Fighting Back (1980) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Robert Lieberman

Writers:

Rocky Bleier (book)
Jerry McNeely (writer)

Release Date:

7 December 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

Football jock Rocky Bleier (Urich) makes it all the way to the pros with the Pittsburgh Steelers, only to be drafted in the Vietnam war...

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam War | American Football | Based On Book

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Urich	...	Rocky Bleier
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Aleta
Richard Herd	...	Chuck Noll
Howard Cosell	...	Himself
Art Carney	...	Art Rooney
Steve Tannen	...	Terry Hanratty
Bubba Smith	...	Jacobs
Simone Griffeth	...	Marcy
Sandy McPeak	...	Bob Bleier
Dennis Howard	...	Ken
Joe Spano	...	Captain Murphy
Peggy McCay	...	Ellen Bleier
John Chappell	...	Buff Boston
Raymond Serra	...	Tony Parisi (as Ray Serra)
Enrique Castillo	...	Carlos

Also Known As:

Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Company Four

Goofs:

Factual errors: After the Steelers win their first playoff game in December 1972 with the famous "Immaculate Reception", Rocky as narrator says, "We figured it was our year for the Super Bowl, so we went tearing into Miami for the League Championship Game." In 1972, the NFL awarded home field for the playoffs on a rotating basis, so despite Miami having the better regular-season record, the AFC Championship Game that year was hosted by Pittsburgh.

Good Made For TV Fare

One of the better in a series of ABC sports movies put together in the late 70s / early 80s. The fairly routine comeback story is enlivened by the now-deceased but highly likable Urich, who is especially poignant given his own personal tragedy, which mirrors Bleier's unexpected health setbacks. The training sequences are particularly effective and memorable; Urich was well cast and up to the demanding athletic requirements. A little less tearjerking than Something For Joey, a little less relevant and socially conscious than Brian's Song, Fighting Back still belongs in the same mold. Not very groundbreaking but ultimately entertaining and better than most TV-movies thanks to Urich, who is very sympathetic.