Chariots Of Fire Parent Guide

Set in England after World War I, Chariots of Fire is based on the true-life story of two elite British athletes pursuing Olympic gold in 1924. Dark-haired and handsome, Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), the son of a wealthy Jewish immigrant, attends Cambridge University while adding to his growing list of achievements on the track. He has used his athletic success to push back against the not-so-subtle anti-semitism he faces and runs undefeated until he falls behind Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a young Scottish missionary with an awkward gait and propensity for winning races. Crushed by the loss, Abrahams struggles to come to grips with the blow and find new purpose for his running. Engaging the expertise of professional trainer Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm), Abrahams refines his stride through ceaseless training which incorporates Mussabini’s analysis.

This is one of those prototypical sports movies like Rocky which completely defines the genre. It’s difficult to imagine a movie more closely associated with the sport it depicts, especially with the absolutely iconic Vangelis soundtrack - the theme has been used in several Olympic games since. It’s hard to do much better than that as a sports movie.

Beyond its place in the cinematic firmament, this movie features some truly excellent performances from Ben Cross (as Abrahams) and Ian Charleson (as Liddell), although neither of them is quite as fun to watch as Ian Holm as Sam Mussabini, Harold Abraham’s slightly deranged running coach. Between the three of them, every character on the screen pops to life, almost erasing the gulf of time between the film’s setting and the present day.

The primary content concern for parents will be the frequent drinking and smoking, although those behaviors are historically accurate. Fortunately, this story doesn’t just see Abrahams and Liddell as athletes, but as men with complex challenges that go beyond the track. This is one of those rare movies that celebrates moral courage - having the courage to live with integrity, whatever the cost. With lessons like that, you’d be hard pressed to find a better family film. Especially not one with such powerful characters and such an unforgettable soundtrack.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.