Chariots of Fire is a 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 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. Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry make their debuts in minor roles.
At the 35th British Academy Film Awards , the film was nominated in 11 categories and won in three, including Best Film. The film's title was inspired by the line "Bring me my Chariot of fire! During a funeral service in London in honour of the life of Harold Abrahams , headed by his former colleague Lord Andrew Lindsay, there is a flashback to when he was young and in a group of athletes running along a beach.
In , Harold Abrahams enters the University of Cambridge , where he experiences antisemitism from the staff but enjoys participating in the Gilbert and Sullivan club. He becomes the first person to complete the Trinity Great Court Run , running around the college courtyard in the time it takes for the clock to strike 12, and achieves an undefeated string of victories in various national running competitions.
Although focused on his running, he falls in love with Sybil Gordon , a leading Gilbert and Sullivan soprano. Eric Liddell , born in China to Scottish missionary parents, is in Scotland.
His devout sister Jennie disapproves of Liddell's plans to pursue competitive running. Still, Liddell sees running as a way of glorifying God before returning to China to work as a missionary. When they first race against each other, Liddell beats Abrahams. Abrahams takes it poorly, but Sam Mussabini , a professional trainer he had approached earlier, offers to take him on to improve his technique. This attracts criticism from the Cambridge college masters, who assert that it isn't gentlemanly for an amateur to "play the tradesman" by employing a professional coach.
