A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story

A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story
GenreBiography
Drama
Sport
Written byJeff Andrus
Directed byRichard Michaels
StarringMario Van Peebles
Lane R. Davis
Polly Holliday
Lynn Whitfield
Theme music composerJames McVay
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerHoward Lipstone
ProducersDavid Permut
Daniel Levy
Production locationHouston, Texas
CinematographyMike Fash
EditorAndrew Cohen
Running time100 min.
Production companiesLandsburg Company
Procter & Gamble Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseApril 2, 1991 (1991-04-02)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)
Ricky Bell.

A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story is a 1991 CBS made-for-TV movie that recounts the life of Ricky Bell, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back sickened with dermatomyositis, and Ryan Blankenship, a physically impaired child. The movie takes place during the 1981 Buccaneers season, including actual gameplay footage and a dramatized role played by Mario Van Peebles. Bell finds himself befriending an impaired child who inspire each other to become better in their own ways.