Ash has seen this movie.
In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest.
| Harold Abrahams | Ben Cross |
| Eric Liddell | Ian Charleson |
| Jennie Liddell | Cheryl Campbell |
| Sybil Gordon | Alice Krige |
| Lord Andrew Lindsay | Nigel Havers |
| Sam Mussabini | Ian Holm |
| Aubrey Montague | Nicholas Farrell |
| Henry Stallard | Daniel Gerroll |
| Master of Trinity | John Gielgud |
| Master of Caius | Lindsay Anderson |
| Lord Birkenhead | Nigel Davenport |
| Charles Paddock | Dennis Christopher |
| Jackson Scholz | Brad Davis |
| Lord Cadogan | Patrick Magee |
| Duke of Sutherland | Peter Egan |
| Sandy McGrath | Struan Rodger |
| Prince of Wales | David Yelland |
| Head Porter - Caius College | Richard Griffiths |
| Jimmie | Patrick Doyle |
| Rev. J.D. Liddell | John Young |
| Mrs Liddell | Yvonne Gilan |
| Ernest Liddell | David John |
| Rob Liddell | Benny Young |
| George Andre | Yves Beneyton |
| Watson | Stephen Mallatratt |
| Colonel John Keddie | Gerry Slevin |
| Taylor | Colin Bruce |
| Paxton | Alan Polonsky |
| Fitch | Edward Wiley |
| President - Gilbert and Sullivan Society | Jeremy Sinden |
| Secretary - Gilbert and Sullivan Society | Andrew Hawkins |
| Sleeping Car Attendant | Jack Smethurst |
| Head Waiter - The Savoy | Peter Cellier |
| US Coach | Philip O'Brien |
| Bunty | Ruby Wax |
| Harbour Master | Ralph Lawton |
| Sybil's Maid | Kim Clifford |
| Caius Porter | John Rutland |
| Peter Jones | |
| Reporter | Tommy Boyle |
| Highland Provost | Wallace Campbell |
| President - Cambridge Athletic Club | Gordon Hammersley |
| Caius Manservant | Alan Dudley |
| Schoolgirl | Tess Dignan |
| Footman | Michael Jeyes |
| First Scots Boy | David Kivlin |
| Second Scots Boy | Eddie Hughson |
| Shot Putter (uncredited) | Ted Robbins |
| Cambridge Student at Society Day (uncredited) | Kenneth Branagh |
| Cambridge Student at Society Day (uncredited) | Stephen Fry |
