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Chariots of Fire
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01:32
Chariots of Fire
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- 1981
- Hugh Hudson
- 118 mins
- PG
Summary
Sports drama based on a true story, starring Ben Cross, Ian Charleson and Nigel Havers. Among the British athletes aiming for glory in the 1924 Paris Olympics, two in particular come under the spotlight. Scot Eric Liddell runs for his religion, while Jewish Harold Abrahams races against prejudice. Both men are driven to prove themselves, on and off the track.
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IMDB
Review
A star rating of 5 out of 5.
John Marriott
Unfairly dismissed by some as an empty exercise in cheap schmaltz, this has an old-fashioned innocence that celebrates the human spirit with a lot of careful detail. It's a powerful tale about two British athletes - one a contemplative Scottish missionary, the other an anxious Jewish student - aiming for glory in the 1924 Olympics, and it contains a compelling study of their characters and those of their competitors. Their experiences are drawn in thoughtfully by Hugh Hudson's direction and Colin Welland's Oscar-winning script. Indeed, it was Welland who exclaimed at the Oscar ceremony that "the British are coming!". The performances of leads Ian Charleson (as the missionary) and Ben Cross (as the student) prove that, at a time when British cinema had such talent to fall back on, Welland should have been right.
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7.1/10
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Credits
Cast
rolenameHarold AbrahamsBen CrossEric LiddellIan CharlesonLord Andrew LindsayNigel HaversAubrey MontagueNicholas FarrellSam MussabiniIan HolmMaster of TrinityJohn GielgudMaster of CaiusLindsay AndersonLord BirkenheadNigel DavenportJennie LiddellCheryl CampbellSybil GordonAlice KrigeCharles PaddockDennis ChristopherJackson ScholzBrad DavisLord CadoganPatrick MageeDuke of SutherlandPeter EganSandy McGrathStruan RodgerPrince of WalesDavid YellandHead Porter, Caius CollegeRichard GriffithsHenry StallardDaniel GerrollBuntyRuby Wax
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Crew
rolenameDirectorHugh Hudson
Details
Theatrical distributor
20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd
Released on
2012-07-13
Languages
English | French
Guidance
Some swearing and brief nudity.
Available on
video, DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour
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Vangelis's best soundtracks from Blade Runner to Chariots of Fire
Following the sad news of Vangelis’ passing, we take a fond look back at some of his most iconic film scores.
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Chariots of Fire star Ben Cross dies, aged 72
The London-born actor died after a short illness in Vienna.
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Doctor Who legend joins Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman in first-look trailer for potential awards season favourite drama
Elsinore – about the final months of Scottish actor Ian Charleson – will open the London Film Festival ahead of a UK release next January.
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Chariots of Fire keeps going the distance
The film may be over 30 years old, but Vangelis’s iconic theme has been played during every London 2012 Olympics medal ceremony… and rightly so, says Barry Norman
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Elsinore review: Andrew Scott is devastating in a once-in-a-lifetime part ★★★★☆
The actor's portrayal of Ian Charleson taking on the role of Hamlet deserves Oscar recognition.
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Chariots of Fire to be remastered and reissued
Oscar-winning film is being restored in time for this summer's Olympic Games
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