CHARIOTS OF FIRE STARRING PADDINGTON BEAR (Chariots Of Fire (DVD))

Member Name: Ann J Sec

Product:	Chariots Of Fire (DVD)
Date:	28/04/01 (197 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced. Historically accurate. Great attention to detail

Disadvantages: I'm in it.

Watching Chariots of Fire on the television for the umpteenth time a day or so ago, I suddenly realised here was a film on which I could write an opinion. Not only that, but I can add some little trivia details which might, or might not, be of interest to one or two of you. I am able to do this because guess what.........I was in it! !

I can now imagine a few of you gasping and wondering was I the sumptious opera singer who falls in love with Harold Abrahams....eh no. Was I the stunning long haired blonde sister of Eric Liddell then.......nope. The truth is if you blink during the scene where the olympic hopes are setting off by ship to france - quite honestly you'll miss me. I'm the Paddington Bear lookalike standing next to Jeremy Sinden at the supposed quayside. Well enough about my starring role for a while and on to the film.

Chariots of Fire is of course the film that brought Britain back to the forefront as a major concern in the film industry. Produced by David Putman and directed by Hugh Hudson, did you also know that Dodi Fayed (he of Princess Di fame) was also the executive producer. I'm not too sure what that means, but presume it means he was the one who put up the cash so he had to have his name on the credits.

The film tells the story of some of the British hopefuls during the Paris games in l924. The two main characters are Harold Abrahams played by Ben Cross and Eric Liddell played by Ian Charleson who unfortunately died of AIDS some years after the film was made. Both men have to overcome religious obstacles to race for their country, Liddell is a strict Scottish Missionary worker whose religion forbids any form of sport on the sabbath whilst Abrahams is Jewish and able to attend Cambridge (at the time generally attended by aristocrats) because of his father's earned wealth, which is looked on with some disdain by the College Heads. Abrahams therefore runs to prove his worth, whilst Liddell i
s running for "God's pleasure".

This is the film that made a star of Nigel Havers who plays another Olympic hopeful as hurdleist Andrew Lindsay. It is he who saves the day by suggesting that he and Liddell swap qualifying heats when Liddell categorically refuses to change his mind over running on a Sunday. Lindsay is the classic aristocrat attending Cambridge who becomes friendly with Abrahams during their college days after a fun run around the university perimeter at the beginning of the film. Trivia note.....Lindsay was also my brother in the film, or rather I was supposed to be his sister waving him off to Paris. Can you believe I actually had the cheek to ask him who he was when he asked my name during filming!!!

Abrahams, Lindsay and Monty Aubrey (Abrahams best friend) are all keen opera fans and members of the Gilbert & Sullivan society at Cambridge. Crossroads fans will remember the President of the Gilbert & Sullivan, Jeremy Sinden, being in that soap many years ago. Indeed when the film was made he was more well known in England that Nigel Havers as was John Egan who played the Duke of Sutherland. Jeremy was the son of the famous actor Donald Sinden and unfortunately he died a few years ago. At an opera night out Abrahams falls in love with the star of the opera Sybil and is introduced to her by Lindsay who is a friend of hers. The love interest in the film is however very much played down with emphasis being on the two main Olympic hopes.

Abrahams breaks an unwritten code of practice at Cambridge by asking Sam Musabini to coach him. This is very much frowned upon by the principles of the school but Abrahams carries on training regardless, determined to be the winner. The outcome of the film and the races is well known, but I wont spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet by giving an account of what happens.

Other famous actors in this film are Sir John Gielgood, who plays the Cambridge prin
cipal and Nigel Davenport who plays Lord Birkenhead, a friend of the Prince of Wales at that time. It is ironic that there is a Lord Birkenhead because the filming of the supposed quayside of Dover was done at Woodside Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside. This was because it resembled Dover during the l920s. Sadly Woodside Ferry has now changed out of all recognition, but if you look closely you will see what a remarkable building it was at the time. ....another trivia note.....if you look closely as Lord Birkenhead is walking down the gangway you will see the tip of my Paddington Bear hat..if I'd been more daring I would have been in full view of the camera, but I hid at the time. That very short scene took a whole day to complete, but I had no idea at the time that the film was to be a major Oscar winner.......I thought it was just a small play being made.

Filming of the actual Paris olympics took place at The Oval, Bebington, again because it so resembled the Paris stadium in the 20s. Many local people were extras and it is remarkable to note the precision put into making even the most mundane extra look authentic. All of the men involved had to have a very close, short haircut (long hair was fashionable in the early 80s so this made them look rather strange at the time). All make up, nail varnish and jewellery had to be removed and the clothing used in the film was housed in a huge aircraft hanger. There were racks upon racks of l920s clothes to be selected for each extra, all arranged in sizes. I was initially given the most beautiful pale beige silk outfit to wear with a wonderful hat, but Milena Canenero the costume designer changed this, much to my disgust, for my Paddington bear suit.....a long green raincoat with matching hat and a pair of spats which I managed to put on the wrong feet in my nervousness. Milena was a glorious creature and I admired her immensely. She was extremely beautiful and made all the women extras feel plain and dowd
y. Her care in selection of the outfits however earned her an Oscar for the film.Trivia note......look out for the military band at the Olympics.....some of the men are actually women with false moustaches!!

I feel I have to point out here the rivallry that occurred on the set with some of the extras which was really funny to see. There were two women in particular (rather grand and glamourous creatures) who were greatly affronted when I was pulled to the front to have a more leading (if you can call it that) role. They kept declaring that they had been in films before and were really uptight about it. On watching the film recently, there they were ....right in the front on the line of spectators at the Olympics....but much good it did them as I don't think their film careers took off either.

In real life, although not depicted in the film, Abrahams goes home to Sybil and they marry. Liddell becomes a missionary and moves to China where he eventually dies.

With cut glass accents and funny long running shorts and costumes, the film is extraordinarily British. Backed with the marvellous music of Gilbert & Sullivan and Van - Gellis in the final scene when the races are replayed in slow motion, Chariots of Fire was a huge success.

Final note. I first went to see the film in the local cinema and my friend and I sat there with bated breath awaiting my big scene only to find that most of the bits I was in had been cut out as I had been unable unfortunately to return for filming on a second unplanned day. I was initially rather disappointed with the film and found it a little boring, but over the years I've taken more and more interest in the story and although I wouldn't say it is my favourite film, it certainly is commendable in many ways.

Sadly and unsurprisingly, my film career never took off and I had to return to my secretarial duties once more, but I can at least boast to others that I had a part in
an Oscar winning film. Chariots of Fire won 4 Oscars and 3 Baftas and the premiere in London was attended by Princcess Diana and Dodi Fayed, although obviously they were not involved with each other at that time.

The film is one and a half hours long, but fast paced and never tedious. It was made on a tight budget, but put British film-makers firmly in the front once more and encouraged more financial backing for other British films which have followed since.......think of me if you ever get the chance to watch it!!

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