Dee to be friends with, but it really doesn't matter.
Like someone else said, I dare ya not to cry during the "I love Brian Piccolo speech"..
Brian's Song is not a football movie.
Brian's Song is as fine a movie as any ever made with big budgets and big stars.I don't think anyone can watch Brian's Song without feeling something touch their soul.
James Caan as Brian Piccolo and Billie Dee Williams as Gale Sayers give two of the finest performances of their careers bringing to life the friendship and courage of these two football players whose lives rise far above the game they play..
Quiet Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) joins the Chicago Bears and is befriended by the brash Brian Piccolo (James Caan).
It starts off with Piccolo playing a joke on Sayers telling him that coach Halas (Jack Warden) is deaf in one ear.
The two and their wives become great friends enduring many challenges.In the ashes of the racial strife of the previous decade, this TV movie hits on the timely subject by showing the healing powers of a post-racial true friendship.
I totally cried my eyes out when legendary Chicago Bears football player Brian Piccolo was stricken with terminal cancer and the other players, especially Gale Sayers, dedicated themselves to do their best to win the game for their fellow teammate and friend.
This classic tearjerker film, Brian's Song, is definitely and absolutely a must for all football fans everywhere, and it is not to be missed!
But if you don't know the story of Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo then I suggest you watch this movie.
The television movie stuck to the story and draws emotion out of you by showing the budding friendship between two men.
The speech that Gale Sayers gives about his love for Brian Piccolo could move mountains with its emotion.
It's nice that a sports movie can be based upon how the camaraderie of the game can create friendships, especially during times of racism.
I think it also portrays how truly nice it is that people who are competing for the same job can appreciate each other for who they are, not what they can do.The story begins in 1965 about two running backs, as the trailer says "one white, the other black." Brian Piccolo, a white running back from the south, and a graduate of Wake Forest, is played magnificently by James Caan.
Gale Sayers, a black, naturally athletic and lightning speed superstar from Nebraska, and graduate of Kansas, is played equally well by Billy Dee Williams.We can see right away that both of these men have opposite personalities: Piccolo is a fun-loving, personable joker with a good sense of humor, and Sayers is a shy, quiet, unprepossessing gentlemanly type.
Sayers is a tremendous athlete, never having problems succeeding in the game, while Piccolo is hard-working, tough as nails, and getting ahead not so much on ability, but through determination and maximum effort.The Bears decide they are going to have players room together according to position, regardless of race.
Sayers, who is very shy at the start of the movie, later becomes more personable, and more comfortable around people.Just when things start to go well for Piccolo, starting at fullback, gaining yards, and scoring touchdowns, tragedy strikes: Brian Piccolo has cancer in his right lung.
Piccolo receives tremendous support from his teammamates, wife, and Sayers, who we now know is a true and loyal friend.The casting of this film was fantastic, and they work together magnificently: Shelly Fabares and Judy Pace are terrific as the supportive wives, and Jack Warden is very convincing as Coach George Halas.
Brian's Song is a wonderful film, not so much because it is about the glory of sports, but about the value of friendship.
"Brian's Song" is a perfect example of this.The story emotionally connects us with Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers almost immediately.
We care about what happens to the characters, and the chemistry Billy Dee Williams and James Caan have together totally sells the viewer on their friendship.
When this film began production,Brian Piccolo had only been gone for six months.As a result,most of the film takes on the atmosphere of being rushed to production.It has an obvious look that they were given a very small time frame to get this film made.They rushed it.Also,you have real,honest to goodness football players trying to act.They are trying to come across as though they are not reading their lines as they speak,but it's obvious that they are.All of that being said,Brian's Song is still an enjoyable film because of it's story.You are watching a friendship develop,evolve,and flourish into a brotherly love.This is the hook that keeps you watching,and ultimately brings you back to see it again..
James Caan was excellent as Bryan, and the chemistry he had with Billy Dee Williams was amazing.
What a waste of an exceptional human being in general, not just an athlete.I recommend this film to anyone that wants to see a real and true story about life.One of James Caan's best performances, and then came Godfather.
James Caan and Billy Dee Williams were great.
Whenever i see James Caan or Billy Dee Williams I am reminded of Brian piccolo and Gale Sayers.
The on screen chemistry between James Caan and Billy Dee Williams rings true, and is very inspiring.
I own this movie on DVD and VHS and watch it 3 or 4 times a year..
If you get the DVD, put on the commentary over the movie.It's James Caan and Billy De Williams narrating and it's great.
James Caan portrayal of Brian Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams portrayal of Gale Sayers touched me emotionally.
Jack Warden also did a fine job as George Halas.If you have never seen Brian's Song and want to see a fine movie about friendship, courage, and the human spirit.....see this one..
The moment in the film when Billy Dee Williams (as Gale Sayers) stands up at a banquet, and states simply "I Love Brian Piccolo"...Well, I don't know.
In a world with so much racial animosity, especially in this country, to see what is possible and what we are truly capable of is moving.This was truly a heart-wrenching story, delivered beautifully by Billy Dee Williams and James Caan.
It's a tragedy what happened to Brian Piccolo and his family, yet he now lives on in all of us, because of these heartfelt performances, and the thoughtfulness and dignity that this movie portrayed.
You get the feeling that this is the way Brian Piccolo would have wanted it.Thank You, Billy Dee and James, and to the filmmakers for a fine job..
