*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE USA 'BOOK PACK' BLU RAY
REISSUE ***
Little will prepare fans of "Chariots Of Fire" for
this BLU RAY reissue - the picture quality is SENSATIONAL - and for a British
film made on a budget in 1981 - that says a lot.
Also - re-watching it in 2012
(the year of the 30th Olympiad in England) - it's nice to find that this homage
to Sporting achievement and human spirit hasn't lost any of its capacity to
stir the soul and bring a tear to the eye. It was rightly nominated for 7
Oscars at the time and won 4 - including Best Picture.
PACKAGING/CONTENT/PICTURE QUALITY:
The first thing to note is that even though the print
quality and abundant extras are the same for the UK and US versions - they
differ greatly in their 'packaging'. Also the UK issue comes in two versions -
a simple uninspiring plastic clip-case with just 1 disc (type in barcode:
5039036052344 into Amazon) and a second issue with the music CD as well (type
in barcode: 5039036051163).
This US Warner Brothers version that I'm reviewing however
comes in a beautifully presented 36-page embossed hardback 'Book Pack' (or
Digibook as its sometimes called) with an outer page attached to the rear (type
in barcode: 883929093946). Regardless of which issue you buy - ALL are 'REGION
FREE' issues so will play on every machine.
The booklet for the US variant is beautiful - featuring
articles and pictures on Producer David Puttnam, Director Hugh Hudson and
Writer Colin Welland. There's also text and photos on the principal cast
members as well as notable supporting roles by John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Alice
Krieg and Cheryl Campbell. There's also a page on the huge contribution made by
Greek keyboardist VANGELIS - whose musical score has been both revered and
parodied in equal measure ever since (most notably in the opening ceremony for
the 2012 London Olympics just a few days ago).
This US issue and the UK double also house a 4-track music
CD by VANGELIS (13:47 minutes) that features 2006 remasters of "Titles" (A Number
1 US hit in February 1982), "Abraham's Theme", "Eric's
Theme" and "Jerusalem" (Vangelis with The Ambrosian Singers).
But the big news is the print - which has been FULLY
RESTORED and defaulted to 1.85:1 aspect ratio - thereby filling your entire
screen. Even in the notoriously difficult-to-light indoor sequences there is
only slight blocking and grain - but on all outdoor scenes (of which there are
many) - the clarity is exemplary. The DTS-HD Master Audio is English 5.1 Dolby
Digital and Subtitles are English for Hard-Of-Hearing and French. Extras are
discussed below...
THE FILM:
Taking its name from William Blake's preface to the epic
"Milton: A Poem" - it focuses on the team who secured 4 medals for
Britain in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris - in particular the two Gold winners
- Eric Liddell for the Men's 400 metres and Harold Abrahams for the Men's 100
meters. Nicholas Farrell (as Aubrey Montague), Nigel Havers (as Lord Andrew
Lindsay) and Daniel Gerroll (as Henry Stallard) make up the other runners.
Blink and you'll miss them cameos are - two sightings of American Comedienne
Ruby Wax as a lady spectator in the Olympic crowds towards the end of the movie
and an uncredited Stephen Fry in the "HMS Pinafore" chorus line-up.
Born in China but raised in Edinburgh - Eric Liddell
(nick-named "The Flying Scotsman" after the famous steam train) was
the son of a devout Missionary - and like his father before him cherished and
practiced his religious convictions. Played to perfection by Scotsman Ian
Charleson - Liddell often said that he was 'running for God' or 'felt His
pleasure' as he speeded around track after track leaving all in his wake. Both
King and Country would sorely test these implacable beliefs in Paris when they
asked him to run on the Sabbath - and he refused. A little jiggering of racing
dates saved face and the day...but it was the measure of the man that he
withstood all that pressure and still won...
His principal rival was Harold Abrahams (played with huge
gusto by Ben Cross) - a Jewish Cambridge University intellectual determined to
deal with society's bigotry towards his kind by crushing all detractors in his
path - including Liddell - whom he both feared and admired. But when he finally
faces Liddell in a run and looses by a ticker-tape inch - the outsider is
crushed. But help is at hand in the shape of an unorthodox Jewish coach called
Sam Mussabini (a fabulous turn by veteran actor Ian Holm) who promises to make
Harold faster and better (and does).
These indomitable boors inhabit a world of privileged chums
wearing boater hats and striped blazers - men who sing Gilbert & Sullivan's
"HMS Pinafore" songs with alarming relish. This is Britain after the
senseless generation-depleting butchery of World War I - but still with that
inbred sense of Empire coursing through their veins. You'd be right in thinking
that all this snobbish elitism could become quickly tedious (and it threatens
to do so for the first half hour), but the script rightly concentrates on
something all the more compelling - their dedication, self-sacrifice and guts.
Genuinely inspiring a hurting-country hungry for something noble to celebrate -
you could even say they joined Christianity and Judaism on the Sports field for
the National good. And on it goes to the 8th Olympics Games in 1924 and a
funeral in London in 1978 (making it contemporary).
The wad of extras are superb - modern day interviews with
all the protagonists - Ben Cross and Nigel Havers particularly animated and
witty and pouring praise on Ian Charleson who sadly passed away in 1990. And
again when they use the old stock footage of the film - you see just how
glorious the full restoration truly is.
Like "The King's Speech" in so many ways -
"Chariots Of Fire" is filled with British pride - but in a good way.
This is a story about people worth remembering - their struggles - their
heartbreaks and triumphs - their journey. Having not seen it in probably 30
years - I found it moving, inspirational and not in the least bit dated. And
now it has the transfer and format it deserves. I know the US version may cost
twice as much as the UK issue - but if you can go the few quid - then do so.
When Screenplay Writer Colin Welland accepted his Oscar - he
famously announced "The British Are Coming!" Well, they're
back...because this really is a fantastic reissue of a great movie.
I'm off now to run in slow motion by the sea and surf with
that synth riff pounding through my very tight Speedos...nice!
