Chariots of Fire is a film based on a true story about a pair of British track athletes and their journey to the 1924 Olympics, as well as the competition between the two to win the gold medal.
Harold M. Abrahams (Ben Cross) is a Jewish student in a Catholic University. He runs to prove himself, and his people, while Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) is a devout missionary, who runs for God.
The most memorable thing about Chariots of Fire, without a doubt, would be its score. Vangelis (who would later do music for Blade Runner) created a true masterpiece, which was perfect for this film. The jogging scene on the beach, which is accompanied with the musical score is an unforgettable piece of movie history.
Amazingly enough, this film was Hugh Hudson's directing debut.
Poetic license, as in any 'true' story, is used often in the screenplay. Whether this is a good or a bad thing, is completely up to the audience.
Chariots of Fire was nominated for six 1981 academy awards and won four:
The film gets its title from a line of an English hymn by William Blake, Jerusalem
(Excerpt from the hymn)
Bring me my bow of burning gold,
bring me my arrows of desire,
bring me my spear, oh clouds unfold,
bring me my chariots of fire.
I shall not cease from mental strife,
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem,
in Englands green and pleasant land.