ChariotsOfFirePosterIntroduction

“Chariots Of Fire” is the title of a British historical drama film directed by Hugh Hudson, produced by David Puttnam and scored by Vangelis. The film is often associated with its iconic opening scene, showing a group of 1920s athletes running on a beach, filmed in slow-motion and set to Vangelis’ epic main titles. The film won four Academy Awards in 1982, amongst others for “Best Picture”, as well as “Best Original Score” for Vangelis’ music.

The film tells the true story of two British athletes, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, who are preparing to compete at the 1924 Olympic Games. Hugh Hudson met Vangelis in the late 1970s and worked with him and Frédéric Rossif on several commercials and documentaries. After hearing Vangelis’ albums “Opera Sauvage” and “China”, both Hugh Hudson and producer David Puttnam were determined to have Vangelis create a score for their next project, “Chariots Of Fire”.

Initially Hugh Hudson wanted to use Vangelis ‘L’Enfant’ (from the album Opera Sauvage) as the main title music for the famous opening scene with the runners on the beach. In fact Hudson had filmed the scenes on the beach of St. Andrews in Scotland while playing 'L'Enfant' through speakers, so the actors were actually running to Vangelis' music. Only in the final stages of post-production it was Vangelis who proposed a new composition for the opening titles, and convinced Hudson and Puttnam to use the epic theme that we now know as ‘Chariots Of Fire’. Vangelis wrote the theme as a tribute to his father, who had been a runner at the 1936 Olympic Games and who had recently passed away. Some of the music from Opera Sauvage however did find it’s way into the score of Chariots Of Fire. ‘L’Enfant’ for instance can be heard in the film played by a brass band, and in one scene ‘Hymne’ is heard in a new arrangement.

The music in the film is different from the album of Chariots Of Fire, as the album is newly recorded and re-arranged, leaving out several cues from the film. Fortunately the 2012 blu-ray release of the film includes an isolated score audio track, which allows to hear Vangelis full score without any dialogue or sound effects! The same release includes the documentary bonus feature ‘The Making Of Chariots Of Fire’ where Vangelis briefly appears.

When asked about Chariots Of Fire, Vangelis commented: “It's a nice, healthy, pure film. I like the Olympic Games and I did it for fun. I tried to put myself in the movie. I tried to become a contemporary of the people in the film, with a kind of memory of that period. I wanted something rather contemporary, and yet, in keeping with the movie’s very Victorian concept. So it’s music of today, influenced by the spirit of another era. That was the difficulty of this film.”

In 2012 Chariots Of Fire was adapted for theatre and staged in several locations in London. Vangelis contributed new music to this production.

 

ChariotsOfFireStill03Details and credits

  • Title: Chariots Of Fire
  • Year: 1981
  • Country: UK
  • Length: 125 minutes
  • Released: 30th of March 1981
  • Directed by Hugh Hudson.
  • Written by Colin Welland.
  • Music composed, arranged and performed by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
  • Cinematographer: David Watkin
  • Executive producer: Dodi Al-Fayed
  • Produced by David Puttnam.

ChariotsOfFireBlurayFrontCast

  • Ben Cross - Harold Abrahams
  • Ian Charleson - Eric Liddell
  • Nigel Havers - Lord Andrew Lindsay
  • Nicholas Farrell - Aubrey Montague
  • Ian Holm - Sam Mussabini
  • John Gielgud - J. J. Thomson
  • Lindsay Anderson - Hugh Kerr Anderson
  • Cheryl Campbell - Jennie Liddell
  • Alice Krige - Sybil Gordon
  • Struan Rodger - Sandy McGrath
  • Nigel Davenport - Lord Birkenhead
  • Patrick Magee - Lord Cadogan
  • David Yelland - the Prince of Wales
  • Peter Egan - the Duke of Sutherland
  • Daniel Gerroll - Henry Stallard
  • Brad Davis - Jackson Scholz
  • Dennis Christopher - Charley Paddock
  • Richard Griffiths - Mr Rogers, Head Porter at Caius College

 Media

ChariotsOfFireStill05Blu-ray

  • 2012 released worldwide (30th Anniversary Edition) includes an isolated score track.
  • 2021 Warner Bros. US (Archive Collection)

DVD

  • 2000s 20th Century Fox, released worldwide.

Earlier the film was also published on VHS and Laser Disc.

 

ChariotsOfFireStill01Synopsis

“Chariots of Fire is a British historical drama directed by Hugh Hudson, set in the 1920s. The film follows two British athletes, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, as they prepare for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Their stories are intertwined by their shared passion for running, but their motivations and backgrounds are starkly different.

Harold Abrahams, a Jewish student at Cambridge, faces anti-Semitism and seeks to prove himself by winning an Olympic gold medal. His determination is fueled by a desire to overcome prejudice and achieve recognition. Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian, runs for the glory of God and refuses to compete on Sundays, a decision that puts his Olympic dreams at risk.

The film explores themes of faith, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence. The iconic opening scene, set to Vangelis’s stirring score, shows the athletes running along a beach, symbolizing their dedication and the personal stakes of their journey. As the Olympics approach, both men confront personal and societal challenges, ultimately finding redemption and triumph on the track.

Chariots of Fire is celebrated for its inspiring storytelling, memorable music, and powerful performances. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and remains a timeless tribute to the spirit of competition and the human will to overcome obstacles.“

 

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