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Chariots of Fire [Blu-ray Book]
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| Genre | Drama, Documentary/History, Sports |
| Format | Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound, Dolby |
| Contributor | Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, John Gielgud, Hugh Hudson, Ian Holm |
| Language | English, French |
| Runtime | 2 hours and 4 minutes |
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Product Description
Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture! The inspiring true story of British athletes competing in the 1924 Olympics. Ben Cross and Ian Charleson head a sterling cast of newcomers and veterans. 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.
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 8 Ounces
- Item model number : WHV1000114679BR
- Director : Hugh Hudson
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound
- Run time : 2 hours and 4 minutes
- Release date : July 10, 2012
- Actors : Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, Ian Holm, John Gielgud
- Subtitles: : English, French
- Studio : WarnerBrothers
- ASIN : B00284AVN2
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #64,816 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #141 in Sports (Movies & TV)
- #4,643 in Drama Blu-ray Discs
- Customer Reviews:
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonReviewed in the United States on April 14, 2017
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Little will prepare fans of "Chariots Of Fire" for this BLU RAY reissue - the picture quality is SENSATIONAL - and for a British film made on a budget in 1981 - that says a lot. Also - re-watching it in 2012 (the year of the 30th Olympiad in England) - it's nice to find that this homage to Sporting achievement and human spirit hasn't lost any of its capacity to stir the soul and bring a tear to the eye. It was nominated for 7 Oscars at the time and won 4 - including Best Picture.
PACKAGING/CONTENT/PICTURE QUALITY:
The first thing to note is that even though the print quality and abundant extras are the same for the UK and US versions - they differ greatly in their 'packaging' and there's actually 3 variants of the BLU RAY to choose from. The UK issue comes in two versions - a simple uninspiring plastic clip-case with just 1 disc at around ten pounds (type in barcode 5039036052344 into the Amazon Search Bar) and a second issue with the music CD as well for a few quid more (type in barcode 5039036051163).
This US Warner Brothers version (at about twenty pounds) that I'm reviewing however comes in a beautifully presented 36-page embossed hardback 'Book Pack' (or Digibook as its sometimes called) with an outer page attached to the rear (type in barcode 883929093946 into Amazon). Regardless of which issue you buy or where you live - ALL are 'REGION FREE' - so will play on every machine.
The booklet for the US variant is beautiful - featuring articles and pictures on Producer David Puttnam, Director Hugh Hudson and Writer Colin Welland. There's also text and photos on the principal cast members as well as notable supporting roles by John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Alice Krieg and Cheryl Campbell. There's also a page on the huge contribution made by Greek keyboardist VANGELIS - whose musical score has been both revered and parodied in equal measure ever since (most notably in the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics just a few days ago).
This US issue and the UK double also house a 4-track music CD by VANGELIS (13:47 minutes) that features 2006 remasters of "Titles" (A Number 1 US hit in February 1982), "Abraham's Theme", "Eric's Theme" and "Jerusalem" (Vangelis with The Ambrosian Singers).
But the big news is the print - which has been FULLY RESTORED and defaulted to 1.85:1 aspect ratio - thereby filling your entire screen. Even in the notoriously difficult-to-light indoor sequences there is only slight blocking and grain - but on all outdoor scenes (of which there are many) - the clarity is exemplary. The DTS-HD Master Audio is English 5.1 Dolby Digital and Subtitles are English for Hard-Of-Hearing and French. Extras are discussed below...
THE FILM:
Taking its name from William Blake's preface to the epic "Milton: A Poem" - it focuses on the team who secured 4 medals for Britain in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris - in particular the two Gold winners - Eric Liddell for the Men's 400 metres and Harold Abrahams for the Men's 100 meters. Nicholas Farrell (as Aubrey Montague), Nigel Havers (as Lord Andrew Lindsay) and Daniel Gerroll (as Henry Stallard) make up the other runners. Blink and you'll miss them cameos are - two sightings of American Comedienne Ruby Wax as a lady spectator in the Olympic crowds towards the end of the movie and an uncredited Stephen Fry in the "HMS Pinafore" chorus line-up.
Born in China but raised in Edinburgh - Eric Liddell (nick-named "The Flying Scotsman" after the famous steam train) was the son of a devout Missionary - and like his father before him cherished and practiced his religious convictions. Played to perfection by Scotsman Ian Charleson - Liddell often said that he was 'running for God' or 'felt His pleasure' as he speeded around track after track leaving all in his wake. Both King and Country would sorely test these implacable beliefs in Paris when they asked him to run on the Sabbath - and he refused. A little jiggering of racing dates saved face and the day...but it was the measure of the man that he withstood all that pressure and still won...
His principal rival was Harold Abrahams (played with huge gusto by Ben Cross) - a Jewish Cambridge University intellectual determined to deal with society's bigotry towards his kind by crushing all detractors in his path - including Liddell - whom he both feared and admired. But when he finally faces Liddell in a run and looses by a ticker-tape inch - the outsider is crushed. But help is at hand in the shape of an unorthodox Jewish coach called Sam Mussabini (a fabulous turn by veteran actor Ian Holm) who promises to make Harold faster and better (and does).
