I saw this TV movie in 1975. The story is amazing. After I graduated from college that year, the book by this title was the first I read cover to cover. Years later, I was reading the book again on an airline and the lady next to me said when she read it, she cried. I told her, "I did, too!"

Based on the book, Death Be Not Proud, John Gunther, Sr. wrote on the true account of his son's death, this is a television experience not to be missed. You can tell the minute a film opens with its first image, the first spoken word, if it's going to be good. I knew instantly this was going to be a great film. Robby Benson as the young Johnny Gunther was truly moving. His performance embodied vitality and strength, along with naiveté and sensitiveness of that college age. After his father, who's a noted writer among other things and underplayed wonderfully by Arthur Hill, had decided to try and be more present for his son, as young Johnny would come to need him more and more as he matured, it is discovered that Johnny has a brain tumor. Through all the operations and hope and strong will and resolve, we see young Johnny slowly deteriorate, but he never lost his love of life. If you've never seen this, I ask you to Youtube this, so you can witness one of the few essential television movies to see in your lifetime.

I was 11yrs old when I saw this movie and I'm now 46yrs old. It touched me dearly and I've loved Robby Benson the rest of my life so far. I agree with all reviews on this movie it's High Emotion and my Empathy for this character is still impressed on my mind and WHERE CAN I GET IT ON DVD. If they put all these useless TV movies on DVD, Why not this one its worth so much more than the others! I have for years told the story to everyone about the movie Robby Benson stared in and he played this boy that was very sick and I couldn't have a conversation with anyone about it because no one had ever seen it. I am so glad to see a few others remember this wonderful movie and wish it could cause a least a cult following like some movies do experience. Robby B. was great in this movie. I've also enjoyed the rest of his he has stared in and directed or produced.

I saw this movie when I was 14. I was extremely touched, even at that age, by the film. I was even more so knowing that the film was based on a true story about a boy that accidentally hit his head on a banister and then developed cancer in his head years later. It shows the courage and determination of this young man to survive. The impression of the film is that it is merely telling his story so others know. It was an extremely moving film that was very well acted and directed. Definitely belongs on the top 250.