Chariots of Fire

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This article is about the film. For other uses, see Chariots of Fire (disambiguation).
Chariots of Fire

Film poster
Directed by Hugh Hudson
Produced by David Puttnam
Jake Eberts (executive producer)
Dodi Fayed (executive producer)
James Crawford (associate producer)
Written by Colin Welland
Starring Ben Cross
Ian Charleson
Nigel Havers
Cheryl Campbell
Alice Krige
Music by Vangelis (credited as Vangelis Papathanassiou)
Cinematography David Watkin
Editing by Terry Rawlings
Distributed by - USA -
Warner Bros.
The Ladd Company
- non-USA -
20th Century Fox
Release date(s) Flag of the United Kingdom March, 1981
Flag of the United States 9 October 1981
Running time 123 min
Country United Kingdom
Language English, French
Budget $5,500,000

Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson. It is based on the true story of British athletes preparing for and competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture.

The title is a reference to the line, "Bring me my chariot of fire," from the William Blake poem adapted into the hymn Jerusalem. The Blake poem was influenced by several Bible verses, most notably 2nd Kings 2:11 regarding Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire. The film's working title was "Running" until Welland saw the scene with the singing of the hymn and decided to change the title.[1]

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

The movie is based on the true story of two British athletes competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Englishman Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), who is Jewish, overcomes anti-Semitism and class prejudice in order to compete against the "Flying Scotsman", Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), in the 100 metre race.

In 1919, Abrahams enters Cambridge University. He attempts and succeeds at the Trinity Great Court run, which involves running around the court before the clock finishes striking 12. Meanwhile, Liddell sees running as a way of glorifying God before travelling to China to work as a missionary. He represents Scotland against Ireland, and preaches a sermon on "Life as a race" afterwards.

At their first meeting, Liddell shakes Abrahams' hand to wish him well, then beats him in a race. Abrahams takes it badly, but Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm), a professional trainer who he had approached earlier, offers to take him on to improve his technique. However, this attracts criticism from the college masters because they are not sympathetic to a Jewish student representing the college. They allege it is ungentlemanly and unsportsmanlike for an amateur athlete seeking to compete in the Olympics to employ a professional coach, but Abrahams, knowing that is cover for their anti-Semitism,[citation needed] dismisses their concern.

Eric's sister Jennie (Cheryl Campbell) worries he is too busy running to concern himself with their mission, but Eric tells her he feels inspired: "I believe that God made me for a purpose... (the mission), but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."

Despite pressure from the Prince of Wales and the British Olympic committee, Liddell refuses to run a heat of the 100 metres at the Olympics because his Christian convictions prevent him from running on Sunday. To remedy the sensitive issue, his teammate Lord Andrew Lindsey (Nigel Havers), having won silver in a previous race, proposes to yield his place in the 400 metre race to Liddell. The 400 metres would be run on the following Tuesday, thus averting Liddell's need to run on Sunday. Liddell at church on Sunday is seen quoting Isaiah 40, verse 31:

'But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and be not weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'

[edit] Historical accuracy

The Great Court, Trinity College, Cambridge; represented by Eton College in the film

The film depicts Abrahams as attending Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge with three other Olympic athletes: Henry Stallard, Aubrey Montague and Lord Andrew Lindsay. Stallard and Montague did in fact compete in the Olympics. Little is known about Montague, the main source of information about him being a series of letters he wrote to his parents about his time at Cambridge and the Olympics; these letters were the basis of Montague's narration in the film. The character of Lindsay was loosely based on Lord Burghley, a significant figure in the history of British athletics. Although Burghley did attend Cambridge, he was not a contemporary of Harold Abrahams, as Abrahams was an undergraduate from 1919 to 1923 and Burghley was at Cambridge from 1923 to 1927. Burghley was still living at the time of the film, and it was a notable historical inaccuracy in the script which reportedly led him to refuse permission for his name to be used in the film. One scene in the film recreates a race in which the runners attempt to run round the perimeter of the Great Court at Trinity College, Cambridge in the time it takes the clock to strike 12 at midday. The film shows Abrahams performing the feat for the first time in history. In fact, at the time of filming the only person known to have succeeded was Lord Burghley in 1927 (the feat has since been accomplished by Trinity undergraduate Sam Dobin, in October 2007).[2]

