Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Brian's Song

  • TV Movie
  • 1971
  • G
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
James Caan, Shelley Fabares, and Billy Dee Williams in Brian's Song (1971)
Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.
Play trailer2:38
1 Video
30 Photos
FootballBiographyDramaSport

Buzz Kulik's beloved tearjerker is based on the real-life friendship between Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond that was strengthened when Piccolo discovers t... Read allBuzz Kulik's beloved tearjerker is based on the real-life friendship between Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond that was strengthened when Piccolo discovers that he has a fatal disease.Buzz Kulik's beloved tearjerker is based on the real-life friendship between Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond that was strengthened when Piccolo discovers that he has a fatal disease.

  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writers
    • William Blinn
    • Gale Sayers
    • Al Silverman
  • Stars
    • James Caan
    • Billy Dee Williams
    • Jack Warden
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    9.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • William Blinn
      • Gale Sayers
      • Al Silverman
    • Stars
      • James Caan
      • Billy Dee Williams
      • Jack Warden
    • 74User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Primetime Emmys
      • 11 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:38
    Official Trailer

    Photos30

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 23
    View Poster

    Top cast27

    Edit
    James Caan
    James Caan
    • Brian Piccolo
    Billy Dee Williams
    Billy Dee Williams
    • Gale Sayers
    Jack Warden
    Jack Warden
    • Coach Halas
    Bernie Casey
    Bernie Casey
    • J.C. Caroline
    Shelley Fabares
    Shelley Fabares
    • Joy Piccolo
    David Huddleston
    David Huddleston
    • Ed McCaskey
    Judy Pace
    Judy Pace
    • Linda Sayers
    Abe Gibron
    • Abe Gibron
    Jack Concannon
    • Jack Concannon
    Ed O'Bradovich
    • Ed O'Bradovich
    Chicago Bears
    Chicago Bears
    • Chicago Bears Players, Coaches and Staff
    • (as The Chicago Bears Players Coaches and Staff)
    Harold 'Happy' Hairston
    Harold 'Happy' Hairston
    • Veteran Player 1
    • (as Happy Hairston)
    Ron Feinberg
    Ron Feinberg
    • Veteran Player 2
    Ji-Tu Cumbuka
    Ji-Tu Cumbuka
    • Roommate
    Jim Boeke
    • Veteran Player 3
    Larry Delaney
    • Dr. Fox
    Stephen Coit
    Stephen Coit
    • Mr. Eberle
    Doreen Lang
    Doreen Lang
    • Nurse 1
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • William Blinn
      • Gale Sayers
      • Al Silverman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Brian's Song
    6.6
    Brian's Song
    The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
    5.8
    The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
    6.8
    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
    Bang the Drum Slowly
    6.7
    Bang the Drum Slowly
    Anne Frank Remembered
    8.1
    Anne Frank Remembered
    The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
    7.1
    The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
    The Longest Yard
    7.1
    The Longest Yard
    No Questions Asked
    6.7
    No Questions Asked
    The Cold Blue
    7.7
    The Cold Blue
    Rudy
    7.5
    Rudy
    Follow Me Quietly
    6.5
    Follow Me Quietly
    Lilies of the Field
    7.5
    Lilies of the Field

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Having played football in high school, James Caan was a more accomplished athlete than Billy Dee Williams. In the film, Gale Sayers is supposed to surpass Brian Piccolo in speed and playing ability, so Caan was forced to slow down considerably so that Williams could believably outplay him.
    • Goofs
      When the coaches ask Sayers to room with Piccolo in 1965, they warn that people in cities like Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, and Miami won't take well to integrated roommates. Atlanta didn't join the NFL until 1966, New Orleans 1967, and Houston and Miami until the AFL/NFL merger in 1970. Miami wasn't even in the AFL until 1966.
    • Quotes

      Gale Sayers: [accepting the George S. Halas award] I'd like to say a few words about a guy I know, a friend of mine. His name is Brian Piccolo. And he has the heart of a giant, and that rare form of courage which allows him to kid himself and his opponent: cancer. He has a mental attitude which makes me proud to have a friend who spells out 'courage' - 24 hours a day, every day of his life. Now, you flatter me - by giving me this award. But I say to you here now - Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who should receive the George S. Halas award. It is mine tonight - and Brian Piccolo's tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo. And I'd like all of you to love him too. And tonight, hit your knees, please ask God to love him.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 24th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Brian's Song Theme
      (uncredited)
      Written by Michel Legrand
      Performed by Michel Legrand and his Orchestra

    User reviews74

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    This was awesome......

    This movie was awesome. Had all of the ingredients of friendship, love, acceptance and breaking of racial barriers considering the era it took place in. One of the best. However, I do recommend that before viewing this, one gets 20 boxes of kleenex and a bottle of prozac, you are gonna need it.
    • elizabethbennett
    • Dec 16, 2003
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 30, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Freunde bis in den Tod
    • Filming locations
      • St. Joseph's College - U.S. Highway 231, Rensselaer, Wheatfield, Indiana, USA(training camp scenes)
    • Production company
      • Screen Gems Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    James Caan, Shelley Fabares, and Billy Dee Williams in Brian's Song (1971)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Brian's Song (1971) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.