Chariots of Fire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chariots of Fire
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Hugh Hudson
Produced by	David Puttnam
Written by	Colin Welland
Starring	Ben Cross Ian Charleson Nigel Havers Cheryl Campbell Alice Krige Lindsay Anderson Dennis Christopher Nigel Davenport Brad Davis Peter Egan John Gielgud Ian Holm Patrick Magee
Music by	Vangelis
Cinematography	David Watkin
Editing by	Terry Rawlings
Studio	Allied Stars Ltd Enigma Productions
Distributed by	20th Century-Fox (International) The Ladd Company (via Warner Bros.) (United States and Canada)
Release date(s)	30 March 1981 (1981-03-30) (London)
Running time	124 minutes
Country	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$5.5 million (£3 million) or £4,032,859
Money made	$59 million (U.S. and Canada)

Chariots of Fire is a famous 1981 film about sports and history. It was directed by Hugh Hudson and tells the true story of two British runners at the 1924 Summer Olympics. These athletes were Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams.

Eric Liddell was a Scottish Christian who believed his running honored God. Harold Abrahams was an English Jewish man who ran to prove himself and overcome unfair treatment. Ian Charleson played Eric Liddell, and Ben Cross played Harold Abrahams. Many other talented actors were also in the film.

The movie won four Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture. It also won for its amazing original music, created by Vangelis. The film's title comes from a line in a famous British hymn called "Jerusalem".

The Story of Chariots of Fire

The film begins with a look back to 1978, at a memorial service for Harold Abrahams. Then, it takes us back to his younger days, running on a beach with friends.

In 1919, Harold Abrahams started at University of Cambridge. He faced some unfair treatment but loved being part of a singing club. He became famous for being the first to complete the Trinity Great Court Run. This is a challenge to run around a college courtyard before the clock finishes striking 12. Harold also won many national running races. He was very focused on running but also fell in love with a singer named Sybil Gordon.

Meanwhile, Eric Liddell, who was born in China to missionary parents, was in Scotland. His sister, Jennie, worried about his running. Eric saw running as a way to honor God before he returned to China to work as a missionary. When Eric and Harold first raced, Eric won. Harold was upset, but a coach named Sam Mussabini offered to help him improve. Some people at Cambridge didn't like that Harold used a professional coach, seeing it as not "gentlemanly." Harold felt this was just another form of prejudice.

Eric also faced challenges. When he missed a church meeting because of running, his sister thought he was forgetting God. Eric explained that he felt inspired by God when he ran and that not running would be dishonoring God. He still planned to return to China.

After much training, both athletes were chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. On the way to France, Eric learned that his 100-meter race would be on a Sunday. Because of his strong religious beliefs, he refused to run on his day of worship. Even the Prince of Wales and the British Olympic Committee tried to make him change his mind.

A teammate, Lord Andrew Lindsay, helped Eric by offering his spot in the 400-meter race, which was on a different day. Eric's decision made news around the world. He even gave a sermon at a church in Paris that Sunday.

Harold Abrahams did not do well in the 200-meter race. He knew the 100-meter race was his last chance for a medal. He ran with all his might and won the gold medal! His coach, Mussabini, was so proud that their hard work had paid off. Harold could now focus on his life and his girlfriend, Sybil. Eric Liddell then surprised everyone by winning the 400-meter race, beating the American favorites. The British team returned home as heroes.

The film ends by telling us that Harold Abrahams married Sybil and became a leader in British athletics. Eric Liddell continued his missionary work and was greatly missed by Scotland after he passed away in China.

Who's Who in Chariots of Fire

Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played:

Some other actors in smaller roles included Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry, who later became very famous!

Making the Movie: Chariots of Fire

How the Story Was Found

Producer David Puttnam wanted to make a film about someone who stood up for their beliefs. He found Eric Liddell's story by chance in 1977 while reading a book about the Olympic Games.

The screenwriter, Colin Welland, did a lot of research. He looked for old newspaper ads, watched old film footage, and talked to people who were still alive from the 1924 Olympics. He even went to Harold Abrahams' memorial service, which gave him the idea for how the film starts and ends. Letters from another runner, Aubrey Montague, helped shape the story.

Originally, the script included a third runner, Douglas Lowe. But he didn't want to be in the film. So, the filmmakers created the character of Lord Andrew Lindsay instead.

Choosing the Actors

Director Hugh Hudson wanted new, young actors for the main roles. He also wanted famous actors like John Gielgud and Ian Holm for supporting parts. After a long search, they found Ian Charleson to play Eric Liddell. Ian had studied the Bible deeply for the role and even helped write Eric's inspiring speech in the film.

Ben Cross was chosen to play Harold Abrahams. He was a talented actor who could also sing and play piano, which was perfect for the role.

American actors Brad Davis and Dennis Christopher played the American runners, Jackson Scholz and Charley Paddock. All the actors who played runners trained very hard for three months with a famous running coach. This helped them become good friends and feel like a real team.

Filming Locations

Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell, giving an inspiring speech in the film.

The famous beach running scene was filmed on West Sands in St Andrews, Scotland. Today, there's a plaque there to remember the filming.

Many indoor scenes set at Cambridge University were actually filmed at Eton College. Cambridge University didn't allow filming at first, but they later regretted that decision after the movie became a huge success!

Other locations included Liverpool Town Hall for scenes set in the British Embassy in Paris, and the Oval Sports Centre in Bebington for the Olympic stadium scenes. Train station scenes were filmed in York using old locomotives.

Music and Sound

The iconic beach running scene, filmed in St Andrews, Scotland.

