Victory (1981)

Réalisateur:

John Huston

Writers:

Yabo Yablonsky (story) and
Djordje Milicevic (story) ...

Release Date:

30 juillet 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sport | War

Accroche:

Their goal was freedom...

Plot:

As allied POWs prepare for a soccer game against the German National Team to be played in Nazi-occupied Paris, the French Resistance and British officers are making plans for the team's escape.

Plot Keywords:

Goal Keeper | Escape | Intrigue | Prison | Soccer

Awards:

1 nomination

Avis des utilisateurs:

Escape is a Winner.

Ensemble

Sylvester Stallone	...	Captain Robert Hatch
Michael Caine	...	Capt. John Colby - The Players: England
Pelé	...	Cpl. Luis Fernandez - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: Trinidad
Bobby Moore	...	Terry Brady - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: England
Osvaldo Ardiles	...	Carlos Rey - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: Argentina
Paul Van Himst	...	Michel Fileu - The Players: Belgium
Kazimierz Deyna	...	Paul Wolchek - The Players: Poland
Hallvar Thoresen	...	Gunnar Hilsson - The Players: Norway
Mike Summerbee	...	Sid Harmor - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: England
Co Prins	...	Pieter Van Beck - The Players: Holland
Russell Osman	...	Doug Clure - The Players
John Wark	...	Arthur Hayes - The Players: Scotland
Søren Lindsted	...	Erik Ball - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: Denmark
Kevin O'Callaghan	...	Tony Lewis - Allied Goalkeeper - The Players: Ireland
Max von Sydow	...	Major Karl Von Steiner - The Germans (as Max Von Sydow)

Autre(s) titre(s) :

Escape to Victory (UK)
À nous la victoire (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]

Durée:

116 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Son:

Dolby

Classification:

Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | West Germany:6 (f) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Iceland:L | Finland:K-12 | Norway:12 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Lorimar Film Entertainment

Anecdotes:

The stadium used for the football match, although supposed to be the Stade Colombes in Paris, is actually in Budapest, Hungary. This is because the producers had difficulty finding a large stadium without floodlights, as floodlights at football stadiums were largely unknown until well after WW2. The MTK stadium in Budapest was the biggest one without lights (but at the same time structurally similar to Continental stadiums that were around during WW2) that they could find.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the German player (Baumann) takes the penalty kick, his hair is dry in a scene a few seconds prior to the kick, then it's wet with sweat when he places the ball and then it's dry again after he scores.

Guillemet:

Hatch: This frigging game is ruining my life.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief Does University Challenge (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Symphony 5, 4th movement

Escape is a Winner.

Any football fans out there? If you haven't seen Escape To Victory either at Christmas, when it is usually on at a ridiculous time of the morning, or hired/bought it on DVD then you are really missing out.

There is a fair amount of disbelief suspending that needs to take place before you settle down. But, if you can numb your brain to the idea of Micheal Caine playing professional football or indeed, Sylvester Stallone doing the same in goal, you're in for a treat.

As a football fan, it was a real thrill to see the great Bobby Moore kicking a ball in anger and, against the Germans too (remember what I said about suspending disbelief).

OK, it isn't the greatest film ever made. But it isn't supposed to be. It's a bit of bubblegum that is just supposed to kill a couple of hours. A feat the movie accomplishes handsomely.

I defy any football fan not to cheer when the goals go in or to curse when the Germans do well. Similarly, try and stifle your guffaws when you see Mr Caine trying to look like he knows what he's supposed to be doing. Is it just me or does he become more cockney when he tries to convey excitement in any of his roles?? Probably one of England's more one dimensional acting talents.

If you don't enjoy it, you're missing the point of it. Nobody will ever forget horror of war, it's ingrained. That isn't what this film is about although it does have a stab at giving the viewer a clue about the life of a POW in WWII.

No, the film is about entertainment. And, on that level, it's one of the good ones.