History Film / ChariotsofFire

* CreativeClosingCredits: The major players who were in the opening/closing running-on-the-beach sequence are credited on-screen during the closing version.

* SpinningPaper: Surely one of the last films to play this trope dead straight.

* AvoidTheDreadedGRating: A cricket match at the beginning was changed in the US release to a scene where Harold and Aubrey see some disfigured UsefulNotes/WorldWarI veterans at a train station, with an utterence of the word "Shit" .

* PatrioticFervor: A notably amiable form in which everyone was greeting each other's flags, etc. and assuming themselves and everyone else was part of a {{True Companions}}hip of nations. Mostly TruthInTelevision since this was soon after WorldWarOne and more vitriolic forms of patriotic fervor were frowned upon.

* BeamMeUpScotty: The title score was never played at the triumphant scenes, despite what parodies do.

** Sybil was never the lead singer for an opera company.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Stephen Fry was attending Cambridge during filming and appears as an extra; he goes into detail about it in '''The Fry Chronicles.'''

* {{Irony}}: The Prince who urged Eric to put country before God was Edward VIII who later flirted with fascism, and also disdained his royal duties at a time when British PatrioticFervor was really needed to fight NaziGermany.

* AvoidTheDreadedGRating: A cricket match at the beginning was changed in the US release to a scene where Harold and Aubrey see some disfigured WorldWarI veterans at a train station, with an utterence of the word "Shit" .

* LiteraryAllusionTitle: Cribbed from [[Creator/WilliamBlake William Blake]], who in turn cribbed it from [[Literature/TheBible 2 Kings]].

* TheOner: When they first arrive at Cambridge, the Freshmen go to an event where societies have tables set up and solicit for new members. The camera cruises through and around a throng of students [[GilbertAndSullivan singing]] and chatting for well over a minute.

* TrainingMontage: Showing both Abrahams and Liddel. Harold trains on the track in Cambridge and Eric runs in the highlands of Scotland.

* AvoidTheDreadedGRating: A cricket match at the beginning was changed in the US release to a scene where Harold and Aubrey see some disfigured WorldWarI veterans at a train stations, and an utterence of the word "Shit" .

* PatrioticFervor: A notably amiable form in which everyone was greeting each other's flags, etc and assuming themselves and everyone else was part of a {{True Companions}}hip of nations. Mostly TruthInTelevision since this soon after WorldWarTwo, more vitriolic forms of patriotic fervor were frowned upon.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech : Harold gives this to the Cambridge Masters.
* RedOniBlueOni : Eric is red, Harold blue.

* LiteraryAllusionTitle: Cribbed from [[Creator/WilliamBlake William Blake]], who in turn cribbed it from [[TheBible 2 Kings]].

* PatrioticFervor: a notably amiable form in which everyone was greeting each other's flags, etc and assuming themselves and everyone else was part of a {{True Companions}}hip of nations.

* IdiotBall: Eric. Running on Sunday goes against your religious convictions? So don't run on Sunday, but don't whine about it. In real life, of course, he didn't, preferring to TakeAThirdOption.

* LiteraryAllusionTitle: Cribbed from WilliamBlake, who in turn cribbed it from [[TheBible 2 Kings]].

->''"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."''

''ChariotsOfFire'' is based on the two RealLife athletes Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, who competed for Britain in the 1924 olympics. The film does have a large dash of HollywoodHistory, but was still impressive enough to win the [[AcademyAward best picture Oscar]].

The film is largely notable today for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYJzcUvS_NU its score]], by Vangelis, who was famous for making incredible music with synthesizers, despite the hatred in the music industry for those devices.

* AssumedWin: Eric was used to always placing first in races. In one race, he started is victory pose, only to discover the other racer got first place instead.

* {{Determinator}}: Harold Abrahams - "I'll take them all on. One by one. And run them off their feet."
** So is Eric: "Don't you believe it--his head's not back yet."

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Eric. In his case it is better handled then many for he is also nice, friendly, and makes you think that GoodFeelsGood.

* The Oner: When they first arrive at Cambridge, the Freshmen go to an event where societies have tables set up and solicit for new members. The camera cruises through and around a throng of students singing and chatting for well over a minute.

* RuleofCool: Why is Lindsay training on hurdles with glasses brimming with ''champagne'' sitting atop each one?

* UnfortunateImplications: Subverted InUniverse twice. Aubry and Sybil each accidentally seem to step on Abraham's toes about him being Jewish, but he laughs both times, knowing they mean no offense.

->"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

* DarkHorseVictory: Won the AcademyAward despite the fierce competition of ''{{Reds}}'' and ''RaidersOfTheLostArk''.

* AvoidTheDreadedGRating: A cricket match at the beginning was changed in the US release to a scene where Harold and Aubrey see some disfigured WorldWarI veterans at a train stations, and someone swore.

* IncorruptiblePurePureness : Eric. In his case it is better handled then many for he is also nice, friendly, and makes you think that GoodFeelsGood.