| | | This is a 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.
Features: DVD
The time is 1924. Britain's finest athletes have begun their quest for glory in the Olympic Games. Their success will win honor for their nation--but for two champion runners, the honor at stake is a personal honor...and their challenge one from within. Chariots Of Fire tells the exciting, inspiring true story of Harold Abrahams, Eric Liddell and the dedicated team of competitors who brought Britain one of her most legendary victories in international sports. It's also the film that marked the brilliant resurgence of the British movie industry--and won four 1981 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "virtually a succession of smashing debuts," which it proved to be for Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Nicholas Farrell and Alice Krige in their first major movie roles, and Hugh Hudson (a veteran of British television) directing his first theatrical feature. Hudson went on to make two more grand-scale period movies, Greystoke: The Legend Of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes and Revolution. Pioneering producer David Puttnam (Midnight Express, The Killing Fields, The Mission) brought these and many other collective talents together to shape a film whose impact has been lasting and unique. From its bracing footage of competition and pageantry to its extraordinary Vangelis score, Chariots Of Fire has left its mark on movie lovers everywhere.
"...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.
Plot Summary
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.
| Features | Theatrical Trailer | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Audio: English Dolby Surround Stereo | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Production Notes |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 2/4/2003 |
| Running Time: 124 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1981 | | Catalog ID: 20004 | | UPC: 00085392000425 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English, French Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 4:3 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1982) |  | Milena Canonero, Winner, Best Costume Design | | Vangelis, Winner, Best Music, Original Score | | David Puttnam, Winner, Best Picture | | Colin Welland, Winner, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen | |
Cannes Film Festival (1981) | | Ian Holm, Winner, Best Supporting Actor |
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety
"...Strong script values and top-notch performances....The casting is pin point..." 04/08/1981New 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 competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics...Outstanding performances...
James Berardinelli's ReelViews 8 of 10
Chariots of Fire tells the story of the British triumphs at the 1924 Olympics, where the UK representatives took a number of medals over the heavily-favored Americans. With Abrahams and Lidell leading the way, the British track team had one of their best-ever showings. This film traces the two principal athletes' paths to the Paris games, where their on-field successes form a surprisingly low-key climax. Chariots of Fire doesn't rely on worn-out sports film cliches... There's barely a whiff of melodrama in Chariots of Fire, which makes the film-watching experience all the more effective -- director Hugh Hudson shows respect for the integrity of his material and the intelligence of his audience. The absence of mawkish moments provides the narrative with a genuine quality that supports its factual background. Not only do we care about the characters, but we accept that they really existed.
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