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Chariots of Fire

Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:20:03 AM Wikipedia source

Chariots of Fire is a 1981 historical sports drama film directed by Hugh Hudson, written by Colin Welland and produced by David Puttnam. It is based on the true story of two British 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. Ian Charleson and Ben Cross star as Liddell and Abrahams respectively, alongside Nigel Havers, Ian Holm, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Brad Davis and Dennis Christopher in supporting roles. Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry make their debuts in minor roles. Chariots of Fire was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score for Vangelis's electronic theme tune. At the 35th British Academy Film Awards, the film was nominated in 11 categories and won in three, including Best Film. It is ranked 19th in the British Film Institute's list of Top 100 British films. The film won the People's Choice Award at the 6th Toronto International Film Festival. The film's title was inspired by the line "Bring me my Chariot of fire!" from the William Blake poem adapted into the British hymn and unofficial English anthem "Jerusalem"; the hymn is heard at the end of the film.

Infobox

Directed by
Hugh Hudson
Written by
Colin Welland
Produced by
David Puttnam
Starring
mw- Ben Cross Ian Charleson Nigel Havers Cheryl Campbell Alice Krige Lindsay Anderson Dennis Christopher Nigel Davenport Brad Davis Peter Egan John Gielgud Ian Holm Patrick Magee
Cinematography
David Watkin
Edited by
Terry Rawlings
Music by
Vangelis
Productioncompanies
Allied Stars LtdEnigma Productions
Distributed by
20th Century-Fox (International)The Ladd Company (via Warner Bros.) (United States and Canada)
Release date
30 March 1981 (1981-03-30) (London)
Running time
124 minutes
Countries
United KingdomUnited States
Language
English
Budget
$5.5 million (£3 million) or £4,032,859
Box office
$59 million (U.S. and Canada)

Tables

· Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee
David Puttnam
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Hugh Hudson
Nominee
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Ian Holm
Nominee
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Colin Welland
Nominee
Won
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Milena Canonero
Nominee
Won
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Terry Rawlings
Nominee
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Vangelis
Nominee
Won
American Movie Awards
American Movie Awards
Award
American Movie Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee
Ian Holm
Result
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee
David Puttnam
Result
Won
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Hugh Hudson
Nominee
Nominated
Best Supporting Artist
Best Supporting Artist
Award
Best Supporting Artist
Category
Nigel Havers
Nominee
Nominated
Ian Holm
Ian Holm
Award
Ian Holm
Category
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Colin Welland
Nominee
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
David Watkin
Nominee
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Milena Canonero
Nominee
Won
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Terry Rawlings
Nominee
Nominated
Best Original Music
Best Original Music
Award
Best Original Music
Category
Vangelis
Nominee
Nominated
Best Production Design/Art Direction
Best Production Design/Art Direction
Award
Best Production Design/Art Direction
Category
Roger Hall
Nominee
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Category
Clive Winter, Bill Rowe, and Jim Shields
Nominee
Nominated
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Award
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Category
Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film
Nominee
David Watkin
Result
Nominated
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Category
Palme d'Or
Nominee
Hugh Hudson
Result
Nominated
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention
Award
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Ian Holm
Nominee
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominee
Hugh Hudson
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee
Won
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards
Award
Grammy Awards
Category
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Nominee
"Chariots of Fire Theme (Dance Version)" – Ernie Watts
Result
Won
Japan Academy Film Prize
Japan Academy Film Prize
Award
Japan Academy Film Prize
Category
Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Nominee
Nominated
London Film Critics Circle Awards
London Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
London Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Film of the Year
Nominee
Won
Screenwriter of the Year
Screenwriter of the Year
Award
Screenwriter of the Year
Category
Colin Welland
Nominee
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee
2nd Place
Best Music
Best Music
Award
Best Music
Category
Vangelis
Nominee
2nd Place
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee
Won
Top Ten Films
Top Ten Films
Award
Top Ten Films
Category
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee
4th Place
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Hugh Hudson
Nominee
3rd Place
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
David Watkin
Nominee
Won
Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
Award
Toronto International Film Festival
Category
People's Choice Award
Nominee
Hugh Hudson
Result
Won
Award
Category
Nominee
Result
Academy Awards
Best Picture
David Puttnam
Won
Best Director
Hugh Hudson
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Ian Holm
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Colin Welland
Won
Best Costume Design
Milena Canonero
Won
Best Film Editing
Terry Rawlings
Nominated
Best Original Score
Vangelis
Won
American Movie Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Ian Holm
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
Best Film
David Puttnam
Won
Best Direction
Hugh Hudson
Nominated
Best Supporting Artist
Nigel Havers
Nominated
Ian Holm
Won
Best Screenplay
Colin Welland
Nominated
Best Cinematography
David Watkin
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Milena Canonero
Won
Best Editing
Terry Rawlings
Nominated
Best Original Music
Vangelis
Nominated
Best Production Design/Art Direction
Roger Hall
Nominated
Best Sound
Clive Winter, Bill Rowe, and Jim Shields
Nominated
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film
David Watkin
Nominated
Cannes Film Festival
Palme d'Or
Hugh Hudson
Nominated
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Ian Holm
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Hugh Hudson
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Best Foreign Film
Won
Grammy Awards
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
"Chariots of Fire Theme (Dance Version)" – Ernie Watts
Won
Japan Academy Film Prize
Outstanding Foreign Language Film
Nominated
London Film Critics Circle Awards
Film of the Year
Won
Screenwriter of the Year
Colin Welland
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Foreign Film
2nd Place
Best Music
Vangelis
2nd Place
National Board of Review Awards
Best Film
Won
Top Ten Films
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Film
4th Place
Best Director
Hugh Hudson
3rd Place
Best Cinematography
David Watkin
Won
Toronto International Film Festival
People's Choice Award
Hugh Hudson
Won

References

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  96. Tied with Reds.
  97. Tied with Reds.
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