Regarding the idea that using professional trainers was improper or illegal is contradicted by the fact that Sam Mussabini trained many other British athletes, both in 1924 and in previous Olympics, dating back to 1908, (see Sam Mussabini), and also that using professional trainers was a common practice in ancient Olympics.[3]

The film also takes liberties with the events at the 1924 Olympics itself, most notably the events surrounding Liddell's refusal to race on a Sunday. In the film, he only learns on boarding the boat to Paris that one of the heats is to be held on the Sabbath. In fact, the schedule was made public several months in advance, and Liddell spent the remaining months training for the 400 metres, an event in which he had previously excelled. The film depicts Lindsay, having already won a medal in the 400 metre hurdles, giving up his place in the 400 metres for Liddell. In fact Burghley was eliminated in the heats of the 110 hurdles (he would go on to win a gold medal in the 1928 Olympics), and Lindsay's deference to Liddell in the 400 was entirely fabricated.

The film does not mention some of the additional events involving the protagonists at these Olympics. Before winning the 100 metres, Abrahams had also reached the final of the 200 metres but finished last, Jackson Scholz taking the gold medal. This is hinted at in the film during the athletic montage which accompanies Liddell's Sunday sermon in Paris, which includes a clip of Abrahams losing to Scholz and Mussabini scolding Abrahams ("Juvenile!") for rocking backward at the start; and, during the scene in which Abrahams speaks with his friend Montague ("You are my most complete man") while receiving a massage from Mussabini, there is a French newspaper clipping showing Scholz and Paddock with a headline which, when translated, states that the 200 metres was a triumph for the United States. In the same conversation, Abrahams laments getting "beaten out of sight" in the 200.

Eric Liddell also ran in the 200m and finished third (behind Paddock and Scholz). (This was the only time that Liddell and Abrahams competed in the same race. Their meeting in the 1923 AAA Championship in the film was fictitious, though Liddell's win spurred Abrahams to train even harder.[4]) As an opening runner for the 4 x 100 metres relay team, Abrahams won a silver medal (see article on 1924 Olympics.)


Other historical omissions and inaccuracies include:

In the film, the 100m bronze medallist is a character called "Tom Watson"; the real medallist was Arthur Porritt of New Zealand, who refused permission for his name to be used in the film, allegedly out of modesty. His wish was accepted by the film's producers, even though his permission was not necessary.[5] However, the brief back-story given for Watson, who is called up to the New Zealand team from Oxford University, substantially matches Porritt's history. With the exception of Porritt, all the runners in the 100m final are identified correctly when they line up for inspection by the Prince of Wales.

In the film, the Prince of Wales is accompanied at the Olympics by a dark-haired lady who supports the American team. This is presumably Wallis Simpson. If this is the case it is anachronistic, as the Prince was not introduced to Wallis Simpson until 1931.

In the film, Liddell is tripped up by a Frenchman in the 400 metre event of a Scotland–France international athletic meeting. He recovers, makes up a 20 metre deficit, and wins. This was based on fact; the actual race was during a Triangular Contest meet between Scotland, England and Ireland at Stoke-on-Trent in England in July 1923. His achievement was in fact even greater, as he had already won the 100- and 220-yard events that day.[6]. Also unmentioned with regard to Liddell is the fact that it was he who introduced Abrahams to Sam Mussabini.[7] This is alluded to: in the film Abrahams first encounters Mussabini while he is watching Liddell race. The film, however, suggests that Abrahams himself sought Mussabini's assistance.

Finally, some national symbolism is inaccurate. During training, the American athletes wear shirts with anachronistic 50-star US flags – it would not be until 1959 that Alaska and Hawaii would be granted statehood, raising the number of states (and thus stars) from 48 to 50. The Canadian flag shown on the chest of David "Don" Johnson during the 400m final did not become the Canadian flag until 1965. Finally, the Five Races Under One Union flag of Nationalist China flies prominently at the games, although China did not compete in the 1924 Summer Olympics (this usage was probably intended, however, as an homage to Eric Liddell's adopted homeland).

