Escape to Victory (1981)

6.6PG116 minDirector: John Huston

1981 film

Escape to Victory (released as Victory in some markets) is a 1981 sports war film directed by John Huston and starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow and Pelé. The film is about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during the Second World War who play an exhibition match of football against a German team.

The film received great attention upon its theatrical release, as it starred professional footballers Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, Paul Van Himst, Mike Summerbee, Hallvar Thoresen, Werner Roth and Pelé. Numerous Ipswich Town players were also in the film, including John Wark, Russell Osman, Laurie Sivell, Robin Turner and Kevin O'Callaghan. Other Ipswich Town players stood in for actors in the football scenes – Kevin Beattie for Michael Caine, and Paul Cooper for Sylvester Stallone. Yabo Yablonsky wrote the script and the film was entered into the 12th Moscow International Film Festival.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Escape to Victory about?
Escape to Victory (1981) — In World War II, a group of Nazi officers come up with a propaganda event in which an all-star Nazi team will play a team composed of Allied prisoners of war in a soccer (football) game. The prisoners agree, planning on using the game as a means of escape from the camp.
Is Escape to Victory based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Escape to Victory scary?
Content rating: PG. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is Escape to Victory (1981) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex