‘Chariots of Fire’ and the cricketing connection

‘Chariots of Fire’ and the cricketing connection

‘Chariots of Fire’ is a 1981 film based on a true story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.

The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including the Best Picture and Best Screenplay.

Ben Cross, who played Harold Abrahams in the film, had earlier acted in ‘A Bridge Too Far’,  and later in films like ‘The Far Pavilions’, ’20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ and ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’. Ian Charleson, who plays the role of Eric Liddlell, has played leads in ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, ‘Fool for Love’, and ‘Hamlet’, among many others.

But what is not so well known is that there is a cricket connection to ‘Chariots of Fire.’ Derek Pringle, the former England all-rounder and now a distinguished cricket journalist acted as an extra in this epic film.