Chariots of Fire (1981)

Director:

Hugh Hudson

Writer:

Colin Welland (original screenplay)

Release Date:

9 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Sport

Tagline:

This is the story of two men who run...not to run...but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals...Except their honor.

Plot:

The story of two British track athletes, one a determined Jew, and the other a devout Christian who compete in the 1924 Olympics.

Plot Keywords:

Cambridge England | Ethics | Famous Score | Olympics | Racing

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Nicholas Farrell	...	Aubrey Montague
Nigel Havers	...	Lord Andrew Lindsay
Ian Charleson	...	Eric Liddell
Ben Cross	...	Harold Abrahams
Daniel Gerroll	...	Henry Stallard
Ian Holm	...	Sam Mussabini
John Gielgud	...	Master of Trinity (as Sir John Gielgud)
Lindsay Anderson	...	Master of Caius
Nigel Davenport	...	Lord Birkenhead
Cheryl Campbell	...	Jennie Liddell
Alice Krige	...	Sybil Gordon
Dennis Christopher	...	Charles Paddock
Brad Davis	...	Jackson Scholz
Patrick Magee	...	Lord Cadogan
Peter Egan	...	Duke of Sutherland
Struan Rodger	...	Sandy McGrath
David Yelland	...	Prince of Wales
Yves Beneyton	...	George Andre
Jeremy Sinden	...	President - Gilbert & Sullivan Society
Gordon Hammersley	...	President - Cambridge Athletic Club
Andrew Hawkins	...	Secretary - Gilbert & Sullivan Society
Richard Griffiths	...	Head Porter - Caius College
John Young	...	Reverend. J.D. Liddell
Benny Young	...	Rob Liddell
Yvonne Gilan	...	Mrs. Liddell
Jack Smethurst	...	Sleeping Car Attendant
Gerry Slevin	...	Colonel John Keddie
Peter Cellier	...	Head Waiter - Savoy
Stephen Mallatratt	...	Watson
Colin Bruce	...	Taylor
Alan Polonsky	...	Paxton
Edward Wiley	...	Fitch
Philip O'Brien	...	American Coach
Ralph Lawton	...	Harbor Master
John Rutland	...	Caius Porter
Alan Dudley	...	Caius Manservant
Tommy Boyle	...	Reporter
Kim Clifford	...	Sybil's Maid
Wallace Campbell	...	Highland Provost
Patrick Doyle	...	Jimmie (as Pat Doyle)
David John	...	Ernest Liddell
Tess Dignan	...	Schoolgirl (as Teresa Dignan)
Ruby Wax	...	Bunty
Michael Jeyes	...	Footman
David Kivlin	...	First Scots Boy
Eddie Hughson	...	Second Scots Boy
Gayle Garyson	...	Extra
Rosy Clayton	...	Extra
Sue Sammon	...	Extra
Linda Wallis	...	Extra
Carole Ashby	...	Extra
Linda Boyland	...	Extra
Sarah Roache	...	Extra
Doreen Sloane	...	Extra
Paul Howard	...	Extra
Alan Lorimer	...	Extra
Steve Ambrose	...	Extra
James Usher	...	Extra
Garth Jones	...	Extra
Peter Jones	...	Extra
Leonard Mullen	...	Extra
Graham Brooke	...	Extra
Paul Mahoney	...	Extra
Phil Tait	...	Extra
Dave Turner	...	Extra
Lorraine Daniels	...	Pitti-Sing (as D'Oyly Carte Opera Company)
Roberta Morrell	...	Peep-Bo (as D'Oyly Carte Opera Company)
Robin Pappas	...	Clare (as D'Oyly Carte Opera Company)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Derek Pringle	...	Captain of Cambridge athletic team
Kenneth Branagh	...	Artist (uncredited)
Stephen Fry	...	Artist (uncredited)

Directed by
Hugh Hudson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Colin Welland		original screenplay

Produced by
James Crawford	....	associate producer
Dodi Fayed	....	executive producer
David Puttnam	....	producer
Jake Eberts	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Vangelis		(as Vangelis Papathanassiou)

Cinematography by
David Watkin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Terry Rawlings

Casting by
Esta Charkham

Art Direction by
Jonathan Amberston
Roger Hall		(supervising art director)
Len Huntingford
Anne Ridley		(as Anna Ridley)
Andrew Sanders

