True story of the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddell disqualified himself from the 100 meters because he wouldn't run on the sabbath. A teammate gave up his spot in the 400 meters so that he would have a chance at a medal on another day.
RIP Harold Abrahams (December 15, 1899 - January 14, 1978), aged 78 RIP Eric Liddell (January 16, 1902 - February 21, 1945), aged 43 RIP Ben Cross (December 16, 1947 - August 18, 2020), aged 72 RIP Ian Charleson (August 11, 1949 - January 6, 1990), aged 40 You will be remembered as legends
It’s such a tragedy that there was not another ten minutes, even in narrative form, which then described Eric Liddell’s missionary work and his internment and death at the hands of the Japanese
Between the two of us, my husband and I saw this film 11 times in the theater within a few weeks of time. He saw it five times and I saw it six times. And just seeing this clip right now takes me back 45 years. It is so moving. It is without a doubt, one of my very favorite films of all time.
"I believe God made for a purpose, He also made me fast and when I run... I feel his pleasure" ...great lines! great movie! unique score! unforgettable classic!
You don't need gimmicks for a superb film and this is one of the best ever I am 72 next and was a lot younger when this first came out it was beautiful then and beautiful now 2024
I'm an athiest and I loveeee this movie. That speech at the end while he's running is so good. I BELIEVE THAT GOD MADE ME FOR A PURPOSE, BUT HE ALSO MADE ME FAST, AND WHEN I RUN, I FEEL HIS PLEASURE
This is one of two films (the other one being "Amadeus") that turned me into a movie addict. The naturalistic camera work is one of the finest I have ever seen, and the unorthodox screenplay is a masterclass. The unorthodoxy can be seen in this clip, which is some sort of anti-climactic really. Where we all expect a stiff fight as the movie's final showdown, the exact opposite happens and Eric Liddell flys to glory on the wings of Eagles, with nobody else even close. Absolutely stunning.
I cried after Liddell won this race even though he beat the American. As anyone who's ever competed like me, the effort put forth is always the victory in the heart of the competitor. The music goes so beautifully with this scene.
Funny you should say that. Cos this sequence , from when he gets the letter from Schulz through Eric's theme, Jerusalem and the main theme, are the most unfailably moving for me in any film, ever, but it still always pulls me out of the moment seeing them reuse the same bloody shot from when he's watching Eric run in Scotland at the beginning.
Actually that look on Harold’s face was taken from the scene after he lost to Liddell earlier in the movie. Take a close look at the jacket, it isn’t the same of the British Olympic team jacket.
Eric Liddell gave up his life to others. "Man is he who forgets his own interests for the sake of others.His own comfort he forfeits for the well-being of all. Nay rather his own life must he be willing to forfeit for the life of mankind." -‘Abdu’l-Bahá
"I believe God made me for a purpose and He made me fast!" This passage is so moving, especially the last part when he puts his head back (2.37) and runs as the real Eric Liddell ran. I think Ian Charleson did a great job there. But I don't think he portrayed the real Liddell's warmth and humanity, as attested in his biography, in everyday life. Thanks for posting!
I always loved this movie, earlier in the movie when he falls down and gets up and wins..just awesome. When I realized that I was excellent long distance runner..it was great moment for me to win races with the fast time for a mile. I know he was a sprinter and I am a distance runner..still it was awesome.
Un film d'une profondeur rare sur ce que le sport nous enseigne des valeurs humaines universelles, notamment l'humilité et le respect; l'humilité face à la puissance divine : "quand je cours, je ressens Son plaisir"; le respect vis à vis des autres : "j'honore ceux qui m'honorent et ceux qui me méprisent sont déconsidérés" Samuel (1, 2;30)
Well, the letter/paper he's supposed to be holding in his right hand was nowhere in sight all the way until it suddenly appeared before he cross the finish line 😂
And he also had time to practise for the 400m race. The character who gave up his place in that was a composite.. And his sister wasn't there. In spite ofthis it's one of my top ten favorite movies ever. Liddell did give up his life for others, he did love to run, and that's all good.
Plus the story of both Abrahams and Liddell after Paris 1924 was also a compelling story. Abrahams was reporting for the bbc from Berlin 1936, two rows away from Hitler and Liddell's time in China was pretty eventful to say the least.
this isnt an insult , just to say a team-mate did not give up a spot on the team (this is fiction) and the run around the Trinity college was not done by Abrahams
In real life the nite came from the coach not Jackson Schulz. Colin Welland, the writer, flew to the US to ask Jackson's permission to make the changes.
I have a book my father in law gave me on the Paris Olympiad of 1924 and there are the pictures of these very same people staring out from time to me. Scholz, Liddle, Abrahams and others all in black and white in their prime with the odd looking outfits of the era.
TRIVIA: That chant of USA... USA... USA... was NEVER said before until 1979...and made popular during the 1980 Miricle on Ice Hockey Team. And when did this film come out? 1981. So you know what event inspired the producers to put that chant in the movie. Its historically inaccurate to hear that chant in 1924
i believe he had 6 months, and he was a 400m runner mainly who had only recently excelled in the 100m, the story of him falling over in a 400m race and still winning is true
He didn't throw the paper away. He held it in his right hand.. but you're right, it doesn't show the paper in the middle of the race.. then it reappears at the end xD
The word is Final and not finale, finale is used in the arts, e,g, the last sceen of an opera. Final is used exclusively in sport to nominate the last competition
You can be a God-Bless-America Yank (I am), yet during this film you were still pulling for the Brits. Hello, my friends on the other side of the pond.
I can't believe this movie was done over 30 years ago. I saw it the first day it was out because I love British movies. Dodi Al fayed put up the money for this movie and won an Oscar. Ian Charleston and Brad Davis died from Aids not long after this film was realeased. I dont know where Ben Cross is
I believe that Ian Charleson was the first British actor to insist that the cause of his death being AIDS should be publicised. Deeply respected by his fellow actors and the public.
Great Britain has a population of 62,300,000 people. In the London Olympics they won 65 medals. China has a population of 1,344,000,000. They won 88 medals. The United States has a population of about 312,000,000 and won 104 medals. Numbers don't lie. Great Britain bloody well kicked it big time. Guess this is the "good old days"!
Just so you know, in the video's info it says Liddell would not run on the Sabbath, but that is incorrect. He would not run on Sunday because he was a Christian; the Sabbath is Saturday, and is observed by Jews not Christians.
I don't mean to be disrespectful, but many Scots call Sunday the Sabbath day, as indeed does many an old rhyme. Jewish people refer to Friday as their Sabbath, but many Christians refer to Sunday as the Sabbath day.
I was actually looking for the final scene when the two old men walk out of the church and one says to the other, "We did it. We ran them off their feet." Does he mean we out lived them all?
The phrase was "HE did it" not "WE did it" He was refering to Harold Abrahams, who said, while at college and facing discrimination as a Jew, said he would run them off their feet.
