Chariots of Fire

"You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe your dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."

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

"[to a competitor] Good luck. Don't suppose I'll see you 'til after the race..."

"I am a Cambridge man, first and last. I am an Englishman, first and last. What I have achieved – what I intend to achieve – is for my family, my university, and my country."

"You, Aubrey are my most complete man. You're brave, compassionate, kind: a content man. That is your secret, contentment; I am 24 and I've never known it. I'm forever in pursuit and I don't even know what I am chasing."

"And now in one hour's time, I will be out there again. I will raise my eyes and look down that corridor; 4 feet wide, with 10 lonely seconds to justify my existence. But will I?"

"That was the miscalculation of my life."

"He is a strong man but is unsure about his religion."

"Aubrey, I've known the fear of losing but now I am almost too frightened to win."

"[about the Prince of Wales] Protocol, Monty, protocol. He is here to show us what may be done, and, more essentially, what may not be."

"This is the story of two men who run... not to run... but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals... Except their honour."

"Two men chasing dreams of glory!"

"With Wings on their Heels and Hope in their Hearts."

"Ben Cross - Harold Abrahams"

"Ian Charleson - Eric Liddell"

"Nicholas Farrell - Aubrey Montague"

"Nigel Havers - Lord Andrew Lindsay"

"Ian Holm - Sam Mussabini"

"John Gielgud - Master of Trinity College at Cambridge University"

"Lindsay Anderson - Master of Caius College at Cambridge University"

"Cheryl Campbell - Jennie Liddell"

"Alice Krige - Sybil Gordon"

"Struan Rodger - Sandy McGrath"

"Nigel Davenport - Lord Birkenhead, member of the British Olympic Committee"

"Patrick Magee - Lord Cadogan, chairman of the British Olympics Committee"

"David Yelland - the Prince of Wales"

"Peter Egan - the Duke of Sutherland, president of the British Olympic Committee"

"Daniel Gerroll - Henry Stallard"

"Dennis Christopher - Charley Paddock"

"Brad Davis - Jackson Scholz"

"Richard Griffiths - the Head Porter at Caius College"