The 1981 British historical sports drama film Chariots of Fire was produced by David Puttnam, written by Colin Welland, and helmed by Hugh Hudson. The plot revolves around the real-life experiences of two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympics: Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice, and Eric Liddell, a devoted Scottish Christian who runs for God’s glory.
As Abrahams and Liddell, Ben Cross and Ian Charleson are accompanied in supporting roles by Nigel Havers, Ian Holm, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Brad Davis, and Dennis Christopher. In a little part, Kenneth Branagh makes his film debut. Based on actual events that have been slightly Hollywoodized, this wildly popular flag-waver won the Best Picture Oscar.
Filming Locations
It was filmed entirely in the UK but has a somewhat French setting. The inaugural memorial service is held in two distinct venues. St Mary le Strand in the Strand is the exterior. Cheapside’s St Mary le Bow is the interior. The ‘Carlton Hotel’ is the renowned clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
The movie opens with a famous slow-motion sprint along the beach, which is reportedly at ‘Broadstairs’ in Kent, southeast England. In reality, the location is West Sands at St Andrews on the Fife coast of Scotland.
Established in 1754, the Royal and Ancient have dominated golf worldwide (except in the United States), earning St Andrews the title of “home of golf” and serving as the most frequent host of The Open Championship due to its renowned links.
Although there are a few exterior establishing shots of Cambridge University, Eton College, which is located north of Windsor, Berkshire, serves as a stand-in because Caius College, Cambridge, the alma mater of runner Harold Abrahams, refused permission to be filmed on its property due to concerns about the story’s alleged anti-Semitism.
Eton is a well-known setting that appears in several other popular British history films, such as Young Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare in Love, The Madness of King George, and Henry VIII and His Six Wives.
Abrahams is challenging the “College Dash” in the area of Eton’s School Quad that surrounds the “Great Court of Trinity College.” Shot at Sma Glen, on the A822, a few miles north of Crieff, Perthshire, the picture depicts the fervent Christian Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) handing out prizes at the Highland Games.
The Scotland vs. Ireland rugby match was played in Inverleith in Edinburgh, where Liddell addresses the fans, and the Scotland vs. France international was played at Goldenacre, the Heriot’s Rugby Club’s Bangholm Terrace grounds in Edinburgh.
After witnessing soprano Sybil Gordon (Alice Krige) perform The Mikado, Abrahams brings her to a “London” restaurant called the Oyster Bar at Edinburgh’s Café Royal, located at 17 West Register Street at Rose Street. Specializing in oysters, among other delectable treats, the Parisian-style cafe features stained-glass windows, Victorian plasterwork, and Doulton ceramic murals.
It was established in 1863. Liddell arrives late for the religious gathering at the Assembly Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh due to his running fixation, which conflicts with his faith. Afterward, he and his sister Jennie (Cheryl Campbell) go around Holyrood Park and take in the view of the city.
Hall Barn, south of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, is the large estate where the aristocratic Lord Lindsay (Nigel Havers) consoles Sybil before vaulting over hurdles topped with glasses of champagne.
Constructed in the 17th century as a private residence for poet Edmund Waller, the estate is also featured in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park and the 1994 Black Beauty movie. Though it is occasionally possible to view the gardens, the home is not open to the public.
While “Dover Station,” from which the athletes depart for the Olympic Games in France, is the port of Birkenhead, which is located across the River Mersey from Liverpool, York Station, which is largely unaltered, represents London’s “King’s Cross.”
Essentially, a large portion of “Paris” is Merseyside. The Liverpool Library and Town Hall serves as the “British Embassy” ball, where the Prince of Wales tries to convince Liddell to run on the Sabbath, while the former Royal Hospital in Liverpool Chapel serves as the “French café.”
However, Liddell’s preaching location, the “Church of Scotland in Paris,” is actually in Scotland. It’s the Broughton McDonald Church, located on Broughton Place in Edinburgh. The Bebington Oval Sports Centre, Old Chester Road, Wirral, Merseyside, is the site of the final Olympics, which will take place at the Paris “Stade des Colombes.”
