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DramaWar

Escape to Victory

- Now is the time for heroes.

A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.

Release Date : 1981-06-17

Language :EnglishFrenchGerman

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount PicturesLorimar Productions

Production Country : ItalyUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : Victory

Cast

Sylvester Stallone

Character Name : Captain Robert Hatch

Original Name : Sylvester Stallone

Gender : Male

Michael Caine

Character Name : Captain John Colby

Original Name : Michael Caine

Gender : Male

Max von Sydow

Character Name : Major Karl von Steiner

Original Name : Max von Sydow

Gender : Male

Pelé

Character Name : Cpl. Luis Fernandez, Brazil

Original Name : Pelé

Gender : Male

Carole Laure

Character Name : Renée

Original Name : Carole Laure

Gender : Female

Bobby Moore

Character Name : Terry Brady, England

Original Name : Bobby Moore

Gender : Male

Osvaldo Ardiles

Character Name : Carlos Rey, Argentina

Original Name : Osvaldo Ardiles

Gender : Male

Paul Van Himst

Character Name : Michel Fileu, Belgium

Original Name : Paul Van Himst

Gender : Male

Kazimierz Deyna

Character Name : Paul Wolchek, Poland

Original Name : Kazimierz Deyna

Gender : Male

Mike Summerbee

Character Name : Sid Harmor, England

Original Name : Mike Summerbee

Gender : Male

Co Prins

Character Name : Pieter Van Beck, Holland

Original Name : Co Prins

Gender : Male

Russell Osman

Character Name : Doug Clure, England

Original Name : Russell Osman

Gender : Male

John Wark

Character Name : Arthur Hayes, Scotland

Original Name : John Wark

Gender : Male

Søren Lindsted

Character Name : Erik Ball, Denmark

Original Name : Søren Lindsted

Gender : Male

Kevin O'Callaghan

Character Name : Tony Lewis, Ireland

Original Name : Kevin O'Callaghan

Gender : Male

Gary Waldhorn

Character Name : Mueller, german coach

Original Name : Gary Waldhorn

Gender : Male

George Mikell

Character Name : Kommandant

Original Name : George Mikell

Gender : Male

Laurie Sivell

Character Name : Schmidt, german goalie

Original Name : Laurie Sivell

Gender : Female

Arthur Brauss

Character Name : Lutz

Original Name : Arthur Brauss

Gender : Male

Robin Turner

Character Name : a german player

Original Name : Robin Turner

Gender : Male

Michael Wolf

Character Name : Lang

Original Name : Michael Wolf

Gender : Male

Jürgen Andersen

Character Name : a propaganda civilian

Original Name : Jürgen Andersen

Gender : Male

David Shawyer

Character Name : Strauss

Original Name : David Shawyer

Gender : Male

Werner Roth

Character Name : Baumann, german team captain

Original Name : Werner Roth

Gender : Male

Amidou

Character Name : André

Original Name : Amidou

Gender : Male

Benoît Ferreux

Character Name : Jean-Paul

Original Name : Benoît Ferreux

Gender : Male

Jean-François Stévenin

Character Name : Claude

Original Name : Jean-François Stévenin

Gender : Male

Jack Lenoir

Character Name : Georges

Original Name : Jack Lenoir

Gender : Male

Zoltán Gera

Character Name : Viktor

Original Name : Zoltán Gera

Gender : Male

Tim Pigott-Smith

Character Name : Rose

Original Name : Tim Pigott-Smith

Gender : Male

Julian Curry

Character Name : Shurlock

Original Name : Julian Curry

Gender : Male

Clive Merrison

Character Name : The Forger

Original Name : Clive Merrison

Gender : Male

Maurice Roëves

Character Name : Pyrie

Original Name : Maurice Roëves

Gender : Male

Michael Cochrane

Character Name : Farrell

Original Name : Michael Cochrane

Gender : Male

Jack Kendrick

Character Name : Williams

Original Name : Jack Kendrick

Gender : Male

Daniel Massey

Character Name : Colonel Waldron

Original Name : Daniel Massey

Gender : Male

Anton Diffring

Character Name : chief commentator

Original Name : Anton Diffring

Gender : Male

Gunter Wolbert

Character Name : german commentator

Original Name : Gunter Wolbert

Gender : Male

Capacci Eolo

Character Name : italian commentator

Original Name : Capacci Eolo

Gender : Male

Michel Drhey

Character Name : french commentator

Original Name : Michel Drhey

Gender : Male

Hallvar Thoresen

Character Name : Gunnar Hilsson, Norway

Original Name : Hallvar Thoresen

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Arguably one of the most unfairly derided boys own movies out there. World War II and the Nazi officers have come up with a propaganda driven idea for the German national football team to play a team composed of Allied Prisoners of War. Led by Capt. John Colby (Michael Caine) the prisoners agree, but there's more than just propaganda at stake here. Directed by John Huston in the twilight of his career, Escape To Victory, in spite of it being a perennial Bank Holiday staple viewing in the UK, is a film that's often used as a kicking post by stuffy critics. It's hard to understand why such a fun and harmless piece can cause such derision in cinematic circles. It can't be expectation because when you read the plot and see that Sylvester Stallone is playing as the goalkeeper, and that a tubby 48 year old Caine is the captain of this soccer team, well surely you know this film isn't all about about cranial depth encompassing the propaganda machinations of the Nazi regime. Using real footballers (notably Pelé, Bobby Moore and Osvaldo Ardilies) is what makes Escape To Victory work as entertainment for so many people in the UK. Huston, much like Stallone, hadn't got a clue how to make a football based movie. In stepped the footballers to choreograph the films football sequences - sequences that give the film some truly memorable moments (Pelé overhead kick, Ardiles rainbow flick, and erm, a Stallone penalty save). They couldn't act for toffee, none of them, but that's where Caine comes in. Guiding them through their scenes, Caine was highly thought of on the set by the players, a sort of father figure by all accounts, and not just on the set, but in the bar as well. Stallone excepted (he was off doing his own thing most of the time), it was a happy shoot, and this shines bright in the movie, with the non actors growing in confidence as the movie progresses. So while the film ultimately deals in escapist fun, it's not without moments of poignancy too. A sacrificial break for the war effort induces winces across the board, whilst the arrival of the Eastern Block players from the work camps demands our utmost heartfelt thoughts. So is Escape To Victory a great film? No, of course not. But it is a darn good one. A film that's easy to lose oneself in during the holiday periods. With Caine flicking the eff off Vs, Max Von Sydow being classy as usual and some legendary footballers strutting their stuff, what's not to enjoy? Really? 7.5/10