Great Moments From Cinema - 14

Wind Beneath Their Wings
Movie: Chariots Of Fire (UK; Allied Stars, Enigma Productions, Goldcrest Films & Warner Bros.; 1981)
Director: Hugh Hudson
Screenplay: Colin Welland
Major Cast: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell and Ian Holm

Film Synopsis: A true story of two British athletes, one a Jew and other a Christian missionary, who run in the 1924 Olympics.

My Favorite Moment: ‘Eric Liddell’ running the 400 meters final.

Why I Like It: No soundtrack has become as integral a part of the movie as the one Vangelis composed for this film. The music contributes to the success of the movie and is one of the main reasons why the viewer has a feeling of bliss after watching the film. But that would be taking away from the magnificent performances by lesser known actors and a great script. It is a movie for the ages and one which won 4 Academy awards in 1981 including ‘Best Picture’, ‘Screenplay’ and of course one for Vangelis.

Cross plays ‘Harold Abrahams’, who is a Jew studying law at Cambridge and has faced subtle prejudice all his life. He runs with a purpose because he wants to be the fastest sprinter in the world so as to prove himself worthy of his place in the society. ‘Liddell’ (Charleson) is a Scottish missionary who believes that God made him fast for a reason and he runs with a lot of joy and with his heart. When Charleson beats Cross at a race, Cross hires Holm as a trainer and prepares for the Olympics with maniacal zeal. Charleson’s family wants him to go to China as a missionary but he wants to run one time in the Olympics before carrying out his chosen duty. Both arrive in Paris as a part of British team but Charleson learns that the 100 meters preliminaries are on Sunday which is Sabbath for a devout Christian. Against tremendous pressure from the British Olympic committee as well as Prince of Wales, he takes his stand, withdraws from the race and only a teammate giving up his spot in 400 meters allows ‘Liddell’ to compete in an event. Cross goes on to win the 100 meters and in a virtuoso scene Holm, who is too nervous to watch the race, learns of this by watching the British flag being raised from his hotel room. His emotional celebration following this is what makes him a great actor.

As ‘Liddell’ lines up for the 400 meters. race, everyone including his family, teammates and the Prince come to cheer. Even an American competitor wishes him luck as he appreciates ‘Liddell’s’ sacrifice due to his faith. During the race, the camera focuses more on the crowd than on the action. The look of pride on his sister and friends face says that for them, the result was never in doubt. In their mind, by sticking to his beliefs, he is already a champion. Cross watches ‘Liddell’ sprint with an awe which betrays his knowledge, that he wouldn’t have been good enough to beat ‘Liddell’ had he competed in the 100 meters. ‘Liddell’ himself, has a joyous look on his face as he wins, not because of the gold medal, but because he runs for his God. It is one of the best sports scenes in movies and certainly the most human one. A terrific film to watch when your spirit needs a lift, I can never get over the surreal feeling which comes over me when I watch these athletes in training, as they run on a beach against a backdrop of the great Vangelis. Yes, there was a time when these young men had fire under their wheels.