A beautiful moving TV movie adaptation of famous writer John Gunther's book "Death Be Not Proud" chronicling the sad but brave story of the death of his 17 year old son John Jr to a brain tumor in 1947.
There is no holding back from issues such as the guilt of a glamorous, famous, world travel author of sending his only son to elite boarding schools and rarely visiting only to have his and his ex-wife's life upended trying to do everything they could through numerous surgeries and treatments to save their boy's life. The final scenes are particularly moving.
Central to the power of this movie is the sensitive and poignant performance of Robby Benson as John Jr. By the late 70's Benson's dazzling blue eyes and model quality looks brought him teen idol status where he starred in a number of movies of a strongly athletic flavor (One on One, Ice Castles and Running Brave) but his fame was ironically built on a string of emotional, intense adolescent drama roles when he was still in his teens (Jory, Jeremy and Ode to Billy Joe). His performance in Death Be Not Proud helped cement his reputation for such roles whereas later roles seemed calculated to exploit his good looks and athleticism.
Anyone who has watched a loved one die from cancer (as I have) will be moved by this wonderful movie.