Director Hugh Hudson&s absorbing drama based on a true story deals with the personal struggles faced by two very different long-distance runners competing for Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) is a devout Christian who sees victory as a testament to the glory of God while the other Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) is a Jewish Cambridge student who sees victory as a challenge to anti-Semitism & his ongoing struggle for acceptance by Britain&s elite Eric a hometown Scottish hero to the people gives rousing sermons after victory & works at a local missionary Harold runs with a zealous commitment upsetting Cambridge&s educational upper crust (played with enjoyable wit & candor by Sir John Gielgud & Lindsay Anderson) while enjoying social life with his university chums & his beautiful showgirl girlfriend (Alice Krige) But when faced with such a competent challenger Harold hires trainer Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm) to further his dreams of winning the gold Ultimately the two runners meet in Paris to run for British victory in a rousing finale Featuring an unforgettable soundtrack by Vangelis this Academy Award-winning film is an inspirational story of athletic excellence & spiritual awakening that captures the zeal of post-WWI Britain & the glory of the Olympics