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:

Olympics | Missionary | Jew | God | Athlete

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

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 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
• Allied Stars Ltd.
• Goldcrest Films International

Distributors

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

Other Companies

• Bass Charrington  made with the help and co-operation of
• Belgian Maritime Transport Authority  made with the help and co-operation of
• Cafe Royal  made with the help and co-operation of
• 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
• Fiat Auto UK  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• George Heriots Trust  made with the help and co-operation of
• Harrogate Department of Resort Services  made with the help and co-operation of
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Metropolitan Borough of Wirral  made with the help and co-operation of
• National Railway Museum  made with the help and co-operation of
• Polydor  soundtrack released by

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG (DVD rating) (2005) | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | 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:

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Company:

Enigma Productions

Trivia:

The movie was named as one of "The 20 Most Overrated Movies Of All Time" by Premiere.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: On the boat to France, Abrahams is seen supposedly playing the piano, but the notes we see him strike bear no resemblance to the music we hear.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lord Andrew Lindsay: Let us praise famous men and our fathers that begat us. All these men were honoured in their generations and were a glory in their days. We are here today to give thanks for the life of Harold Abrahams. To honour the legend. Now there are just two of us - young Aubrey Montague and myself - who can close our eyes and remember those few young men with hope in our hearts and wings on our heels.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "British Film Forever: Corsets, Cleavage and Country Houses: The Story of British Costume Drama (#1.4)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

Special Edition Is Special!

Having just picked up (1 Feb. 2005) WB's Special Edition DVD of "Chariots of Fire", I am pleased to report that it indeed "Special"! The major improvement over the original DVD release is, of course, the presentation of the feature in its proper 1.85:1 screen ratio. The feature also has the option of a very fine commentary track by director Hugh Hudson.

Disc 2 includes two outstanding documentary films. "Wings on Their Heels: The Making of Chariots of Fire", has interviews with most of the living participants. It is fascinating and very informative. The struggle of the film to get financing is covered as well as the process that took place in finding the lead actors is covered. The excitement of Oscar night, when the film took home the "Best Picture" award, is captured through the comments of those who were there.

The second offering, "Chariots of Fire: A Reunion", was shot in England with the producer, director, cinematographer, and three of the actors recalling their experiences in working on the film. This is an inspired way of letting the creative people involved recall and share their involvement in film that turned out to be the highlight of their careers.

Both documentary films are a joy to watch, as are the 16 minutes of scenes cut from the film, including one alternate that was used in the European release but cut for the U.S. release. There are also a couple of screen tests for Ben Cross and Ian Charleson that are interesting --and a nice theatrical trailer.

An interesting side-note is that 20th Century Fox, who financed half of the $6 million budget, was not interested in releasing the film in the U.S. -- they figured Americans would not have an interest in British runners. Ironically, of the films $50 million theatrical gross, $32 million came from the WB domestic release.

Now we finally have a DVD release that is worthy of that is my pick and the finest film of the 1980s. "Chariots of Fire" is a film that ranks very high on my list of all-time great films.