Once again I was moved by this movie which has exceptional performances by Billy Dee Williams and James Caan.
The movie does have some good performances by its cast especially the roles of Pic and Sayers, their wives, and the head coach.
I think this could have been a much better movie if it had moved slower and there had been a little more character development to understand why these two guys clicked and became such good friends and then the loss would not seem contrived but real..
Yes, it's melodrama that's written, directed and acted well, but it's still melodrama.The film, as is to be expected of a television movie, pales in comparison with a very similar feature film released around the same time, "Bang the Drum Slowly", which tells a similar story, albeit without a racial element, but also without the slightest hint of melodrama."Brian's Song" is somewhat better known, but "Bang the Drum Slowly" is the true masterpiece.
Still, "Brian's Song" is a solid film, especially of interest to football fans..
BUT who on earth picked James Caan to play Brian Piccolo?
For Brian Piccolo(James Caan) and Gale Sayers(Billy Dee Williams) it's a story to remember.
Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Piccolo(Caan) meets a quiet newcomer Gale Sayers(Williams), both love the game, but both have different personalities for each.
Caan and Williams seem made for their roles, and the inclusion of real game footage of Sayers and Picciolo make this a must watch for football fans!
One of the great sagas in the history of professional sports in America was the friendship that transpired between Brian Piccolo, who was White, and Gale Sayers, who was African-American, while they were competing for the same position on the NFL's Chicago Bears frontline in the mid-1960s.
This is the true-life saga told in the highly acclaimed 1971 made-for-TV drama BRIAN'S SONG, one of the best of its kind, and unquestionably one of the greatest sports films ever made, television or otherwise.Veteran TV/film director Buzz Kulik is at the helm of this film, where James Caan and Billy Dee Williams, both actors well on their way to illustrious careers but at that time not quite so well known, portray the two Bears legends who developed a closeness with one another at the time when segregation of hotel rooms according to race was still standard issue in the NFL, a precedence that was broken by the Bears organization.
Jack Warden ably portrays Halas, and the Chicago Bears, wisely enough, are played by the Chicago Bears themselves.The airing of this film on ABC on November 30, 1971, coming just a little less than a year and a half after Piccolo passed away at the all-too-young age of 27 from the cancer that, despite an operation that removed a cancerous lung and a pectoral, had spread to other parts of his body, was quite a big deal, and rightly so.
With the inclusion of actual footage from NFL Films, courtesy of the legendary Steve Sabol, viewers of the time got a pretty good idea of just how rough the game of football really is up close and personal.
The one that does it for me, is when Billy Dee Williams' character Gale Salyers has to tell his teammates that James Caan's character, Brian Piccolo has cancer.
"Brian's Song", the 1971 version was the rarest of things, an excellent TV movie.
Great cast of stars on their way up such as Billy Dee Williams, James Caan and Shelley Fabares, augmented by Jack Warden, Bernie Casey and David Huddleston, with several actual Chicago Bears.
James Caan is Brian Piccolo, the overachieving, loudmouthed Italian boy.
Billy Dee Williams is Gale Sayers, a gifted, shy African-American All-American, high profile running back who is pestered and ridiculed by Brian in the early stages of the story, but who becomes the ideal friend.
Buzz Kulik did a great job directing this movie, getting fine performances out of not only the real actors, but also the real Bears players and coaches..
And you would think that you are seeing their characters, not actors playing football players, come out to light for real!
Best ever TV movie of all time!
In my opinion, they should have released it in theaters, it probably would've won Best Picture.Brian's Song portrays the friendship between Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers, two teammates that fought for the same job.
Most of these parts involve both Sayers and Piccolo, for their bond is so great that they are more than friends, they are brothers.Caan and Williams portray Piccolo and Sayers perfectly; they even resemble them too.I think that everyone should see this movie (and even see the 2001 remake, though it's not as good as this one).There will never be another song like Brian's, but perhaps the lesson taught in the film is that we should always try to be more like Brian Piccolo, by living every day to it's fullest and loving life, because it can be very short..
This is a great movie not only about sports ,but how two men grew to love and respect each other !And I first saw it on Nov.30,1971 and enjoyed it so much .The cast that was headed by James Caan as Brian Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers with Jack Warden in his Emmy Winning Best Supporting Actor as the Coach George Hallas and Judy Pace and Shelley Fabares as their wives plus actual members of the Chicago Bears as themselves all did a great job in this truly excellent movie!
It was a good movie to make me think of my own personal life experiences and friendships.
At times after watching this movie...
The movie starts in Chronological order as an errant punt heading past black running back Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) is picked up by white rival running back Brian Piccolo (James Caan) who gives him bogus advice that Coach Halas (Jack Warden) has hearing problem in his left ear.
James Caan does a fine job with the southern drawl although the real Brian Piccolo looks more like Burt Reynolds.
To Quote Gale Sayers in one of his speeches, "I love Brian Piccolo and I hope all of you love him too.".
Parts of this movie concerning the untimely death of Brian Piccolo (James Caan)had me wondering how it could be rated so highly as a tearjerker.
When Gayle Sayers (Billy Dee Williams)breaks the news to his Chicago teammates that Piccolo has cancer, the two actors standing behind him are already in tears before Sayers says the first word (Mr. Director?).
But Brian's Song wins you over despite it being a little dated with a strong performance from Williams and an excellent performance from Caan, who delivers more laugh-out-loud lines than any 70's TV movie-of-the-week has a right to give.