[edit] Production details

[edit] Filming locations

The famous beach running scene

The famous beach scenes associated with the theme tune were filmed at West Sands, St. Andrews (the last scene of the opening titles crosses the 1st and 18th holes at St. Andrews Golf Course); a plaque commemorating the filming can be found there today. The scene at Trinity College, Cambridge was actually filmed at Eton College. Liverpool Town Hall was the setting for the scenes depicting the British Embassy in Paris. The Colombes Olympic Stadium was represented by The Oval Sports Centre, Bebington, Merseyside. The nearby Woodside ferry terminal was used to represent the scenes set in Dover. The railway station scenes were filmed at York. Other scenes were filmed at Birchington, Kent. A scene depicting a performance of The Mikado was filmed in the Savoy Theatre with members of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which led to a small inaccuracy – the costumes worn by the performers were designed several years after the historical events depicted in the film.

[edit] Music

Main article: Chariots of Fire (album)

Although the film is a period piece, set in the 1920s, the Academy Award-winning original soundtrack composed by Vangelis uses a modern, 1980s electronic sound with a strong use of synthesizer and piano among other instruments. This was a bold and significant departure from earlier period films which employed sweeping orchestral instrumentals.

The title theme of the film has become iconic and has been used in subsequent films and television shows during slow-motion.

The film also incorporates a traditional work: a British choir singing "Jerusalem" at the 1978 funeral of Harold Abrahams, the event which 'bookends' the film and which inspired its title. Gilbert and Sullivan also features heavily.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Starring

[edit] Supporting cast

[edit] Ratings

The film is rated PG in the UK for thematic elements. In the US, to avoid the initial child's G rating which might have hindered sales, Puttnam dubbed in an obscenity in order to be awarded a PG rating.[8]

[edit] Awards and recognition

[edit] Academy Awards (1981)

Chariots of Fire was very successful at the Academy Awards. When he accepted his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay Colin Welland famously announced "The British are coming".

[edit] Cannes Film Festival (1981)

At the 1981 Cannes Film Festival the film won two awards and competed for the Palme d'Or.[9]

  • Best Supporting Actor - Ian Holm - won
  • Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention - Hugh Hudson - won
  • Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) - Hugh Hudson - nominated

[edit] BAFTA Awards (1981)

[edit] Popular lists

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "IMDB trivia - Origin of title - Accessed 11 Aug 2008". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082158/trivia. Retrieved on 2009-04-28. 
  2. ^ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-490027/Modern-day-hero-runs-away-Chariots-Fire-challenge.html Daily Mail 27 October 2007)
  3. ^ http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/amat.html
  4. ^ "Recollections by Sir Arthur Marshall". Content.ericliddell.org. http://content.ericliddell.org/ericliddell/recollections/content/arthurmarshall.htm. Retrieved on 2009-04-28. 
  5. ^ Arthur Espie Porritt. "Reference to Porritt's modesty". Library.otago.ac.nz. http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/exhibitions/rhodes_scholars/arthur_espie_porritt.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-28. 
  6. ^ Ramsey, Russell W. (1987). God's Joyful Runner. Bridge Publishing, Inc. p. 54. ISBN 0882706241. 
  7. ^ "Bio of Liddell". Bbc.co.uk. 1902-01-16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0019/print.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-04-28. 
  8. ^ Puttnam interviewed in BBC Radio obituary of Jack Valenti.
  9. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Chariots of Fire". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1732/year/1981.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-31. 

[edit] External links

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Ordinary People		 Academy Award for Best Picture
1981		 Succeeded by
Gandhi
Preceded by
Tess		 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film
1982		 Succeeded by
Gandhi
Preceded by
The Elephant Man		 BAFTA Award for Best Film
1982		 Succeeded by
Gandhi
v • d • e
The films of Hugh Hudson

Chariots of Fire (1981) · Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) · Revolution (1985) · Lost Angels (1989) · My Life So Far (1999) · I Dreamed of Africa (2000)
v • d • e
Academy Award for Best Picture

Chariots of Fire (1981) · Gandhi (1982) · Terms of Endearment (1983) · Amadeus (1984) · Out of Africa (1985) · Platoon (1986) · The Last Emperor (1987) · Rain Man (1988) · Driving Miss Daisy (1989) · Dances with Wolves (1990) · The Silence of the Lambs (1991) · Unforgiven (1992) · Schindler's List (1993) · Forrest Gump (1994) · Braveheart (1995) · The English Patient (1996) · Titanic (1997) · Shakespeare in Love (1998) · American Beauty (1999) · Gladiator (2000)

Complete List · (1928–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present)
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