Warner (Enigma Poductions/The Ladd Company)

Based on a true story, Hugh Hudson's inspirational sports movie tells the story of Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a serious Scottish Christian, who runs for the glory of Jesus, and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), a British Jew who's a victim of prejudice whose primary motivation is to be accepted into the mainstream.

Writer Colin Welland, who won the Oscar for his Original Screenplay, employs crosscutting to suggest the intersections between the lives of the two outsiders, when they meet and compete at the 1924 Olympics in Paris.

The most impressive thing about the movie is the lyrically photographed scenes of the runners striding through the surf in slow motion to the accompaniment of Vangelis's stirring score.

True to his beliefs to the bitter end, the real-life Liddell became a Christian Missionary, before going to China, where he eventually died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. For his part, Abrahams went on to become the spokesperson for English amateur athletics. He was knighted and died in 1978 as a respected statesman.

A bit calculated and manipulative, the Oscar-winning film was dismissed by some film critics as a piece of technological lyricism. Harsh reviewers claimed that the effects used by Hudson to make the viewers' spirits soar are the very same effects that send us to the supermarket to shop.

Even so, the film is well-acted, particularly by its impressive supporting cast: Nigel havens, as Lord Andrew Lindsay; the always reliable Ian Holm as Sam Musabini; John Gielgud as the Master of Trinity, Lindsay Anderson (better known as a director) as the Master of Caius, and Nigel Davenport as Lord Birkenhead.

There are only two female parts in the basically male-dominated movie: Charyl Campbell as Jennie Liddell and Alice Krige as Sybil Gordon.

Oscar Nominations: 7

Picture, produced by David Puttnam

Director: Hugh Hudson

Screenplay (Original): Colin Welland

Supporting Actor: Ian Holm

Film Editing: Terry Rawlings

Costume design: Milena Canonero

Original Score: Vangelis

Oscar Awards: 4

Picture

Screenplay

Costume Design

Original Score

Oscar Context

In 1981, the British sports melodrama,"Chariots of Fire," was the surprise winner of the Best Picture Oscar, with 7 nominations and four awards. The other four nominees were (alphabetically): Louis Malle's "Atlantic City," The schmaltzy family saga "On Golden Pod," Warren Beatty's semi-successful epic "Reds," which received the largest number of nominations (12), and Spielberg's nostalgic but well executed adventure "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Cast

Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross)

Eric Liddell (Ian Charleston)

Lord Andrew lindsay (Nigel Havers

Aubrey Montague (Nicholas Farrell)

Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm)

Master of Trinity (John Gielgud)

Master of Caius (Lindsay Anderson)

Lord Brikenhead (Nigel Davenport)

Jenny LIddel (Cheryl Campbell)

Sybil Gordon (Alice Krige)

Running time: 123 Minutes