MovieChat Forums > Chariots of Fire (1982) Discussion > Sam persona non grata at Olympics

Sam persona non grata at Olympics

posted 10 years ago by curlew-2
12 replies | jump to latest

Something I've been wondering about and it involves Ian Holm's character of Sam Mussabini. I can fairly much come to grips with the racing officials at the Scottish meet being uncomfortable with a "professional trainer" showing up at their event (as snotty as I might think their attitude was), but what was the problem with having Sam attending the actual Olympic Games? Would it have violated international treaties or something just to have him sit in the stands? Was the "Sam Mussabini Police" posted at all stadium entrances to keep a watch out for him? Did they think he'd leap onto the playing field and start shouting advice?

"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Those were really interesting scenes where Abrahams is seen to be securing Sam's accommodation near the stadium, where it is inferred he can't attend. I don't know and haven't been able to find out how accurate that depiction was. But the scene where Sam sees the Union Jack flying and hears the national anthem being played letting him know his protégé has won, was very poignant.

What I can tell you is that the film takes artistic licence in suggesting to us that Sam had not previously been involved in the Olympics.

In total, he coached athletes to eleven medals over five Olympic Games going back to the 1908 London Games. However in an era where amateurism was prized, he was not officially recognised because he was a professional coach.

[–] curlew-2 10 years ago

Many thanks for the reply and the information. And, whereas I'm all for achievements made by nonprofessionals, I just feel that there was some overreaction regarding Sam's presence at events. For example: the scene with Harold having a meal with the Masters of Trinity and Caius Colleges. A potentially explosive situation might've been averted had the Masters simply inquired of Harold if, perhaps, Sam would've been willing to host a seminar or two for the benefit of the athletes at the University. Rather like asking a renowned physician to lecture to the medical students. I realize I'm splitting hairs here (whereas we have amateur athletes we don't have amateur doctors), but I was admittedly annoyed by the attitude given by the Masters (and chalking it up to good acting by Gielgud and Anderson).

I very much agree as to the poignancy of the scene where Sam learns that Harold has won. By this time I felt the relationship between Sam and Harold had passed beyond trainer and trainee, and Sam felt towards Harold as if he were his own son. Easily one of Ian Holm's finest roles.

"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

A potentially explosive situation might've been averted had the Masters simply inquired of Harold if, perhaps, Sam would've been willing to host a seminar or two for the benefit of the athletes at the University. Rather like asking a renowned physician to lecture to the medical students.

I don't think the film is being inaccurate here, though others may wish to comment. The 2 masters characters may have been fictionalized, but I know that back then , the demarcation lines between amateurism and professionalism in sport was extremely pronounced and not just in Britain. (The Jim Thorpe story centres on this sort of stuff). I couldn't see Sam being welcomed on to campus, especially when we consider his ethnic background.

[–] curlew-2 10 years ago

I completely forgot about the Jim Thorpe situation. Thanks for reminding me of it.

"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 10 years ago

The movie plays with the Cambridge timeline in that Harold actually graduated in 1923, and so the whole thing with Sam was after graduation and didn't matter, as far as I recall. Abrahams did however experience anti-Semitism at Repton and to a degree at Cambridge.

Anyway, there is a wonderful biography of Abrahams called Running with Fire, which I highly recommend.
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[–] curlew-2 10 years ago

Thanks for the heads-up on the biography (as well as the comment). I'll be looking for it.

"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"

[–] angelofvic 10 years ago

Welcome. The book does go into detail about Harold's activities vis-a-vis Sam the day of that Olympic race, which substantially match the film.

It's an interesting and well-researched book. It's available on Kindle and in paperback, in both the UK and the U.S. Fairly recent book, I think first published in 2010(?) and then republished for the 2012 Olympics. Harold was indeed quite a character, although not always in the same ways or for the same reasons the film depicts.
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[–] Mighty_Jack 9 years ago

There do exist amateur doctors - they're called homeopaths.

[–] blaircam 10 years ago

The American coaches certainly didn't seem to have any problems.

"They who... give up... liberty to obtain... safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[–] curlew-2 10 years ago

Well I was thinking the American coaches probably didn't know Sam from sliced bread. Sam seemed to be mostly a thorn in the sides of UK coaches.

"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"

[–] Virginiana 9 years ago

The rules separating professional from amateur athletes used to be astonishingly strict. I've read a lot about the history of figure skating, and the demarcation line was quite rigid. Obviously athletes could and did employ professional coaches, but they weren't allowed to accept any money for performing or endorsements or appearances.

Dick Button (Olympic champion in 1948 and 1952, world champion 1948-52) mentioned in his autobiography that, after he'd "turned pro", he was backstage at an event and was nearly photographed candidly with one of the competitive skaters. He realized that the lens was pointed in their direction and leaped out of the frame at the last second. Apparently simply being photographed with a professional could potentially compromise an amateur's standing.