Chariots of Fire
United Kingdom
1981
124 Min
Color
1.85:1
French, English
Synopsis
The story, told in flashback, of two young British sprinters competing for fame in the 1924 Olympics. Eric, a devout Scottish missionary runs because he knows it must please God. Harold, the son of a newly rich Jew runs to prove his place in Cambridge society. In a warmup 100 meter race, Eric defeats Harold, who hires a pro trainer to prepare him. Eric, whose qualifying heat is scheduled for a Sunday, refuses to run despite pressure from the Olympic committee. A compromise is reached when a nobleman allows Eric to compete in his 400 meter slot. Eric and Harold win their respective races and go on to achieve fame as missionary and businessman/athletic advocate, respectively. –IMDb
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Christopher Scott Zeidel
20May12
I remember my dad having taken me to Chariots of Fire when I was 6 years old in 1981. Although considered great at the time of release and won best picture for 1981, there are many today that find it slow and boring. It was my Saturday morning streamer on Netflix, and although it is slow at times, I find it inspirational and still quite good 31 years later.
WhatsUpWill
10Jun11
A number of good scenes are strung together by a paper thin, boring plot. The conflict is barely there. The score by Vangelis lives up to the hype though. Even if it's kind of shallow, I still got swept up in the emotion of the film by its end. Not a bad film, but not a great one either.
richmondhill
31Dec10
Thoroughly decent on all levels, which although not quite damnation by faint praise, points to its rather hidebound middlebrow sensibilities and timorously safe approach to notions of competition, nationhood and duty. Nevertheless a well modulated square meal of a film, despite the often incongruous score.
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Sympathique, mais surfait
By Benoît on November 13, 2011
Passé outre la magnifique séquence d’ouverture avec le thème principal qui colle parfaitement bien, Les chariots de feu s’avèrent être un film relativement surfait, possédant de qualité, mais qui ne… read review
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HOLLYWOOD DIRECTORS YOU WISH WOULD GO "INDIE".
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