Chariots of Fire
Two determined British runners—one a devout Christian, the other a Jewish scholar—compete against prejudice, faith, and each other in their quest to win Olympic gold in 1924 Paris.
“This is the story of two men who run, not to run, but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals... except their honor.”
Synopsis
In the class-conscious and religiously divided United Kingdom of the early 1920s, two determined young runners prepare for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian who was born to Scottish missionaries in China, views running as an integral part of his worship of God.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 211+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Terry RawlingsShot by David WatkinScored by VangelisSound by Clive WinterCostumes by Milena Canonero
Box Office
1981 · Box office
💰 Box-office hit — grossed 11× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$59.0M
Opening weekend: $106K — 0% of its US run. It had legs — it kept earning long after opening weekend.
Opening week (7-day): $106K — 0% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 3 theaters
Also known as
- Die Stunde des Siegersde
- Les Chariots de feufr
- Momenti di gloriait
- (Bulgarian)Огнени колесници
Release dates around the world3 countries · showhide
- United KingdomMar 30, 1981
- FranceMay 20, 1981
- NorwayMay 22, 1981
Production & Distribution
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Cast & Crew
211 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Ben Cross
as Harold Abrahams
Ian Charleson
as Eric Liddell
Nicholas Farrell
as Aubrey Montague
Nigel Havers
as Lord Andrew Lindsay
Daniel Gerroll
as Henry Stallard
Ian Holm
as Sam Mussabini
John Gielgud
as Master of Trinity
Lindsay Anderson
as Master of Caius
Nigel Davenport
as Lord Birkenhead
Cheryl Campbell
as Jennie Liddell
Alice Krige
as Sybil Gordon
Dennis Christopher
as Charles Paddock
Supporting cast
71Brad Davis
as Jackson Scholz
Patrick Magee
as Lord Cadogan
Peter Egan
as Duke of Sutherland
Struan Rodger
as Sandy McGrath
David Yelland
as Prince of Wales
Yves Beneyton
as George Andre
Jeremy Sinden
as President-Gilbert & Sullivan Society
Wiley Edwards
as as Fitch
Gordon Hammersley
as President-Cambridge Athletic Club
Andrew Hawkins
as Secretary-Gilbert & Sullivan Society
Richard Griffiths
as Head Porter-Caius College
John Young
as Reverend J.D. Liddell
Benny Young
as Rob Liddell
Yvonne Gilan
as Mrs Liddell
Jack Smethurst
as Sleeping Car Attendant
Gerry Slevin
as Colonel John Keddie
Peter Cellier
as Head Waiter-Savoy
Stephen Mallatratt
as Watson
Colin Bruce
as Taylor
Alan Polonsky
as Paxton
Edward Wiley
as Fitch
Philip O Brien
as American Coach
Ralph Lawton
as Harbour Master
John Rutland
as Caius Porter Radcliffe
Alan Dudley
as Caius Manservant
Tommy Boyle
as Reporter
Kim Clifford
as Sybil's Maid
Wallace Campbell
as Highland Provost
Patrick Doyle Nm0236462
as Jimmie
David John
as Ernest Liddell
Tess Dignan
as Schoolgirl
Ruby Wax
as Bunty
Michael Jeyes
as Footman
David Kivlin
as First Scots Boy
Eddie Hughson
as Second Scots Boy
Gayle Garyson
as Sue Sammon
Sue Sammon
Linda Wallis
as Rosy Clayton
Rosy Clayton
Linda Boyland
Doreen Sloane
Paul Howard
as Alan Lorimer
Alan Lorimer
Steve Ambrose
as James Usher
James Usher
Michael Lonsdale
as Garth Jones
Garth Jones
Peter Jones
as Leonard Mullen
Leonard Mullen
Graham Brooke
as Paul Mahoney
Paul Mahoney
Phil Tait
as Dave Turner
Dave Turner
Paul Bannon
as Reporter
Carl Beaumont
as Round Headed Child
Kenneth Branagh
as Cambridge Student - Society Day crowd
Russell Brook
as Train Passenger
Lorraine Daniels
as Pitti-Sing in 'The Mikado
Leo Dolan
as Bill
Steven Ellison
as Spectaor at Olympics
Mark English
as Policeman
Stephen Fry
as Singer in 'H.M.S. Pinafore
Barrie Holland
as University Professor
Lew Hooper
as Man at Funeral
Stephen Marzella
as Undergraduate
Roberta Morrell
as Peep-Bo in 'The Mikado
Robin Pappas
as Clare
Derek Pringle
as Captain of Cambridge Athletic Team
Ted Robbins
as Shot-Putter
Peter Ross Murray
as Race Spectator
Guy Standeven
as Lord Lindsay's Butler
Directors
1Writers
1Producers
9Bernard Coote
the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of
David Puttnam
Producer, Producers
Dodi Fayed
Producers, executive producer
Jake Eberts
executive producer (uncredited)
James Crawford
Producers, associate producer
Mohamed Al Fayed
executive producer (uncredited)
Sanford Lieberson
the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of (as Sandy Lieberson)
Tim Hampton
the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of
Timothy Burrill
the producer and director wish to specifically acknowledge the help of
Other crew
118Simone Reynolds
additional casting
John Smallcombe
additional second assistant director, production assistant
Lionel Strutt
adr mixer (uncredited)
Andrew Sanders
Art Directors
Anna Ridley
Art Directors
Jonathan Amberston
Art Directors
Len Huntingford
Art Directors
Maggie Phelan
assistant accountant
Diane Bates
assistant art director
Louise Frogley
assistant costume designer
Jonathan Benson
assistant director
Ray Merrin
assistant dubbing mixer
Parents Guide
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Ratings & reviews
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