Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire is a British film released in 1981. Written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson, and based on the true story of British athletes preparing for and competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and won four, including Best Picture. The title is taken from William Blake's poem The New Jerusalem

Historical accuracy

One scene in the film recreates a race in which the runners attempt to round the perimiter of the Great Court at Trinity College, Cambridge in the time it takes the clock to double strike the hour at midday. The scene was actually filmed at Eton.

Related Topics:
Great Court - Trinity College, Cambridge - Eton

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The only people believed to have actually completed the run around Trinity Great Court in time are Lord Burghley in 1927 and Sebastian Coe when he beat Steve Cram in a charity race in October 1988.

Related Topics:
Trinity Great Court - Lord Burghley - 1927 - Sebastian Coe - Steve Cram - 1988

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A major historic inaccuracy in the movie surrounds Liddell's refusal to race in the 100 metres. The film portrays Liddell as finding out that one of the heats was to be held on a Sunday as he was boarding the boat that would take the British Olympic team across the English Channel on their way to Paris. In fact, the schedule was made public several months in advance, and Liddell spent the remaining months training for the 400 m, an event in which he had previously excelled. A scene exists in the movie wherein Liddell is thrown down early in a Scotland-France 400 m duel, but recovers to make up a 20 m deficit to win the race. This really happened.

Related Topics:
English Channel - Scotland - France

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Abrahams was an outsider for the medals at the 1924 Olympics, but won the 100 m, beating all the American favourites including Jackson Scholz and Charlie Paddock. In the 200 m, he reached the final, but finished sixth and last. As an opening runner for the 4 x 100 m relay team, Abrahams won a second Olympic medal, a silver.

Related Topics:
Jackson Scholz - Charlie Paddock - Silver

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Arthur Porritt represented New Zealand at the 1924 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 100 m, but refused permission for his real name to be used in the film, allegedly out of modesty. The bronze medallist was portrayed in the film by a fictional 'Tom Watson'.

Related Topics:
Arthur Porritt - New Zealand

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