Chariots of Fire with Ben Cross: DVD Cover
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Chariots of Fire Director: Hugh Hudson Cast: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Nicholas Farrell

DVD - 2 Disc Set - 2-Disc Special Edition / Widescreen / Amaray Case Learn more

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  • DVD Release Date: 02/01/2005
  • Original Release: 1981
  • Rating: Rated PG
  • Sales Rank: 2,352

Viewer Rating: (19 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Performances" See All

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  • Overview
  • Editorial Reviews
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  • Full Product Details

Scenes

Features

Closed Caption; Digitally remastered for first time video release in widescreen format (16x9 1.85:1); Commentary by director Hugh Hudson; Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1; English and French language tracks; English, French & Spanish subtitles; Two new documentaries "Wings on Their Heels: The Making of Chariots of Fire" and "Chariots of Fire: A Reunion"; 16 minutes of exciting additional scenes, including an alternate "Cricket in the Ballroom" sequence from the movie's European version; Screen tests; Theatrical trailer

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Scene Index

Side #1 -- Main Feature
1. Praising Famous Men [4:02]
2. Abrahams and Montague [2:16]
3. Cambridge Backroom Law [1:57]
4. Campus Society [4:18]
5. College Dash [4:12]
6. Scotland's Finest Wing [3:44]
7. 200-Yard Event [1:20]
8. Run in God's Name [3:52]
9. Running a Straight Race [2:01]
10. Run Them Off Their Feet [3:04]
11. He Remains an Englishman [1:50]
12. Bravest Victory [4:16]
13. Mussabini's Watchful Eye [2:21]
14. Smitten With Sybil [2:17]
15. Smitten With Harold [4:08]
16. Olympic Trials [3:00]
17. "I Run to Win" [3:12]
18. Mussabini Takes the Job [2:18]
19. Training Montage [1:57]
20. Feeling God's Pleasure [4:07]
21. Hurdles Obsessive and Bubbly [2:36]
22. Archaic Masters and Semite [3:25]
23. Paris-Bound [1:06]
24. Crisis of Conscience [3:28]
25. Yanks Arrive [4:36]
26. Parade of Nations [4:30]
27. Lindsay's Heat [2:42]
28. Royal Pressure; a Solution [1:38]
29. Sunday Heats [8:02]
30. Forever in Pursuit [4:16]
31. Charmed Victory; 100 Meters [2:01]
32. Winners Circle; Hats Off [7:35]
33. Triumphant - for Keeps [2:05]
34. 400 Meters; Divine Pleasure [3:36]
35. Toast of England; Coda [4:35]
36. Cast and End Credits [3:18]

Scene Index

Editorial Reviews

Two British track stars -- one a devout Scottish minister, the other a status-hungry English Jew -- compete in the 1924 Olympics in this celebrated drama, a winner of four Oscars, including Best Picture, in 1981. Ben Cross rose to considerable prominence thanks to his portrayal of Harold Abrahams, the son of a Lithuanian immigrant and a fiercely proud man whose painful experience of the British class system casts him in the underdog role. Ian Charleson is equally good as Eric Liddell, the son of missionaries stationed in China who is a decent man and a disciplined athlete. The rivalry between these two charismatic competitors drives Chariots all the way along to their fateful race at the Paris Olympics. And what a run it is: Director Hugh Hudson renders the period with sobriety and stateliness and avoids the usual clichés of sports-themed movies. Ian Holm lends worthy support as Harold’s Italian-Arabic coach, and Sir John Gielgud contributes an amusing cameo. Production-wise, the film is first rate in every way, and the evocative musical score by Vangelis -- an Oscar-winning effort that, for better or worse, long served Madison Ave. as the modern equivalent of Pachelbel’s Canon in D -- works perfectly with David Watkins’s cinematography. A truly inspirational story that unexpectedly captured the hearts of moviegoers, Chariots remains a career high point for all those involved in its making. Ed Hulse, Barnes & Noble

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Customer Reviews

A 1980s Classicby Dalav

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October 08, 2008: Often sports movies sink under their own weight, as the sheer familiarity of sports figures makes it difficult to suspend one's disbelief when watching actors' portrayals. Through the use of unfamiliar actors, and by minimizing the actual sports scenes, Chariots of Fire escapes the trap and allows us to concentrate on the contrasting characters: the fierce intensity and individualism of Abrahams, and in Liddell, the devotion to faith. The beauty is that a sense of Team transcends those character traits on the ultimate sports stage, the Olympics, but only to a point. The characters remain true to themselves. The thoughtful screenplay, which won an Academy award, brings all of this home intelligently. Visually, the flavors and details of the University scene in England in the 1920s are perfectly captured, and the well-heeled, young scholar-athletes are portrayed with sensitivity. And let's not forget the famous slo-mo scenes and the groundbreaking modern synth score by Vangelis that meshed surprisingly well with the 1920s England. Tremendous acting throughout. For the supporting cast, honorable mention to Ian Holm for his portrayal of track coach Sam Mussabini. and for the Pitch perfect all around. It's the depth of the characters that makes me return to it over and over. An inspiring and beautiful film.

Remember The Musicby Anonymous

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November 10, 2006: Nothing like a running movie can keep your attention like Chariots of Fire and they are all white guys, not to be prejudicial, excluding Abrahams. WASPS, in fact. Eric Lydle is a man everybody should remember for his faith. Princess Diana's sweetheart Dodi Fayed financed this film by the way.


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