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Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, Pelé, Werner Roth ... see more see more... , Carole Laure , Daniel Massey , Gary Waldhorn , George Mikell , Amidou , Jurgen Andersen , Arthur Brauss , Julian Curry , Anton Diffring , Benoît Ferreux , Jack Lenoir , Clive Merrison , Bobby Moore , Tim Pigott-Smith , Maurice Roëves , Jean-François Stévenin , Michael Wolf , Osvaldo Ardiles , Zoltan Gera , Michael Cochrane , Pelé

John Huston directed this exciting World War II action film, which culminates in a rousing soccer game. In a German prisoner of war camp, Major Karl von Steiner (Max Von Sydow), the camp commander, on... read more read more...ce a member of the German national soccer team, decides to put together a soccer match between a team of Allied prisoners, led by Captain John Colby (Michael Caine), a former English international soccer player. The game is to be played in Colombes Stadium in Paris and exploited for maximum propaganda effect by the Nazi publicity machine. Robert Hatch (Sylvester Stallone) is enlisted to assist the Allied prisoners to train for the event. But, in fact, the Allies are planning a risky escape during the soccer match. Famed Brazilian soccer great Pele makes an appearance in the film, along with Bobby Moore, the captain of Britain's 1966 World Cup champions, and Argentine soccer star Osvaldo Ardiles. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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68% liked it

9,700 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

6 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: John Huston

Release Date: July 30, 1981

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DVD Release Date: February 24, 1998

Stats: 634 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (634)

  • kiriyamakazou
    August 5, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Imagine the brilliance of combining The Great Escape with football. If The Great Escape didn't have you crying manly tears of true awesomeness into a nice cup of tea then this surely will. The use of real actors and footballing professionals really does give the film a more reali... read morestic edge than many sporting films. Well at least during the games and training. Not just for football fans, who may actually be too picky and disgruntled of Stallone being the lead. Uplifting, salute worthy and just a bit of fun. Sydow is also brilliant as a nice German officer, which I didn't get since we all know that Germans in war films are evil.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    January 4, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Such a cheesy premise that you have to give it some credit for daring.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    A real oddity in which WWII prisoners of war attempt to hatch an escape plan during an exhibition football match. All the usual feelgood rooting for the underdog cliches, but it's fairly watchable because of the presence of some genuine stars. Helps if you like football, of cours... read moree...
  • Tecnoandre
    July 3, 2011
    Tecnoandre
    Film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during World War II and accept the chalenge of a soccer game facing the German national squad. The film was directed by John Huston and stars Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and Max von Sydow.
    The film ... read morereceived great attention upon its theatrical release, as it also starred football superstars Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, Paul Van Himst and Pelé. Numerous Ipswich Town F.C. players were also in the film, including John Wark, Russell Osman, Laurie Sivell, Robin Turner and Kevin O'Callaghan. Further Ipswich Town players stood in for actors in the football scenes - Kevin Beattie for Michael Caine, and Paul Cooper for Sylvester Stallone.Good fun in this movie, specially for soccer lovers(as myself).Despite the poor theatrical performances by the soccer players, the final result is good and interesting.
  • sayers1977
    August 2, 2010
    sayers1977
    Let's be honest, this will never be remembered as one of the great war films. Hell, it's not even a good sports film! This is definitely one of Huston's lesser films (there's no visual flair here at all) and even Michael Caine looks bored. Stallone is trying to convince himself t... read morehat he is McQueen in The Great Escape but fails miserably (and he is the worst goalkeeper ever!) and the script and story never really develop the characters fully. It's left to some good acting from Von Sydow and Massey and a football game that is nowhere near long enough and badly shot to lift this up to an ok film. It's entertaining seeing all the greats on the pitch and Pele's skills are still amazing. One to watch every four years during the world cup but not a patch on The Great Escape.
  • DrLappos
    June 9, 2007
    DrLappos
    Brilliant....Shame they won...
  • stallonefan1
    March 7, 2010
    stallonefan1
    Stallone and Michael Caine lead a football team against a nazi propaganda.Its got some great moments and top notch actors.
  • soulxside
    August 16, 2007
    soulxside
    Nostalgic soccer fans take note... the film is seriously pretty terrible and the soccer scenes aren't good, but somehow this film remains a bit of a classic.
  • jjgaut
    February 11, 2007
    jjgaut
    Just plain boring from opening to closing, although there are some decent (if unexceptional) moments in the soccer games.

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Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby
August 13, 2010
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The form of the film is conventional, but the manner in which it has been executed is not. Full Review

Variety Staff
August 13, 2010
Variety Staff, Variety

A frankly oldfashioned World War II morality play, hinging on soccer as a civilized metaphor for the game of War. Full Review

Gavin Bainbridge
August 13, 2010
Gavin Bainbridge, Empire Magazine

Huston, showing admirable range in his old age, creates enough on-field magic and nostalgia for the beatiful game as an idyll of now-extinct sportsmanship. Full Review

August 13, 2010
Time Out

Unsatisfactory both for fans of star-studded prison escape dramas and for football fans hoping to see cunningly devised tactics from Pele and his squad of internationals. Full Review

August 13, 2010
Film4

A cracking good story and some of the best football action committed to celluloid have made this a Bank Holiday classic. Full Review

August 13, 2010
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Alternately hokey and inspiring. Full Review

February 23, 2012
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Victory Trivia

  • Which actor turned President appeared with Bette Davis in the film "Dark Victory?"  Answer »
  • I love the smell of napalm in the morning, smells like_________  Answer »
  • In Escape to Victory what postion does Sylvester Stallone play in   Answer »
  • in "ESCAPE TO VICTORY" boxing star Sylvester STALLONE participated in a world war II soccer game as a ...  Answer »
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