Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice. The film was written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture. It is ranked 19th in the British Film Institute's list of Top 100 British films. The film's title was inspired by the line, "Bring me my chariot of fire," from the William Blake poem adapted into the... popular British hymn "Jerusalem"; the hymn is heard at the end of the film. The original phrase "chariot of fire" is from 2 Kings 2:11 and 6:17 in the Bible. In 1919, Harold Abrahams enters Cambridge University, where he experiences anti-Semitism from the staff, but enjoys participating in the Gilbert and Sullivan club. He becomes the first person to ever complete the Trinity Great Court Run – running around the college courtyard in the time it takes for the clock to strike 12. Abrahams achieves an undefeated string of victories in various national running competitions.
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| Release date: | March 1981 |
| Directed by: | Hugh Hudson |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 124 Minutes |
| Producer: | David Puttnam |
| Editor: | Terry Rawlings |
| Music by: | Vangelis |
| Cinematography: | David Watkin |
| Screenplay by: | Colin Welland |
| Estimated budget: | $5,500,000 |