Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story
Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story is a 1980 made-for-television movie about the life of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier, portrayed by Robert Urich.
| Fighting Back | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Biography Drama Sport |
| Written by | Jerry McNeely |
| Directed by | Robert Lieberman |
| Starring | Robert Urich Bonnie Bedelia |
| Theme music composer | Fred Karlin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jerry McNeely |
| Producer(s) | Donald A. Baer Maurice Welsh Gable (co-producer) David Anspaugh (associate producer) |
| Production location(s) | Pittsburgh |
| Cinematography | Stevan Larner |
| Editor(s) | A. David Marshall |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Production company(s) | MTM Enterprises Company Four |
| Distributor | ABC |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release |
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Based on Bleier's 1975 autobiography of the same name, it tells the story of how, after becoming a running back for the Steelers in 1968, he was then drafted by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Injured by a bullet to the thigh and a hand grenade to the lower right leg, Rocky is told that he will never walk again. Not only does he walk again after a long rehabilitation, Rocky returns to train with the Steelers. With the sympathy and support of his wife Aleta (Bonnie Bedelia), Steelers owner Art Rooney (Art Carney), and coach Chuck Noll (Richard Herd), Rocky makes the team again, and helps them become Super Bowl champions.[1]