Brian's Song, a 1971 ABC "Movie of the Week," is one of the most significant "made-for-television" movies ever, and it would be an important representative of the made-for-TV film on the Registry. It is one of only a few made-for-TV movies to be released to theaters subsequent to its television premiere. Despite being a made-for-TV movie, Brian's Song is frequently listed as one of the top American "sports movies" ever made, and would join The Freshman (1925) as a representative of the "football movie." For football scenes, the film notably incorporates footage from real NFL games.
- Dave Platt
1 comment:
A good nomination.
I don't know if this title specifically came up in NFPB discussions. However there is always a discussion of the distinction to be made between a film and a television movie or production. Since Brian's Song was shot on film and also got a theatrical release, my guess would be that the LOC would find it passes the test for being on the Film Registry. But the fact that it was produced by and for a TV network might make some Board members put it as a lower priority.
When the Board membership has a generational shift, this bias against TV will probably disappear.
I know, for example, that someone nominated Harvest of Shame this year, Edward R. Murrow's documentary, filmed for television broadcast on CBS.
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