Chariots of Fire
Academy Awards - BEST PICTURE - 1981
True story of events leading up to the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
Eric Liddell, a devout Christian and Scottish college student, refuses to race on the Sabbath, Lord Andrew Lindsay let him take his place in the 400 meters and he wound up winning the gold. .
Harold Abrahams, a Jewish student athlete, wins the 100 meter dash.
A note at the end of the film tells us Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) became a missionary to China where he died in 1945 in a Japanese internment camp. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) married Sybil Gordon (Alice Krige) and became a successful sports journalist and advocate for amateur athletics.
Thanks Joy Z... who adds the following commentary:
According to Wikipedia, vast majority of the events in the film, including the running styles of the characters, are historically accurate.
This won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Music - by Vangelis, it is fabulous!, and Best Costume Design.
(Links open in new window)
Read more about this film at The Internet Movie Database.
|
DVD |
Soundtrack |
|