The film's music, composed by Vangelis, is very special. Even though the movie is set in the 1920s, Vangelis used modern electronic sounds with synthesizers and piano. This was a new idea for historical films and helped make the movie feel fresh. The main theme, "Chariots of Fire", is now famous and often used in other films and TV shows.

Director Hugh Hudson chose Vangelis because he loved his earlier work. Vangelis felt a personal connection to the music because his father was a runner. He even created a new main theme for the film after the beach running scene was already filmed to a different song!

Besides Vangelis's electronic music, the film also features lively songs from Gilbert and Sullivan operas, which were popular in the 1920s. The powerful British hymn "Jerusalem" is also heard at the end of the film and inspired its title.

When Chariots of Fire Was Released

The film first premiered in London on March 30, 1981. It then opened in other parts of the UK and was shown at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.

In North America, the film was released later, starting in Los Angeles and New York in September 1981, and then more widely in April 1982.

Awards and Recognition

Chariots of Fire was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four! When screenwriter Colin Welland accepted his Oscar, he famously said, "The British are coming!"

American Film Institute recognition

• 2006: AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers - No. 100

Other honours

• BFI Top 100 British films (1999) – rank 19
• Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1982 (USA) (8 May) – Vangelis, Chariots of Fire theme

Film vs. Reality: Historical Accuracy

Chariots of Fire is a powerful film about courage and belief. While it tells a true story, the filmmakers changed some details to make the movie more exciting. This is common in films based on real events.

Characters in the Film and Real Life

The film shows Harold Abrahams attending Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, with friends like Henry Stallard, Aubrey Montague, and Lord Andrew Lindsay. In reality, Abrahams and Stallard were indeed students there. However, Aubrey Montague went to Oxford, not Cambridge. His letters home, which are read in the film, were real!

The character of Lord Andrew Lindsay was partly based on David Cecil (Lord Burghley), a famous British athlete. Lord Burghley was known for practicing hurdles with champagne glasses on top, which is shown in the film! He didn't want to be in the movie, so the fictional Lindsay character was created.

Abrahams (left) and the Lindsay character (right) attempt the Great Court Run.

The movie shows Harold Abrahams being the first to complete the Great Court Run. But in real life, Abrahams never tried this race. Lord Burghley was the first to succeed in 1927. In the film, Lindsay (based on Burghley) runs with Abrahams to encourage him.

In the film, Eric Liddell is tripped in a 400-meter race but still wins. This really happened in a race in 1923, showing his amazing determination. Also, the film doesn't show that Eric Liddell was the one who introduced Abrahams to his coach, Sam Mussabini.

Abrahams and Liddell did race each other twice, but not exactly as shown in the movie. The film shows Liddell winning a 100-yard race against Abrahams in 1923. In reality, they only raced in a 220-yard heat, which Liddell won.

Harold Abrahams' girlfriend in the film is Sybil Gordon, a singer. In real life, he married Sybil Evers, who was also a singer, but they met much later. Harold's love for the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, shown in the film, was true!

Eric Liddell's sister, Jennie, was shown as being worried about his running career. In real life, she fully supported him.

The 1924 Paris Olympics in the Film

The film changes some details about the 1924 Summer Olympics. For example, the 100m bronze medalist in the film is Tom Watson. The real medalist was Arthur Porritt from New Zealand, who preferred not to have his name used.

In the movie, American runner Jackson Scholz gives Eric Liddell an inspiring Bible quote before the 400-meter final. In reality, this note came from other members of the British team.

The film shows Eric Liddell learning about the Sunday 100-meter race only when he's boarding the boat to Paris. In fact, the schedule was known months in advance. However, Eric did face huge pressure to run on Sunday because of his strong religious beliefs, and his refusal made headlines.

Eric's decision to switch to the 400-meter race was made well before the Olympics, and he trained for it. His win in the 400m was a big surprise because he wasn't known for that distance.

The film also shows Lord Lindsay giving up his spot in the 400-meter race for Liddell. In reality, Lord Burghley (who Lindsay is based on) was not entered in the 400 meters.

The order of Harold Abrahams' races is also changed. In the film, he loses the 200m before winning the 100m. In real life, he won the 100m first, then finished last in the 200m. Eric Liddell actually won a bronze medal in the 200m race, which is not shown in the film.

Chariots of Fire and the 2012 London Olympics

The film Chariots of Fire became a big part of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Its famous theme music was used in many ways:

• It played during the opening of the 2012 London New Year's fireworks.
• Runners testing the new Olympic Park were inspired by the theme.
• The music was used for the Olympic flame carriers.
• The famous beach running scene was even recreated as part of the torch relay.

During the Opening Ceremony, the London Symphony Orchestra performed the theme music. This was part of a funny skit with Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), which included clips from the film. The theme was also played during every medal ceremony at the 2012 Olympics!

A new, improved version of the film was shown in cinemas across the UK before the Olympics began. A Blu-ray of the film was also released with special features.

Stage Adaptation

A play based on Chariots of Fire was created for the 2012 Olympics. The play, also called Chariots of Fire, included Vangelis's music and ran in London's West End. It starred Jack Lowden as Eric Liddell and James McArdle as Harold Abrahams.

The Chariots of Fire stage adaptation: Stars Jack Lowden and James McArdle flank Vangelis, watching the Olympic Torch Relay set to the tune, from the Gielgud Theatre, July 2012.

The film's director, Hugh Hudson, helped produce the play. He felt that the film's message about faith, standing up for beliefs, and achieving things with passion is still very important today.

See also

• List of films about the sport of athletics
• Chariots of Fire, a race, inspired by the film, held in Cambridge since 1991
• Great Britain at the 1924 Summer Olympics
• Sabbath breaking