Brian’s Song (1971)

Directed by Buzz Kulik. Starring James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares, Bernie Casey, David Huddleston, Judy Pace. [G]

Simple and moving drama showcasing the evolution of an interracial friendship between Chicago Bears running backs Gale Sayers (Williams) and Brian Piccolo (Caan), initially rivals competing for the same job but later roommates and the best of pals. Though it never escapes the mundane visual trappings of its made-for-television movie roots (and expectations), and the unrefined episodic structure misses opportunities for more grace notes and fewer anecdotal sports movie/terminal illness routines, the lead actors do sensitive and firmly grounded work, and it’s just touching enough to earn its status as that rare bird of “male weepie.” Michel Legrand’s musical theme (“The Hands of Time”) actually managed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 as an instrumental. Absurdly, television censors would not allow the word “testicle” to be spoken (Piccolo suffered from testicular cancer), but they had no trouble letting a few uses of the N-word pass through. Several Chicago Bears players (Jack Concannon, Dick Butkus, etc.) play themselves. Remade in 2001.

75/100