Plot

A pic is according to verity story of 2 British athletes competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Englishman Harold Abrahams (played by Ben Cross), who is Jewish, overcomes anti-Semitism and class prejudice sequentially to compete against a "Flying Scotsman," Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) in the 100 metres. But, Liddell drops away from a event because his Christian convictions prevent him from going in the Sunday. Liddell is allowed to compete in the 400 metres instead. A story is misleadingly complex, & compares a similar athletic lives of Abrahams & Liddell when portraying their immensely different characters & responses to adversity.

Historical accuracy

a single scene in a film recreates a race where the runners attempt to around the perimiter of the Great Court at Trinity College, Cambridge in a time it requires a clock to double strike the hour at noontide. A scene was actually filmed at Eton.

A just population believed to use at times actually completed a rollick Trinity Great Court in time are Lord Burghley in 1927 and Sebastian Coe when he beat Steve Cram inside a charity race in October 1988.

The major historic inaccuracy in the pic surrounds Liddell's refusal to race in the One c metres. a film portrays Liddell when selecting retired that one of a heats wwhen to become held in a Sunday as he was boarding a boat that would choose a British Olympic team through the English Channel on their way to Paris. In point of fact, a schedule was mass produced public many months beforeh&, and Liddell spent a odd months step by step videos for the 400 m, an event where he got antecedently excelled. The scene is around the film wherein Liddell is thrown down early in the Scotland-France 400 m duel, but recovers to produce higher a Xx m deficit to win the race. This really happened.

Abrahams was an outsider for a palm at a 1924 Olympics, however won the Centred m, beating all the Our contries favourites including Jackson Scholz and Charlie Paddock. In a 200 m, he reached the final, however finished sixth & endure. As an opening runner for the Foursome 10 One c m relay team, Abrahams won another Olympic medallion, the silver.

Arthur Porritt represented New Zealand at the 1924 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze decoration in the Hundred m, however refutilized permission for his really title to become used in the film, allegedly away from modesty. the bronze medallist was portrayed in the film by a fancied 'Tom Watson'.

Miscellany

When you took a 1984 Summer Olympic Games, an American Express credit card commercial ("Don't leave home without it") involved Ben Cross & a 87-season-old Jackson Scholz. Whilst Cross says something all about beating Scholz, a latter remarks, "You never beat me!" sustaining mock outrage. Proving he is "still pretty fast," Scholz beats Cross to a draw around picking higher the tab by having his charge card.

A English rugby league player Martin Offiah was nicknamed 'Chariots' after a film.

a plaque commemorating a motion-picture photography of a renowned beach scenes associated using the theme tune may be encountered at the prevent of West Sands in St. Andrews where filming for these scenes took place.

Awards

54th Academy Awards (1981) Best Picture - David Puttnam, producer - won Original Music Score - Vangelis - won Writing Original Screenplay - Colin Welland - won Costume Design - Milena Canonero - won Best Supporting Actor - Ian Holm - nominated Directing - Hugh Hudson - nominated Film Editing - Terry Rawlings - nominated Cannes Film Festival (1981) Better Supporting Actor - Ian Holm - won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Favorite Mention - Hugh Hudson - won Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) - Hugh Hudson - nominated BAFTA Award for Best Picture (1981) - won Grammy Award (1983) Best Pop Instrumental Performance - Ernie Watts for "Chariots of Fire Theme (Dance Version)" - won BFI Top 100 British films (1999) - rank 19 Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1982 (USA) (May 8) - Vangelis, Chariots of Fire theme

Cast and roles include
Ben Cross - Harold Abrahams Ian Charleson - Eric Liddell Ian Holm - Sam Mussabini, Abrahams' coach Alice Krige - Sybil Gordon, Abrahams's wife - her actual name was Sybil Evers Nicholas Farrell - Aubrey Montague Cheryl Campbell - Jennie Liddell John Gielgud - Master of Trinity Lindsay Anderson - Master of Caius Nigel Havers - Lord Andrew Lindsay, loosely based on David Burghley, who did non consent to his title existence utilized in the film Daniel Gerroll - Henry Stallard Nigel Davenport - Lord Birkenhead Dennis Christopher - American sprinter Charlie Paddock Brad Davis - American sprinter Jackson Scholz Patrick Magee - Lord Cadogan Peter Egan - Duke of Sutherland Struan Rodger - Sandy McGrath David Yelland - HRH Edward, 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 Hotel Stephen Mallatratt - Watson, based on Arthur Porritt

Other crew

Producers
James Crawford - associate producer Jake Eberts - executive producer Dodi Fayed - executive producer David Puttnam - producer Music

A original music, which won a motion-picture show an Oscar, was composed by Vangelis.

Filming locations
West Sands Beach at St Andrews, Scotland (beach running scenes) Eton College (race around a quad) The Oval Sports Centre, Bebington, Merseyside, England (presented as 1924 Colombes Olympic Stadium)