Victory (1981)

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.

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Yabo Yablonsky (story), Djordje Milicevic (story)

Stars:

Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Pelé

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvester Stallone	...	Captain Robert Hatch - The Players: U.S.A.
Michael Caine	...	Capt. John Colby - The Players: England
Pelé	...	Cpl. Luis Fernandez - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: Brazil
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: England
John Wark	...	Arthur Hayes - The Players: Scotland
Søren Lindsted	...	Erik Ball - Allied Soccer Player - The Players: Denmark (as Soren Linsted)
Kevin O'Callaghan	...	Tony Lewis - Allied Goalkeeper - The Players: Ireland (as Kevin O'Calloghan)
Max von Sydow	...	Major Karl Von Steiner - The Germans (as Max Von Sydow)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

escape | football | prisoner of war | sports team | goal keeper | 

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Taglines:

Now is the time for heroes.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sport | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape to Victory

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Film Entertainment, Victory Company, New Gold Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When questioned by news reporters in 2014, Ossie Ardiles said that his greatest ever sporting moment was playing in 'Victory', despite Ardiles being a Word Cup winner with Argentina in 1978 and having other major honours throughout his footballing career.

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Goofs

The vast majority of the extras in the soccer stadium have hairstyles and wear clothes associated with the late 1970s and early 1980s (long hair, flares and wide-collared shirts etc.).

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Quotes

Capt. John Colby - The Players: England: What's the verdict on Williams?
Major Karl Von Steiner - The Germans: A regrettable mistake.
Capt. John Colby - The Players: England: The whole bloody war's a regrettable mistake.
Major Karl Von Steiner - The Germans: I agree.

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Connections

Featured in The Greatest Ever War Films (2014)

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Soundtracks

Symphony 5, 4th movement
(uncredited)
Written by Dmitri Shostakovich

User Reviews

Once again, you can't trust the critics.

John Huston's Victory has probably seen so much critical scorn it's mind boggling. Is this movie Oscar material? Certainly not, but it's a great film in many ways.

First of all, Bill Conti offers up a first rate uplifting musical score. It's outstanding work and you hear a bit of resemblence to the score he wrote for a 1982 film that received a little bit of notoriety -- The Right Stuff.

Next, the cinematography is simply gorgeous. Soccer is not an easy sport to film and I think this film was done wonderfully. I thought the choice of film stock, a certain amount of grain to make it almost like you're watching a documentary was a nice touch. Some of the action shots and slow-mos are absolutely wonderful to behold.

Finally, we have a nice plot with a couple of surprises, a great cast, and an auteur director. Certainly, Huston was in failing health and not at the top of his game by this time but his work on this film was still memorable. For me I will always remember the wonderful line with "The Forger" asking Hatch "You don't want to get shot as a spy do you?" And the quick reply, "No, I don't want to get shot as anything." Simple one liner, uncomplicated, yet funny.

Victory is a great inspirational film, a sure hit for soccer fans (of course he wasn't offside - he was behind the ball when it was struck!) and a nice film for war buffs. Just ignore Maltin et al and spend the time watching it, widescreen DVD recommended, you won't be sorry.