Four-letter word boosts ‘Chariots’

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 14

Four-letter word boosts ‘Chariots’

NZPA-Reuter London A four-letter word inserted in the British film, “Chariots of Fire,” which returns for a second season at the Savoy tomorrow, . is supposed to have helped it gain seven American Academy Award nominations. . ' The picture tells the story of two British athletes fighting prejudices in training for the 1924 Olympic Games. Before it opened in the United States, the distributors were worried that it would receive a “G” rating, the London “Sun” reported. This would mean children could go and see it unescorted, which would put adults off. So they had a four-letter

word inserted in the mouth of the actor, lan Holm, playing the coach of one of the athletes. Because of this, the American censors rated the film “For Parental Guidance,” meaning that children could only see it accompanied by an adult. As a result, trendy cinemagoers went to see the film, word spread around and it became the most popular foreign production in America for 10 years, with seven Oscar nominations. A spokesman for the company which jointly distributed the picture in the United States had no comment in London on the “Sun” report.