Brian's Song (1971)

The true story of two professional football players, Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), for the Chicago Bears and their remarkable bond when they become the first interracial roommates in the history of the National Football League and how Sayers stood by Piccolo when he was diagnosed with cancer. Based on the non fiction book I AM THIRD by Gale Sayers and Al Silverman and directed by Buzz Kulik (VILLA RIDES). When this movie premiered on television in 1971, it received excellent notices from the critics and at its time was the most watched TV movie ever and even received a theatrical release after its TV debut. My lack of interest in football aside, I found it okay at best and overtly sentimental at worst. There's a fine performance by Billy Dee Williams as Sayers that anchors the film but other than that, there's not much I can say for it. The score is by Michel Legrand. With Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares, Judy Pace, Bernie Casey and David Huddleston.