Chariots of Fire

It was on this day in 1924 that Eric Liddell, the "flying scotsman," won the gold medal in the 400m at the Paris Olympics. The story of Liddell's achievment, along with that of 100m gold medalist Harold Abrahams and other members of the U.K. olympic team, has been immortalized in the movie Chariots of Fire, one of the finest sports movies of all time.

The movie is a study in motivation. The main story line follows the progress of Harold Abrahams, the son of a poor Lithuanian Jew who enters Caius College, Cambridge determined to single-handedly vanquish the anti-semitism of British society and make a name for himself in all aspects of college life, including athletics. We see this story play out through the eyes of Abraham's (fictional?) roommate and friend, Aubrey Montague.

In the movie, one major obstacle standing in the way of Abraham's pursuit of athletic glory is Eric Liddell. Liddell, the son of a Christian missionary, is the greater natural talent, a man who, when he runs "feels god's pleasure." The movie shows Abrahams being soundly beaten by Liddell in a sprint race, which causes him a deep crisis of self-doubt. This makes for great drama, but it isn't exactly accurate. Liddell and Abrahams never raced each other before the Olympics. Actually, Abrahams had competed in the 100 and 200 in 1920 Olympics, but had failed to make the finals in either race. It was Liddell who changed Abraham's life by introducing him to sprint coach Sam Mussabini. Under Mussabini's tutelage and training, Abraham's improved his start, his sprint mechanics, and his finish.


Abrahams (played by Ben Cross) in training

What most people remember about the movie, however, is the conflict that Liddell (played by Ian Charleson) faces when he finds out a few days before the beginning of the games that the finals of the 100m are to be held on a Sunday. As a strict Presbyterian, he will not race on a Sunday. In the movie, one of the other athletes on the team gives up his place in the 400m so that Liddell can run. Expected to fade, Liddell instead throws his head back and overtakes everyone in the stretch, winning the gold medal and setting the olympic record.

It didn't happen exactly that way. The schedule for the heats and finals of all events were known months in advance. Liddell knew the schedule, and knew that the qualifying heats for the 100 fell on a Sunday. He made the decision to switch to the 400 months before the games, and trained for that event. Also, Liddell had run the 400m before, and his win can't be considered quite the upset it is in the film. Nevertheless, other aspects of the portrayal are fairly accurate. He did preach a sermon during the games on a verse from Isaiah:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as EAGLES they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint

In the movie, as Liddell preaches, we see Montague struggling home well-beaten in the steeplechase, covered with mud and utterly spent. It is one of my favorite scenes of all time.

Movie Trivia

Sam Mussabini, the coach who helps Abraham's win gold, is played by Ian Holm (Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings, and the voice of "Skinner" in Ratatouille). Mussabini was one of the first athletic coaches to use stop-action photography to analyze running form and mechanics.

John Gielgud has a small but important role in the film as the Master of Trinity college.

The music for the film, composed by Vangelis, won the film an academy award for best score. Unfortunately, the main theme has become so overused that one is more likely to hear it as a parody than as actual music.