Chariots of Fire Review

Chariots of Fire

Release Date: 24th September 1981 - Australia

Production Companies

20th Century Fox Film Corporation (present)

Allied Stars Ltd. (present)

Enigma Productions

Goldcrest Films

Distribution 

20th Century Fox Australia

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 118 minutes


Budget: $5,500,000

Box Office Gross: $59,317,376 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

The quest for glory in the 1924 Olympic Games has begun for England's first athletes, and their success will bring honour to their nation. For the two runners, the stake is personal,

and one from within is

their greatest challenge.

Cast

Ben Cross - Harold Abrahams

Ian Charleson - Eric Liddell

Nicholas Farrell - Aubrey Montague

Nigel Havers - Lord Andrew Lindsay

Ian Holm - Sam Mussabini

John Gielgud - Master of Trinity

Lindsay Anderson - Master of Caius
Cheryl Campbell - Jennie Liddell
Alice Krige - Sybil Gordon
Struan Rodger - Sandy McGrath
Nigel Davenport - Lord Birkenhead
Patrick Magee - Lord Cadogan
Peter Egan - Duke of Sutherland
Daniel Gerroll - Henry Stallard
Dennis Christopher - Charles Paddock
Brad Davis - Jackson Scholz
Yves Beneyton - George Andre
Richard Griffiths - Head Porter - Caius College
John Lloyd - Rev. J.D. Liddell
Benny Young - Rob Liddell
Yvonne Gilan - Mrs. Liddell
Gerry Slevin - Colonel John Keddie
Peter Celler - Head Waiter - Savoy
Stephen Mallatratt - Watson
Colin Bruce - Taylor
Alan Polonsky - Paxton
Edward Wiley - Fitch

Patrick Doyle - Jimmie

David John - Ernest Liddell
Ruby Wax - Bunty

Kenneth Branagh - Cambridge Student -

Society Day Crowd (Uncredited)

Stephen Fry - Singer in 'H.M.S. Pinafore'

(Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Hugh Hudson

Original Screenplay - Colin Welland
Executive Producers - Dodi Fayed
and Jake Eberts (Uncredited)

Producer - David Puttnam
Athletic Consultant - Tom McNab

Supervising Art Director - Roger Hall
Art Directors - Jonathan Amberston,
Len Huntingford, Anna Ridley and
Andrew Sanders
Costume Designer - Milena Canonero

Assistant Costume Designer - Louise Frogley

Wardrobe Supervisor - David Murphy
Director of Photography - David Watkin

Location Managers - Simon Bosanquet,

Caroline Langley and Iain Smith

Production Manager - Joyce Herlihy

Assistant Director - Jonathan Benson
Film Editor - Terry Rawlings

First Assistant Editor - Les Healey

Sound Editor - Jim Shields

Dubbing Mixer - Bill Rowe

Assistant Dubbing Mixer - Ray Merrin

Music - Vangelis

Awards

1982 Academy Awards
Best Picture - David Puttnam (Won)
Best Writing (Original Screenplay) - Colin Welland (Won)
Best Costume Design - Milena Canonero (Won)
Best Music, Original Score - Vangelis (Won)
---------------------------
Best Director - Hugh Hudson (Nominated)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Ian Holm (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Terry Rawlings (Nominated)

Review

As I can recall, I first saw the 1981 historical classic CHARIOTS OF FIRE on its DVD package when I was just a child. I was blown away by the opening scene of its beautiful images, with the runners sprinting through the beachfront near the waves and the majestic piano-led theme tune playing in the entire sequence. Many years on, I still remember this iconic movie and the classic music piece by Vangelis. I didn't realise after watching the feature that it is supposed to be my favourite type of film. It would have been necessary for the filmmakers to add more historical facts relating to the true story of the two characters competing in the Olympics. Parts of their history have been altered in the feature to dramatise each of their perspectives. Those two should've interacted in a few more scenes before and after the racing. It would have suited their upstanding rivalry.

On a positive note, the performances are good from lesser-known British actors Ian Charleson and Ben Cross. Cross, who after this movie has gotten into more movie roles in later years, most are recently known, like Spock's father Sarek in J.J. Abrams' retool of Star Trek. Ian only appeared in some movies and never got the chance to be a known actor after his life was tragically cut short by AIDS at age 40.

Overall, CHARIOTS OF FIRE was partly historically inaccurate. It is a fantastic film with great directing, brilliant acting, scenery and a musical score. It has very little to be critical of its aspects.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

Back to Home