Fighting Back (1980) (TV)

Director:

Robert Lieberman

Writers:

Rocky Bleier (book)
Jerry McNeely
(more)

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
Jerry Lacy	...	Dr. Jenson
Barton Heyman	...	Coach
Nick Angotti	...	Assistant Coach
John Berwick	...	Hudson
Ken Letner	...	Business Manager
Susan Long	...	Rosemary
Lynn Philip Seibel	...	Jerry (as Lynn Seibel)
Bob Levine	...	Rival Owner
Bernie McInerney	...	Team Doctor
Heshimu Cumbuka	...	Soldier
Jed Mills	...	Roger
Stacy Keach Sr.	...	Draft Board Chairman
Jerry McNeely	...	Sportswriter #1
Andy Duncan	...	Sportswriter #2
Theresa Hayes	...	Receptionist
Stephanie Hankinson	...	Jan
Anthony Anderson	...	Steeler Player
Fred Anderson	...	Steeler Player
Larry Anderson	...	Steeler Player
Matt Bahr	...	Steeler Player
John Banaszak	...	Steeler Player
Theo Bell	...	Steeler Player
Darrell Brown	...	Steeler Player
Larry Brown	...	Steeler Player
Robin Cole	...	Steeler Player
Steve Courson	...	Steeler Player
Bennie Cunningham	...	Steeler Player
Russell Davis	...	Steeler Player
Sam Davis	...	Steeler Player
Gary Dunn	...	Steeler Player
Tom Dornbrook	...	Steeler Player
Willie Fry Jr.	...	Steeler Player
Steve Furness	...	Steeler Player
Derrick Glasper	...	Steeler Player
Tommy Graves	...	Steeler Player
Joe Greene	...	Steeler Player
Greg Hawthorne	...	Steeler Player
Ron Johnson	...	Steeler Player
Robert Milie	...	Steeler Player
Rick Moser	...	Steeler Player
Gerry Mullins	...	Steeler Player
Ray Pinney	...	Steeler Player
Jim Smith	...	Steeler Player
John Stallworth	...	Steeler Player
Cliff Stoudt	...	Steeler Player
Calvin Sweeney	...	Steeler Player
J.T. Thomas	...	Steeler Player
Sidney Thornton	...	Steeler Player
Dwight White	...	Steeler Player
Dennis Winston	...	Steeler Player
Dwayne Woodruff	...	Steeler Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard C. Fatur	...	Parent (uncredited)
Joe Shelby	...	Dirt Denardo Grounds Crew Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Lieberman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rocky Bleier		book
Jerry McNeely
Terry O'Neill		book

Produced by
David Anspaugh	....	associate producer
Donald A. Baer	....	producer
Maurice Welsh Gable	....	co-producer
Jerry McNeely	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Fred Karlin

Cinematography by
Stevan Larner

Film Editing by
A. David Marshall

Art Direction by
Richard Berger		(as Dick Berger)

Set Decoration by
Bob Gullickson

Makeup Department
Don L. Cash	....	makeup artist
Gus Le Pre	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Carol Himes	....	production manager
Ted Rich	....	post-production supervisor
Max Stein	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carl Dubliclay	....	second assistant director
Victor Hsu	....	first assistant director

Art Department
David Coleman	....	property master
Jerry Fitzpatrick	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Dean Vernon	....	sound mixer
Clancy T. Troutman	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Paul Hickerson	....	special effects
Wayne Beauchamp	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Benda	....	first assistant camera
Jack Courtland	....	camera operator
Calvin Maehl	....	gaffer
Stan Reed	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joanne Haas	....	costumer: women
Joe McCloskey	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Joe Ann Fogle	....	assistant film editor

Transportation Department
Paul Shoemaker	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Lynn Jones	....	assistant to producer
Dionne Moretti	....	assistant to executive producer
Mary Ann Newfield	....	script supervisor
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	talent executive
Abby Singer	....	production executive
Maggie Wittenburg	....	location coordinator
Tom Madden	....	stand-in: Robert Urich (uncredited)

Thanks
Chaz Fatur	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• MTM Enterprises
• Company Four

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1980) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• La Da Productions  music editing
• Sound FX  sound editing
• Glen Glenn Sound Company  re-recording (as Glen Glenn Sound)
• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

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:

MTM Enterprises

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.

Solid Early 80's TV Movie - And A Lot Of Fun!

Fighting Back, The Rocky Bleier Story is a very well made TV movie from the early 80's. The story of Rocky Bleier is a story of courage and perseverance, and this movie is rather poignant despite its, "Movie of the week," trappings.

As Rocky himself (played very well by the late Robert Urich) points out in the movie, it wasn't just courage, but fear that motivated him to overcome the near loss of his foot in Viet Nam to become one of the NFL's star players. While there is a bit too much melodrama covering Rocky's personal life, the scenes covering Rocky's fight to come back from what should have been a career ending, and crippling, injury are truly inspiring.

The music, the direction, the acting - it's all spot on. Fighting Back truly captures the spirit of the times. Heck, Howard Cosell's appearance is perfect as well - he was such a cultural icon in the 70's and 80's, and his cameo really taps into that. Special mention should also be made of Art Carney's performance as Art Rooney. He did a great job portraying a much loved team owner. Richard Herd was also fairly good in his scenes as Chuck Noll.

You don't have to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan to enjoy Fighting Back. (As a matter of fact, I can't stand the Steelers - but I LOVE this movie! All of a sudden I found myself rooting for them to make it to the Super Bowl while watching it - even though I knew the outcome of almost all the games shown!) Even fans of other teams will find themselves becoming big Rocky Bleier fans while watching this movie.

As a side note - watch out for a severely edited version of Fighting Back that occasionally gets shown on ESPN Classic. That version isn't even worth showing.

Hopefully the full length version shows up on DVD before too long. I'm sure it would sell fairly well - especially in Pittsburgh!