Escape to Victory (1981)

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

With World Cup fever in full swing, it feels like the perfect time to revisit a film we reviewed a few years ago: Escape to Victory. Set during World War II and loosely inspired by true events, this classic football film follows a group of Allied prisoners of war drafted by the Nazis into a high-stakes match against the German national team. Directed by the legendary John Huston and penned by the team of Evan Jones and Yabo Yablonsky, the film boasts a top-tier cast featuring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, Pelé, Carole Laure, and Bobby Moore.

Huston really put together a perfectly crafted picture here. The story pulls you right in, and honestly, it keeps you glued to the screen from start to finish, even all these years later. Max von Sydow is an absolutely sinister villain you can’t help but love to hate. Michael Caine is terrific as always, shining as the moral compass of the group and going toe-to-toe with von Sydow. Then there is Stallone. He is definitely an interesting casting choice for this one, but he’s great on--screen and showcases his natural charm. Behind the scenes he was a bit of a twat but that’s to be expected. And actual football star Pelé turned in a solid debut performance that made me almost jump out of my seat cheering.

At its core, this is a triumphant war film that echoes classics like The Great Escape or The Eagle Has Landed, just with soccer driving the plot. But even with all of that going for it, the picture definitely has its issues. While it is inspired by real events, the story we see on screen is a complete Hollywood fabrication that only features a fraction of the truth. The actual history is incredibly grim, ending in death and imprisonment rather than a clean escape. You can also feel the movie struggling to figure out its own identity. Is it a feel-good patriotic sports flick, or a gritty, hard-hitting prisoner of war story? Still, when you take all of that into account, it remains a really solid and entertaining sports movie that earns a very easy three stars.