Costume Design by
Milena Canonero

Makeup Department
Kenteas Brine	....	makeup artist
Maureen Hannaford-Naisbitt	....	hair stylist
Kate Healy	....	hair stylist
Mary Hillman	....	makeup supervisor
Joan Hills	....	hair styles supervisor
Hilary Steinberg	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joyce Herlihy	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Benson	....	assistant director
Matthew Binns	....	second assistant director
Terence Fitch	....	third assistant director
Melvin Lind	....	second assistant director
Hugh O'Donnell	....	third assistant director
Bill Rudgard	....	third assistant director
Jeremy Coote	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Deane Bates	....	assistant art director
Don Bradburn	....	stand-by props
Paul Bradburn	....	stand-by props
Roy Evans	....	construction manager
Bryony Foster	....	set dresser
Katie Kilroy	....	production buyer (as Kate Kilroy)
John Leuenberger	....	property master
Diane Morris	....	set dresser
John New	....	stand-by carpenter
Les Phipps	....	stand-by rigger
Douglas Regan	....	stand-by painter (as Doug Regan)
Tony Turner	....	stand-by stagehand
Gari Bacon	....	props (uncredited)
John Gorham	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
John Kelly	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
John O'Driscoll	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Chris Seddon	....	drapes master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rowland Fowles	....	sound assistant
Pat Gilbert	....	assistant sound editor
Dushko Indjic	....	sound assistant
Ray Merrin	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer
Jim Shields	....	sound editor
Clive Winter	....	sound mixer
Malcolm Davies	....	production sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ray Caple	....	matte artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Attwood	....	unit still photographer
Michael Connor	....	focus puller (as Mike Connor)
Dennis Fraser	....	grip
Derek Gattrell	....	electrician (as Derek Gatrell)
Alan Grayley	....	electrician
Alan Grosch	....	electrician
Dewi Humphreys	....	camera operator
Brian Kemp	....	electrician
Eddie Knight	....	electrician
Billy Merrell	....	electrician (as Bill Merrill)
Ray Potter	....	chief electrician
Peter Robinson	....	camera loader
Brian Ellis	....	focus puller: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dorothy Andrew	....	crowd casting
Simone Reynolds	....	additional casting
Beth Charkham	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Allen	....	tailor
Nadia Arthur	....	wardrobe mistress
John Brady	....	wardrobe assistant
Marina Drecker	....	wardrobe assistant
Louise Frogley	....	assistant costume designer
David Garrett	....	dress maker
Gill John	....	wardrobe assistant
Imogen Magnus	....	wardrobe assistant
David Murphy	....	wardrobe supervisor
Terry Smith	....	wardrobe master
Claire Sorrell	....	costume assistant
Vivian Tozer	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Les Healey	....	first assistant editor
Ros Siely	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Harry Rabinowitz	....	music coordinator
Vangelis	....	music arranger (as Vangelis Papathanassiou)
Vangelis	....	musician (as Vangelis Papathanassiou)
John McCarthy	....	vocal director (uncredited)

Other crew
Dave Allen	....	masseur
Simon Bosanquet	....	location manager
Des Bradley	....	film school attachment
Jane Buck	....	continuity
Richard Burgess	....	location researcher
Alison Campbell	....	production assistant
Ana Cardosa	....	film school attachment
Hazel Crombie	....	assistant production accountant
Jane Golding	....	publicity assistant
John Gorham	....	title designer
Scott Hamilton	....	unit publicist
John Hemmings	....	liaison: Kay Laboratories, London
Roger Hucharde	....	researcher
John Kelly	....	title designer
Tom McNab	....	athletic consultant
Caroline Neame	....	location manager
John O'Driscoll	....	title designer
Elizabeth Bain Orr	....	production assistant
Maggie Phelan	....	assistant accountant
Ron Phipps	....	production accountant
Jennie Raglan	....	production secretary
Paul Schoolman	....	film school attachment
Arnold Schulkes	....	location researcher
Claudine Sellars	....	production assistant
Iain Smith	....	location manager
Lynda Smith	....	production assistant
Jacqueline Tager	....	film school attachment (as Jacqui Tager)
Ann Tasker	....	unit publicist

