Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Paynbob It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

bkoganbing A private memoir about a father who was a public figure is the origin of Death Be Not Proud. John Gunther noted author and war correspondent wrote this at first to be distributed privately among relatives and friends. Someone persuaded him to let it go public. The various biographies and geographical treatises he's done have never had the enduring value that this tale of his terminally ill son, namesake, and only child.It's the roughest thing in the world to lose a child my mother lost one of my siblings so I have first hand knowledge. How much rougher was it for John and Frances Gunther to lose their only son and a kid of such promise.Young Johnny Gunther a brilliant student has had limited contact with his dad who has been reporting World War II from over in Europe. Their reunion in 1946 is joyous but then marked with tragedy as this 16 year old is diagnosed with a brain tumor. The film is about the struggle the parents witness over the next two years hoping against hope that young Johnny will lick this thing.Arthur Hill, Jane Alexander, and Robby Benson play parents and child and it's a trio that is absolutely flawless in their performances. This should have been released to the big screen, it is one of the best made for TV films ever done.I wonder if John Gunther got the idea for the private memoir from the Kennedy family when young JFK wrote the memoir about the older brother who was killed in World War II. Maybe we'll see that one go public.Death Be Not Proud was part of the high school curriculum when I was there. I understand it still is, hopefully accompanied by a DVD of this fine film.

JLRMovieReviews 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.

willeyrebecca 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.

gingasnaps I have yet to read the book, but the compelling story of Johnny Gunther's struggle to maintain normalcy is something to take note of. Robby Benson gives a sweet and emotional performance as Johnny, a teenager suddenly inflicted with a malignant brain tumor. There were times i wanted to just yell at his parents for their callousness, but you do realize they did love him and tried every means possible to save his life. There could have been more emotion on their part, especially with such a charged and enthusiastic person Robby made the son Johnny, who is too often neglected by his father. However the cast did very well with the material they had I'm sure. This one is not to be missed. It may be out of print.