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 | Race | God | Athlete

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 16 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	...	Minor Role
Rosy Clayton	...	Linda Wallis
Sue Sammon	...	Minor Role
Carole Ashby	...	Linda Boyland
Linda Wallis	...	Minor Role
Sara Roache	...	Doreen Sloane
Paul Howard	...	Alan Lorimer
Steve Ambrose	...	James Usher
Linda Boyland	...	Minor Role
Michael Lonsdale	...	Garth Jones
Doreen Sloane	...	Minor Role
Peter Jones	...	Leonard Mullen
Graham Brooke	...	Paul Mahoney
Alan Lorimer	...	Minor Role
Dave Turner	...	Phil Tait
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company	...	The sequence from 'The Mikado'
James Usher	...	Minor Role
Garth Jones	...	Minor Role
Leonard Mullen	...	Minor Role
Paul Mahoney	...	Minor Role
Phil Tait	...	Minor Role
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kenneth Branagh	...	Cambridge student - Society Day crowd (uncredited)
Lorraine Daniels	...	Pitti-Sing in 'The Mikado' (uncredited)
Mark English	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Stephen Fry	...	Singer in 'H.M.S. Pinafore' (uncredited)
Stephen Marzella	...	Undergraduate (uncredited)
Roberta Morrell	...	Peep-Bo in 'The Mikado' (uncredited)
Robin Pappas	...	Clare (uncredited)
Derek Pringle	...	Captain of Cambridge Athletic Team (uncredited)

Directed by
Hugh Hudson

Writing credits
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
Len Huntingford
Anne Ridley		(as Anna Ridley)
Andrew Sanders

Costume Design by
Milena Canonero

Makeup Department
Kenteas Brine	....	makeup artist
Maureen Hannaford-Naisbitt	....	hairdresser
Kate Healy	....	hairdresser
Mary Hillman	....	makeup supervisor
Joan Hills	....	hairdressing 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	....	standby props
Paul Bradburn	....	standby props
Roy Evans	....	construction manager
Bryony Foster	....	set dresser
John Gorham	....	graphics
Roger Hall	....	supervising art director
John Kelly	....	graphics
Katie Kilroy	....	production buyer (as Kate Kilroy)
John Leuenberger	....	property master
Diane Morris	....	set dresser
John New	....	standby carpenter
John O'Driscoll	....	graphics
Les Phipps	....	standby rigger
Douglas Regan	....	standby painter (as Doug Regan)
Tony Turner	....	standby stagehand
Gari Bacon	....	props (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)
Rowland Fowles	....	boom operator (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 stillsman
Michael Connor	....	focus (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	....	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	....	dressmaker
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	....	original music arranger (as Vangelis Papathanassiou)
Vangelis	....	performer: original music (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 research
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	....	research
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 research
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	....	the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of
Bernard Coote	....	the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of
Tim Hampton	....	the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of
Jennie Liddell	....	we would like to acknowledge the technical help and advice given to the production by
Sanford Lieberson	....	the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of (as Sandy Lieberson)
Jackson Scholz	....	we would like to acknowledge the technical help and advice given to the production by

Production Companies

• Allied Stars Ltd. (presented by) (as Allied Stars)
• Enigma Productions (as An Enigma Production)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1981) (UK) (theatrical)
• Ladd Company, The (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Fox Films (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures International (1981) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (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)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gativideo (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1994) (Finland) (TV) (2002) (2008)
• Nelonen (1997) (Finland) (TV) (1999)
• Rautakirja (????) (Finland) (video)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1988) (Finland) (TV)

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 and dollies (uncredited)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Elstree Film & Television Studios  sound post-production
• Fiat Auto UK  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
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording (uncredited)
• 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
• Società Attori Sincronizzatori (SAS)  dubbing: Italian post-synchronized version

Also Known As:

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 | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-3 (new rating: 2001) | France:U | 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:

Allied Stars Ltd.

Trivia:

The film's Best Picture Oscar is displayed at The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television in Yorkshire

Goofs:

Factual errors: Early in the film (at about 10 minutes in) the narration says "Thursday October the tenth, 1919...". That date was in fact a Friday that year.

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:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

La Marseillaise

Still a wonderful film!

I loved the soundtrack to this film and I was glad to watch it on Oscar Sunday. It is worthy of its' Oscars and is based on a true story. The music can be haunting and beautiful at the same time. Vangelis is a musical genius. The cast is stellar with some new faces of actors and actresses like Alice Krige and even Ruby Wax if you look closely. The 1924 Olympics is the climax of the film. It's still a beautiful and wonderfully entertaining and educational film to be seen. I loved the cast including Sir Ian Holm, Sir John Gielgud, and the young aspiring Olympic athletes including Brad Davis, Ian Charleson, and Ben Cross. The story is beautifully told in writing and the direction is brilliant to convey the beauty of the story. This is a feel good classic film from 1981.