"Gale Sayers' book I Am Third, with Al Silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that agonizing moment between immortality and becoming a cripple." --The New York Times Book Review
Release Date: November 30, 1971(Made-for-TV)
Release Time: 74 minutes
Cast:
James Caan as Brian Piccolo
Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers
Jack Warden as Coach George Halas
Shelley Fabares as Joy Piccolo
Judy Pace as Linda Sayers
Bernie Casey as J.C. Caroline
David Huddleston as Ed McCaskey
Ron Feinberg as Doug Atkins
Jack Concannon as Himself
Abe Gibron as Himself
Ed O'Bradovich as Himself
Dick Butkus as Himself
Awards:
1972 Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming – For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television - Joseph F. Biroc (cinematographer) - Won
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama - Jack Warden - Won
Outstanding Single Program – Drama or Comedy - Paul Junger Witt (producer) - Won
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama – Adaptation - William Blinn - Won
Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming - For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television - Bud S. Isaacs - Won
Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing - Marvin I. Kosberg, Harold E. Wooley, Wayne Fury, Ralph Hickey, Paul Laune, George C. Emick, Monty Pearce - Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing - William J. Montague, Alfred E. Overton - Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition – For a Special Program - Michel Legrand - Nominated
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama – A Single Program - Buzz Kulik - Nominated
Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - James Caan - Nominated
Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Billy Dee Williams - Nominated
1972 Golden Globes
Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film - Nominated
1973 Grammy Awards
Best Instrumental Composition - Michel Legrand - Won
Gale Sayers is a former NFL player known for his designation as the youngest person to ever be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Born in 1943 in Wichita, Kansas, he played college football at the University of Kansas before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1965, when he was named Rookie of the Year. He is the coauthor of I Am Third with writer Al Silverman.
Al Silverman is a noted sports writer and the author of ten books and numerous essays published in Playboy, Saga, and Sport magazines. Among his publications is I Am Third, co-written with Gale Sayers, which was adapted for the 1971 television film, Brian's Song. Silverman has also worked as an editor and publisher. From 1951 to 1963, he was editor of Sport Magazine and from 1972 to 1988, he was CEO and chairman of Book of the Month Club. From 1989 to 1997, Silverman served as editor and publisher at Viking Press.
Gale Sayers
INDIE BOUND / B&N / WIKI
Film
