Piccolo dies with his wife by his side. During practice, Piccolo struggles while Sayers shines. Soon after, Halas tells Sayers that Piccolo has cancer and will have part of a lung removed. When the players later visit the hospital, Piccolo teases them about losing the game, laughing that the line in the old movie wasn’t "let’s blow one for the Gipper.". The main building wasn't torn down, there was actually a fire in 1973 and it burnt down. Scenes of the Chicago Bears training camp in the film were shot at the camp's location in Rensselaer, Indiana, on the campus of St. Joseph's College. About 41 minutes into the film, there's a scene which was filmed at Notre Dame Stadium during a Bears exhibition game there on August 28, 1971. Piccolo was the subject of the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song, with a remake TV movie of the same name filmed in 2001. The chemistry and camaraderie between the two is what makes this film so great. Interesting? Billy Dee Williams and James Caan filmed scenes for "Brian's Song" at the Bears' 1971 training camp at Rensselaer, Ind. When Brian’s Song aired as a made-for-television film forty years ago this week, it was such a hit that it was eventually shown in theaters. "Broadcast Beat [TV column]: 'Brian's Song' superior film", Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film, "Grammy Award Nominees 1973 – Grammy Award Winners 1973", https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068315/awards, Primetime Emmy Award for Program of the Year, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brian%27s_Song&oldid=1010747847, Cultural depictions of players of American football, Pages using infobox television with editor parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming – For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama, Outstanding Single Program – Drama or Comedy, Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama – Adaptation, Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing, Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition – For a Special Program, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama – A Single Program, Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Zach Zaidman (sideline reporter and radio coach's show host), Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter), This page was last edited on 7 March 2021, at 02:41. I, Chas Demster, own the copyright to all original photographs shown on Itsfilmedthere.com unless otherwise credited and noted in which those contributors own the rights to their photographs. Their friendship flourishes, in football and in life, quickly extending to their wives, Joy Piccolo and Linda Sayers. It is a delightful film with a devastating ending. ", Television critic Matt Zoller Seitz in his 2016 book co-written with Alan Sepinwall titled TV (The Book) named Brian's Song as the fifth greatest American TV-movie of all time, stating that the film was "The dramatic and emotional template for a good number of sports films and male weepies (categories which tend to overlap a bit)", as well as "an influential early example of the interracial buddy movie. [1] Critics have called the movie one of the finest telefilms ever made. Sayers pranks him back by placing mashed potatoes on his seat while Piccolo is singing his alma mater's fight song. Directed by Buzz Kulik. "[11], The film won an Emmy Award for Best Dramatic Program (1971–72). He later learns of Brian's cancer. Brian's Song is a made for television movie made for ABC in 1971, that features James Caan and Billy D. Williams.This sports movie is based on the book, "I Am Third", the autobiography written by Gayle Sayres. Sayer's Corvette could be spotted around campus, with the license plates "GS 40". Although based on a true story, the film does include some fictional scenes. [1][4] A 2005 readers poll taken by Entertainment Weekly ranked Brian's Song seventh in its list of the top "guy-cry" films ever made. When they are placed together Brian is scared he didn't make the team, and Gale makes a great point saying "if you didn't make the team, we wouldn't be placed together as roommates." After a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sayers visits Joy, who reveals that Piccolo has to have another surgery for his tumor. (the property of the college is next to the bowling ally) since then the ally flipped and the entrance is on the back side and a bank went in the front. (Gale Sayer's home) 3 of 3 found this interesting. The movie begins as Chicago Bears rookie running back Gale Sayers (Williams) arrives at team practice as an errant punt is sent to Sayers. Piccolo wins the starting fullback position, meaning both he and Sayers will now be on the field together, and both excel in their roles. Legrand's instrumental version of the theme song charted for eight weeks in 1972, peaking at No. Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), a Chicago Bears football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro in 1965, told through his friendship with Bears teammate Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams). I am Loving it!! Piccolo starts to lose weight and his performance declines, so he is sent to a hospital for a diagnosis. With Mekhi Phifer, Sean Maher, Paula Cale, Elise Neal. James Edmund Caan (born March 26, 1940) is an American actor. Sayers quickly becomes a standout player, but he injures his knee in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. Synopsis: The story of professional football players Gale Sayes and Brian Piccolo, and how their friendship on and off the field was affected when Piccolo contracted a fatal disease. The musical theme to Brian's Song, "The Hands of Time", was a popular tune during the early 1970s and has become a standard. It’s not too often that you see … Brian's Song is worth seeing, even if you're not a fan of football. Brian's Song is a 1971 Made-for-TV Movie starring Billy Dee Williams, James Caan, and several members of the actual Chicago Bears football team.Caan and Williams respectively play Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, two star running backs in college (Piccolo led the nation in rushing and scoring during his senior year) who are both rookies for the Bears and thus competing for the same position. Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin).It was also directed by Jones. The TV film was so successful it was subsequently shown in motion picture theatres. Game Film, No. Oct 28, 2010. In Sayers' place, Piccolo rushes for 160 yards in a 17–16 win over the Los Angeles Rams and is given the game ball. He was portrayed in the original film by James Caan and … The film tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Chapman), a young Jewish-Roman man who is born on the same day as—and next door … “Brian's Song” was adapted by William Blinn from a book by Gale Sayers, a running back for the Chicago Bears. And tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him." Wednesday marks the 45th anniversary of the made-for-TV movie Brian’s Song.The iconic film about the iconic friendship between Pro Football Hall of … Stephen S Super Reviewer. The television movie, produced by Columbia TriStar Television, was first broadcast in the US on The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC. In an emotional speech to his teammates, Sayers states that they will win the game for Piccolo and give him the game ball. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. The film was the most watched movie on U.S. television during 1971 and the most watched made-for-TV movie ever with a Nielsen rating of 32.9 and an audience share of 48% until it was surpassed by The Night Stalker in January 1972. [7] It also won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition.[8]. IE 11 is not supported. Stephen S Super Reviewer. Brian's Song is worth seeing, even if you're not a fan of football. the running in the park scene was at St Joseph's. 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, Joy and Linda, becomes a symbol of harmony during the civil rights era. Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), a Chicago Bears football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro in 1965, told through his friendship with Bears teammate Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams). Theme images by, Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles, Ask Me To Find A Filming Location Or To Make A Suggestion, L.A.'s Filming Location Expert's Photostream, (0:00)  Driving Into Training Camp / Saint Joseph's College; Father Gross Road, Rensselaer, Indiana, (0:03)  Coach Halas' Office / Saint Joesph's College Main Building (Note: This Building Has Since Been Torn Down But That Other Building In The Background Is The Saint Joseph's Chapel), (0:09)  Training Camp Football Field / S. County Road 600 West And W. County Road 650 South, Rensselaer (Note: This Looks To Be Where The Soccer Field For Saint Joseph's College Is Today On The Southwest Side Of Campus), (0:10)  Outside Of The Dorm Where Brian Piccolo And Gale Sayers Have A Talk About The Half Back Option /, (0:27)  Gale Sayers Home / Warner Bros Ranch; Blondie Street, Burbank (Note: The Gas Station Seen In The Second Screen Shot Is No Longer There), (0:32)  Gale Sayers Standing Next To Lake Michigan With The City In The Background / Lakefront Train Near The Shedd Aquarium / 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago (Note: The View Toward The City Is Looking Northwest), (0:36)  Gale Sayers And Brian Piccolo Racing In The Park /. Brian's Song is the 2001 remake of the 1971 television film Brian's Song, telling the story of Brian Piccolo (Sean Maher), a white running back who meets, clashes with and befriends fellow Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers (Mekhi Phifer). Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles Brian's Song (1971) (0:00) Driving Into Training Camp / Saint Joseph's College; Father Gross Road, Rensselaer, Indiana Audiences, quite understandably, have deep affection for, and an emotional connection to, the original 1971 "Brian's Song" starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Plus there is no park near by on that side of the street. Fellow rookie running back Brian Piccolo (Caan) goes to retrieve the ball, and Sayers flips it to him. In Reel Life: Piccolo asks Sayers if he's met Halas. All screen shots seen on the website are used for, Its Filmed There. Travel theme. In reality, Jim Dooley was the head coach at that time, as Halas had retired from the position following the 1967 season. Hi, thanks for the info. [9][10], It holds a 92% "Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 critics, with a consensus stating "Buoyed by standout performances from James Caan and Billy Dee Williams, Brian's Song is a touching tale of friendship whose central relationship transcendeds its standard sports movie moments. Brian's Song is a made for television movie made for ABC in 1971, that features James Caan and Billy D. Williams.This sports movie is based on the book, "I Am Third", the autobiography written by … Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers are teammates on the mid-1960s Chicago Bears. The chemistry and camaraderie between the two is what makes this film so great. Sayers and Piccolo are placed as roommates, a rarity during the racial strife at the time. 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. the building they are leaning against was the front of the local bowling ally in Rensselaer. Brian's Song (TV) is a film directed by John Gray with Sean Maher, Mekhi Phifer, Paula Cale, Elise Neal, Aidan Devine .... Year: 2001. Most of the filming was done at the end of summer before the start of the fall semester, in the August heat. The film, which aired just a year after Piccolo’s death, is a beautiful thing still. Oct 28, 2010. Piccolo challenges Sayers to a race across the park, where Sayers stumbles but wins. Caan and Williams were both nominated for best leading actor. [2] The production was such a success on ABC that it was later shown in theaters by Columbia Pictures,[3] with a major premiere in Chicago; however, it was soon withdrawn for lack of business. 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