Chiswick Book Festival to Host Screening of Chariots of Fire
Olympics commentator Jonathan Legard will join Q&A afterwards
Left: Poster for Chariots of Fire. Right: Jonathan Legard
July 28, 2024
The ActOne Cinema & Cafe and the Chiswick Book Festival are to host a special screening of Chariots of Fire on Thursday 15 August.
The event, which comes just four days after the end of the 2024 games, will show the Oscar-winning film set at the 1924 Paris Olympics. It will be followed by an exclusive Q&A session with the sports broadcaster (and local resident) Jonathan Legard, who’ll be commentating in Paris and also chairing two sports sessions at the Chiswick Book Festival in September.
Jonathan Legard will discuss Chariots of Fire with Festival director Torin Douglas - as well as reflecting on this year’s games. The 1981 movie tells the true story of two British athletes - Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams who competed in 1924. Liddell was a devout Christian and Abrahams was Jewish. The two men are rivals on the track and each must overcome obstacles to their individual success - Abrahams the rampant antisemitism of the establishment, whilst Liddell finds his strict religious principles threaten his path to greatness.
The film was directed by Hugh Hudson and produced by David Puttnam. Its iconic score by Vangelis is one of the most recognisable in all cinema. The cast includes Ben Cross as Abrahams, Ian Charleson as Liddell, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Nigel Havers, Ian Holm, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson and many other well-known faces.
The evening will launch this year’s Book Festival programme to Acton residents. Other highlights include a session with former Rolling Stones bass guitarist Bill Wyman in conversation with the award-winning film director (and friend of ActOne) Tony Palmer.
At the Chiswick Book Festival, Jonathan Legard is chairing two sports book sessions on Sunday 15 September in The Chiswick Cinema. The Lion Who Never Roared by Matt Tiller is the story of Jack Leslie, the first black footballer selected for England, dropped because of his skin colour. Bazball: Cricket’s Villain or Saviour? by Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult was shortlisted as Best Sport Book of the Year.
Torin Douglas said, “Our ActOne events have become highlights of the Chiswick Book Festival. Two years ago we celebrated the work of Michael Flanders with his daughters Stephanie and Laura, when Ealing Civic Society unveiled a plaque on his Chiswick home. Last year, we remembered another Chiswick writer, Harold Pinter, with a screening of The Go-Between, introduced by his biographer Michael Billington.
“This year, as well as previewing the Book Festival, we’re reflecting on two Paris Olympics, a century apart, with another Oscar-winning film and a Q&A with the distinguished sports broadcaster and local resident Jonathan Legard.”
Amanda Mason and Nick Jones, directors of the ActOneCinema added, “We are delighted to be working again with the Chiswick Book Festival to show Chariots of Fire - another wonderful British movie, which has a particular resonance this month. Jonathan and Torin will discuss the film and its legacy in what promises to be a fascinating conversation!”
The 16th Chiswick Book Festival will take place from 11- 18 September. For tickets, programme details and updates, visit the festival’s web site.
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