Entertainment

Looking back at ‘CHARIOTS OF FIRE’

At the 54th Academy Awards ceremony in 1982, the Best Picture nominees included “Atlantic City,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the heart-tugging “On Golden Pond” and Warren Beatty’s ambitious “Reds.” However, after that final envelope was opened, “Chariots of Fire” beat out the other nominees. This film also won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Music Score and Best Costume Design. The main theme composed by Greek musician Vangelis later became an iconic piece of music. “Chariots of Fire” came to mind after I read about the death of actor Ben Cross at age 72. Cross, along with actor Ian Charleson, took the lead roles in that award-winning film. It tells a simple, yet profound story of strength, courage and belief set against an extremely competitive backdrop. Even though they didn’t win individual Oscars for their acting, I like to credit these two actors for helping make this

BY STEVE BRYAN

an award-winning film.

Cross played Harold Abrahams, the son of a Jewish immigrant. As portrayed onscreen, Harold Abrahams was an extremely ambitious young man who had served as a lieutenant in the British Army. An accomplished athlete, he also earned spots on Britain’s 1920 and 1924 Olympic teams. Despite his achievements, he faced prejudice because of his faith and heritage. After the Olympics, Abrahams went on to become a successful author and sports journalist. Charleson, who passed away in 1990, played Eric Liddell, a Scottish runner, rugby player and missionary. Before he joined Abrahams at the Olympics, the two men were athletic rivals of sorts. The on-screen Abrahams believed he could breeze by “The Flying Scotsman” in one race, but Liddell beat him to the finish line. A bit shaken by that loss, Abrahams was later successful at the Olympics, winning gold and silver medals.

A man of deep faith, the real-life Liddell is credited with some amazing quotes, some of which show up in “Chariots of Fire.” When talking about running in one event, he said “The secret of my success in the 400m is that I run the first 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200m, with God’s help I run faster.” Liddell also compares faith to running in a race, saying “it’s hard, requires concentration of will and energy of soul.” He even defends his dual passions of athletics and missionary work in one scene by saying “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.”

“Chariots of Fire” remains one of my alltime favorite films. Even though Ben Cross and Ian Charleson are no longer with us, this movie serves as reminder of their talents as well as the contributions of the men they portrayed on screen.