Brian's Song (2001)
Encyclopedia
Brian's Song is the 2001 remake of the 1972 television film Brian's Song
, which re-tells the story of Brian Piccolo (Sean Maher
), a white football player who meets, clashes with and befriends Chicago Bears
Running back
Gale Sayers
(Mekhi Phifer
), a talented African American football player on the same team. The movie was adapted from Sayers own words in his autobiography, I am Third. The television movie, produced by Columbia TriStar Television
, was first broadcast in the US on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC
.
In the movie, Brian Piccolo is a slightly arrogant, narcissistic Chicago Bears player. Thinking Gale Sayers the arrogant one, when he is only quiet and a slight bit anti-social, they rub each other the wrong way from the moment they meet. The movie, taking place in the time of the Civil Rights Movement
, places great emphasis on integration, bringing up the conflict of when Brian and Gale room together for their first football season.
During their second season, Gale is still named running back. After he is injured during one of his games and loses hope of ever playing again, Brian resorts to taking charge of his rehabilitation
, on the basis that if Gale gives up, and Brian rises to the top, he would have made it only on a chance and not by his own prowess. The two bond during this time, and soon become good friends.
Brian is diagnosed with cancer
during one of their seasons. The treatments and radiation therapy
only do so much, and every time it seems as if everything is getting better, the cancer shows up again, someplace else, and soon Brian passes away. During this time, Gale stays by his side.
Brian's Song
Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo , a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale...
, which re-tells the story of Brian Piccolo (Sean Maher
Sean Maher
Sean Maher is an American actor, best known for his role as Simon Tam in the science fiction television series Firefly and followup movie Serenity.-Early life:...
), a white football player who meets, clashes with and befriends Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers
Gale Eugene Sayers also known as "The Kansas Comet", is a former professional football player in the National Football League who spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears....
(Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Thira Phifer is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his multi-year role as Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER and his co-starring role opposite Eminem in the feature film 8 Mile...
), a talented African American football player on the same team. The movie was adapted from Sayers own words in his autobiography, I am Third. The television movie, produced by Columbia TriStar Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
, was first broadcast in the US on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
In the movie, Brian Piccolo is a slightly arrogant, narcissistic Chicago Bears player. Thinking Gale Sayers the arrogant one, when he is only quiet and a slight bit anti-social, they rub each other the wrong way from the moment they meet. The movie, taking place in the time of the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, places great emphasis on integration, bringing up the conflict of when Brian and Gale room together for their first football season.
Plot
Brian and Gale aren't friends in the beginning, in fact they are rivals. Brian, during their season together, was always one-upped by Gale, never being in the spotlight. After their first season, Brian pledges to beat Gale and take his position on the team.During their second season, Gale is still named running back. After he is injured during one of his games and loses hope of ever playing again, Brian resorts to taking charge of his rehabilitation
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
, on the basis that if Gale gives up, and Brian rises to the top, he would have made it only on a chance and not by his own prowess. The two bond during this time, and soon become good friends.
Brian is diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
during one of their seasons. The treatments and radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
only do so much, and every time it seems as if everything is getting better, the cancer shows up again, someplace else, and soon Brian passes away. During this time, Gale stays by his side.