Fighting Back

• Director: Robert H. Lieberman
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Biopic, Sports Drama
• Themes: Football Players
• Main Cast: Robert Urich
• Release Year: 1980
• Country: US
• Run Time: 96 minutes

Plot

The overused title Fighting Back made its first appearance of the 1980s in this TV biopic. Robert Urich stars as real-life football player Rocky Bleier, who joins the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968. Rocky's career is curtailed by military service in Vietnam. On August 20, 1969, Bleier is seriously wounded by a hand grenade. The doctors are certain that he'll never walk properly again, much less play football. But several grueling years of physical therapy yield positive results--all the way to the Super Bowl. The 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers costar with Robert Urich in this inspirational tale, which utilizes stock footage of the real Rocky Bleier in action. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Bonnie Bedelia - Aleta; Art Carney - Art Rooney; John Chappell - Buff Boston; Howard Cosell - Himself; Simone Griffeth - Marcy; Barton Heyman - Assistant Coach; Richard Herd - Chuck Noll; Jerry Lacy - Dr. Jenson; Peggy McCay - Ellen Blier; Sandy McPeak - Bob Blier; Bubba Smith - Jacobs; Joe Spano - Captain Murphy; Robert Urich - Rocky Blier

Credit

Richard G. Berger - Art Director, Robert H. Lieberman - Director, A. David Marshall - Editor, Jerry McNeely - Executive Producer, Fred Karlin - Composer (Music Score), Stevan Larner - Cinematographer, Donald A. Baer - Producer, Maurice Welsh Gable - Producer, Jerry McNeely - Screenwriter, Rocky Bleier - Book Author, Terry O'Neil - Book Author

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Brian's Song; Knute Rockne, All American; Rudy; Brian's Song