Chariots of Fire (1981)

"...director Hugh Hudson shows respect for the integrity of his material and the intelligence of his audience.  James Berardinelli's ReelViews
"Outstanding performances...  VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever

Editor's Note Director Hugh Hudson's absorbing drama, based on a true story, deals with the personal struggles faced by two very different long-distance runners competing for Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) is a devout Christian who sees victory as a testament to the glory of God, while the other, Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), is a Jewish Cambridge student who sees victory as a challenge to anti-Semitism and his ongoing struggle for acceptance by Britain's elite. Eric, a hometown Scottish hero to the people, gives rousing sermons after victory and works at a local missionary. Harold runs with a zealous commitment, upsetting Cambridge's educational upper crust (played with enjoyable wit and candor by Sir John Gielgud and Lindsay Anderson) while enjoying social life with his university chums and his beautiful showgirl girlfriend (Alice Krige). But when faced with such a competent challenger, Harold hires trainer Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm) to further his dreams of winning the gold. Ultimately, the two runners meet in Paris to run for British victory in a rousing finale. Featuring an unforgettable soundtrack by Vangelis, this Academy Award-winning film is an inspirational story of athletic excellence and spiritual awakening that captures the zeal of post-WWI Britain and the glory of the Olympics.

	Ben Cross
	Ian Charleson
	Ian Holm
	Nigel Havers
	Colin Welland - Screenplay
	David Watkin - Cinematographer
	Dodi Fayed, et al. - Producer
	Hugh Hudson - Director
	Terry Rawlings - Editor
	Vangelis - Musical Score

This Academy Award-winning film, based on a true story, follows the rivalry between two long-distance runners competing for Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. Variety
"...Strong script values and top-notch performances....The casting is pin point..." 04/08/1981

New York Times
"...Unashamedly rousing, invigorating....Splendidly performed..." 09/25/1984 p.C14

Sight and Sound
"...There are some excellent character turns from the likes of John Gielgud and Lindsay Anderson..." 09/01/2001 p.58

Entertainment Weekly
"[C]ompelling....An extraordinary study of individualism and class conflict..." 02/04/2005 p.118

VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever 9 of 10
A lush retelling of the parallel stories of Harold Abraham and Eric Liddell, English runners who com

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 8 of 10
Chariots of Fire tells the story of the British triumphs at the 1924 Olympics, where the UK r