Thursday Thirteen 142: Olympic Movies

In honor of the XXI Winter Olympics going on right now in Vancouver, here is a short list of movies with Olympic tie-ins. Some I've seen, some I had never heard of; some debuted in movie theaters, some were made for TV. Feel free to give a shout out to your favorite!

Blades of Glory (2007) — I have not seen this one. I have no desire to see this one. I cannot stand Will Ferrell and this type of low-brow “comedy” simply does not appeal.

Munich (2005) — One I have not seen yet, but would like to. The world was watching in 1972 as 11 Israeli athletes were murdered at the Munich Olympics. Based on the true story of the Black September aftermath, this is the story of the five men chosen to eliminate the ones responsible for that fateful day.

Miracle (2004) — The true story of Herb Brooks (Russell), the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad.

Without Limits (1998) — The film follows the life of famous 1970s runner Steve Prefontaine from his youth days in Oregon to the University of Oregon where he worked with the legendary coach Bill Bowerman, later to Olympics in Munich.

Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997) — Recounts the difficulties encountered on his way to becoming one of the world’s top Olympic divers. I cringe just thinking of that year he hit his head on the diving board.

Cool Runnings (1993) — Look Alice — I worked it into TWO blog posts this week! Based on the true story of the First Jamacian bobsled team trying to make it to the winter Olympics.

The Cutting Edge (1992) — Toe pick! A pairs figure skater teams up with a former hockey player to go for gold at the Albertville Olympics.

Nadia (1984) — The story of Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci. Coached by Belya Karolyi, Nadia received 7 perfect 10's in the Montreal Olympics.

Chariots of Fire (1981) — Two British track athletes, one a determined Jew, and the other a devout Christian who compete in the 1924 Olympics. This is the story of two men who run...not to run...but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals...Except their honor. And who could forget the theme song by Vangelis?

The Jericho Mile (1979) — Rain Murphy is a man sentenced to life in prison, choosing to do his time in near-isolation, and engages in distance running when given the opportunity for free-time. While his form and speed capture the attention of prison officials who believe he could be competitive for the Olympics, Murphy is originally disinterested.

The Games (1970) — Four marathon runners (one from England, one from the U.S., a Czech and an Australian Aborigine) prepare to run in the Olympic games. The film follows each one and shows what their motivations are for running in the games.

Downhill Racer (1969) — David Chappellet (Robert Redford) is a mean-spirited skier, who profits from another skier's injury to gain a spot on the American Olympic team.

Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937) — I couldn't help throwing this one in when I stumbled upon it! When a strategically important new aerial guidance system is stolen, Charlie traces it to the Berlin Olympics, where he has to battle spies and enemy agents to retrieve it.


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