Death Be Not Proud

"Death Be Not Proud" is a fine film which is based on the memoir of the same name. If you've never read the book, you ought to. In the film, Robby Benson gives a wonderful performance, as does Arthur Hill. This is a story that has stayed close to my heart for nearly 25 years now. Rent it today and you'll never forget it. Trust me.

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.

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 saw this movie on TV in 1975 and was so taken by it (I went thru a box of Kleenex watching it) that I have been looking for it for 30 yrs.! I couldn't remember the title but my memory was correct that Arthur Hill and Robbie Bensen were in it. Also that it was based on a true story. It seemed to fortify the old adage "only the good die young". I have looked thru all kinds of movie sites and only found it here! Thanks, IMDb for listing this excellent movie, which should have won some awards but never did! Does anyone know if it is available on VHS or DVD? I sure would like to have it! . . sincerely, Sharong in Illinois

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!"