Thanks
Timothy Burrill	....	acknowledgment
Bernard Coote	....	acknowledgment
Tim Hampton	....	acknowledgment
Jennie Liddell	....	acknowledgment
Sanford Lieberson	....	acknowledgment (as Sandy Lieberson)
Jackson Scholz	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• Enigma Productions
• Goldcrest Films International
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1981) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (UK) (VHS)
• Abril Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS Television (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CBS/Fox Video (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Ladd Company, The (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• D'Oyly Carte Opera Company  group cast members (segment "The Mikado")
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Polydor  soundtrack released by

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Iceland:L | UK:PG (DVD rating) (2005) | South Korea:All | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1986) | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Assembly Hall, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Company:

Enigma Productions

Trivia:

Eric Liddell's 400 meter victory in the 1924 Olympics was an Olympic record of 47.6 and excited the crowd with an unorthodox run. He ran the first 200 meters in 22.2 seconds, considered by track experts to be tactically foolish, considering it was only 0.3 seconds slower than his 200 personal record but he actually increased his lead in the second half beating the competition by nearly a second.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the 1920s, American flags had 48 stars.

Quotes:

Sybil Gordon: [about running] Do you love it?
Harold M. Abrahams: I'm more of an addict. It's a compulsion with me, a weapon I can use.
Sybil Gordon: Against what?
Harold M. Abrahams: Being Jewish I suppose.
Sybil Gordon: [laughs incredulously] You're not serious! People aren't like that, people don't care. Can it be as bad as all that?
Harold M. Abrahams: You're not Jewish, or you wouldn't have had to ask.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: Go for the Old (#7.19)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

Great true story, wonderfully done

I watched this again last night. I had forgotten just how beautifully done it was - both a character study of two very different men and a gripping plot of their attempts to succeed - partly through athletics. the writer and director so well convey both Cambridge and the Edinburgh Presbyterian missionary disciples, in the early 1920s so very well.

The acting is superb - I had never seen a character presented like Eric Liddell in movies - how fine Ian Charleson was in this role, the softness of his voice, his ease and joy in running competitively (especially in contrast with the tense tortured Harold Abrahams). I also loved the more supporting roles - I've read a biography of F.E. Smith and Nigel Davenport is exactly how I would imagine him. The actor who played the Prince of Wales also seemed exactly right with his effortless charm, looks, and lack of imagination. Ian Holm, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson - all wonderful.

The actors weren't chosen for glamour either - Liddell and Abrahams are not Leni Riefenstahl images of athletic ideals, Liddell's sister is no beauty - and Abrahams' girlfriend is pretty but not stunning. It made them seem more real. (In nice contrast were the near-pretty boy looks of Nigel Havers as Lord Lindsay - it so suited his character).

The races are riveting - partly due to the music and sound effects.

So many small things are done so well - e.g., when Lord Lindsay has the confidence of his class to barge into a room containing the Prince of Wales, and three other lords (including Birkenhead and the head of the British Olympic Committee) and greets them by name - no need for introduction there (as there was for Liddell). It's small but seems quite real.

As an American, it was interesting and funny to see our Olympic team shown as the numerous, ominous, invulnerable "other"! (something like watching a Rocky movie with Rocky as the product of a Russian or East German success machine!). In fact, the one scene that seemed a bit off was the scene of the American track athletes warming up for the Games - all heavy music, machine like athletes, ferocious coach yelling with a megaphone into people's ears. It pounded too hard on the "these are the scary almighty inhuman opponents" theme in contrast to the cheerful British boys running along the beach.

Something I had forgotten about the movie was how stubborn BOTH protagonists are - Liddell fully as much as Abrahams. Liddell is not overly deferential or bashful when dealing with the Prince of Wales - but instead straightforward and very firm.

I truly can't understand anyone not liking this movie - it is very exciting even on the basic level of "will they win?" and so much more. (For example, Ian Holm's character's reaction to success after 30 years is very moving). Those who write to say that "Reds" deserved the Oscar more - are simply wrong. (Reds was so simplistic that it felt like watching the movie "The Hardy Boys Go to the Russian Revolution"). Those who say they cannot differentiate among the boys or between the Scottish and English accents - well, it sounds like some political statement to me.

Do watch it - it's very fine, very moving, very exciting.