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
Tables
| 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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- Tied with Reds.
- Tied with Reds.