These indomitable boors inhabit a world of privileged chums wearing boater hats and striped blazers - men who sing Gilbert & Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore" songs with alarming relish. This is Britain after the senseless generation-depleting butchery of World War I - but still with that inbred sense of Empire coursing through their veins. You'd be right in thinking that all this snobbish elitism could become quickly tedious (and it threatens to do so for the first half hour), but the script rightly concentrates on something all the more compelling - their dedication, self-sacrifice and guts. Genuinely inspiring a country hungry for something noble to celebrate - you could even say that these athletes joined Christianity and Judaism on the Sports field for the National good. And on it goes to the 8th Olympics Games in 1924 and a funeral in London in 1978 (making it contemporary).
The wad of extras are superb - modern day interviews with all the protagonists - Ben Cross and Nigel Havers particularly animated and witty and pouring praise on Ian Charleson who sadly passed away in 1990. And again when they use the old stock footage of the film - you see just how glorious the full restoration truly is.
Like "The King's Speech" in so many ways - "Chariots Of Fire" is filled with British pride - but in a good way. This is a story about people worth remembering - their struggles - their heartbreaks and triumphs - their journey. Having not seen it in probably 30 years - I found it moving, inspirational and not in the least bit dated. And now it has the transfer and format it deserves. I know the US version may cost twice as much as the UK issue - but if you can go the few quid - then do so.
When Screenplay Writer Colin Welland accepted his Oscar - he famously announced "The British Are Coming!" Well, they're back...because this really is a fantastic reissue of a great movie.
I'm off now to run in slow motion by the sea and surf with that synth riff pounding through my very tight Speedos...oh dear!
BLU RAY versions:
UK 1 disc - barcode 5039036052344
UK 2 disc - barcode 5039036051163
USA 2 disc 'Book Pack' - barcode 883929093946
Other than these things, the film can be enjoyed by teens and adults purely as a sports-Olympic film. It certainly stands at the head of the cinematic sports genre of films, way above any sports films like Knute Rockne, Ice Castles, Downhill Racer, The Other Side of the Mountain--none I can think of can compare.
The film can be enjoyed as a reflection of its era. A profound moment occurs when the students arrive at Cambridge; their bags are carried into their dorm house by gents who are obviously WWI survivors with grotesque facial prostheses. This makes the new students a little bit uncomfortable and we see how guilty they feel, how lucky they feel to be attending Cambridge, sound of life and limb, whereas had they been a few years older they would probably have been cannon fodder at Belleau Wood or Ypres. The huge bronze plaque in the house dining room reinforces this feeling; it lists the WWI dead just from that particular Cambridge house. Their desire to take up the sport of running seems unimportant compared to the ultimate sacrifice their house brothers made so they COULD indulge in their sport.
The third level, of course, is religion. Contrast Eric Liddell's missionary zeal with the sort of whispered prejudice amongst the bigoted Cambridge dons towards Harold's competitive determination. Harold is out to prove he is worthy, as good as any Christian. Is someone blessed in life's endeavors because he is godly like Eric Liddell,or is someone just as blessed if he seeks to prove his worth in a world prejudiced against him? How does faith influence what we do in life? I find this theme in the film very interesting and satisfying. Reasons for competition vary, and Abraham's girlfriend really enlightens Harold after he loses a race, when she questions his motivations for running. Can you ultimately be successful in life even if you fail once in awhile? This film is not reflective of the frenetic American jazz-age; rather it explores an era when Europeans just felt lucky to be alive after a world conflagration. The reasons why two men run is the essence of the film. You also cannot help contrast the way the Olympics have changed from 1924 to today with their ridiculous overexpansion and vast expense. I prefer the 1924 version.
I enjoy this film for its many levels, and when I think that Reds almost won for best film that year I have to laugh. Chariots of Fire surely has withstood the test of time (I just watched it again last week); Reds nowadays seems like a LONG BORING film. Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton no longer matter.
Vangelis' score is absolutely perfect. As much as the main theme was overplayed in the 80s, it still is beautiful, and makes you want to put on your Nikes and head to the track even if you have never run in your life. The music does not express the jazz age but rather, expresses the exhilaration of running, your hair trailing in your own slip stream, as you stride along a seashore. The film's plot even reverts to Gilbert and Sullivan, which makes the evocation of the era very sweet indeed.
Top reviews from other countries
Watching this again especially the final scene, as they run along the beach, it just makes me smile. one of many classic Brirtish films that I love and well worth seeing. (I also think my three-year-old son runs a bit like Eric, when I am trying to get him to take a bath)
Broadstairs looks magnificent in its Edwardian beauty, no doubt the beaches were less polluted then than they are today and the hotels looked less faded.
Most of the actors have gone on to become household names in Britain whilst some are sadly no longer with us.
It is a joy to view and the haunting theme ever more glorious at it was revived in the Olympics. The attention to detail and the dialogue are superb, enhanced by the new technology used to restore it.
A film to keep, the have done magi with the sound track best listened to in the DTS sound format.
Rule Britannia!


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