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IMDbPro

Escape to Athena

  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
Escape to Athena (1979)
A World War II adventure, involving a group of Allied P.O.W.s, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a secret German rocket base.
Play trailer2:53
1 Video
60 Photos
ActionAdventureComedy
A World War II adventure involving a group of Allied P.O.W.s, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a secret German rocket base.A World War II adventure involving a group of Allied P.O.W.s, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a secret German rocket base.A World War II adventure involving a group of Allied P.O.W.s, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a secret German rocket base.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • George P. Cosmatos
  • Writers
    • Edward Anhalt(screenplay)
    • Richard S. Lochte(screenplay)
    • George P. Cosmatos(story)
  • Stars
    • Roger Moore
    • Telly Savalas
    • David Niven
  • Director
    • George P. Cosmatos
  • Writers
    • Edward Anhalt(screenplay)
    • Richard S. Lochte(screenplay)
    • George P. Cosmatos(story)
  • Stars
    • Roger Moore
    • Telly Savalas
    • David Niven
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Original Trailer
    Trailer 2:53
    Watch Original Trailer

    Photos60

    Escape to Athena (1979)
    Escape to Athena (1979)
    Escape to Athena (1979)
    Claudia Cardinale, Elliott Gould, Telly Savalas, Stefanie Powers, and Vanna Reville in Escape to Athena (1979)
    Roger Moore and Stefanie Powers in Escape to Athena (1979)
    David Niven Jr. in Escape to Athena (1979)
    Roger Moore, Elliott Gould, and David Niven Jr. in Escape to Athena (1979)
    Roger Moore in Escape to Athena (1979)
    Telly Savalas in Escape to Athena (1979)
    Roger Moore and Stefanie Powers in Escape to Athena (1979)
    Telly Savalas in Escape to Athena (1979)
    David Niven, Roger Moore, and Stefanie Powers in Escape to Athena (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Roger Moore
    Roger Moore
    • Major Otto Hecht
    Telly Savalas
    Telly Savalas
    • Zeno
    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Professor Blake
    Stefanie Powers
    Stefanie Powers
    • Dottie Del Mar
    Claudia Cardinale
    Claudia Cardinale
    • Eleana
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • Nat Judson
    Sonny Bono
    Sonny Bono
    • Bruno Rotelli
    Elliott Gould
    Elliott Gould
    • Charlie Dane
    Anthony Valentine
    Anthony Valentine
    • SS Major Volkmann
    Siegfried Rauch
    Siegfried Rauch
    • Braun
    Michael Sheard
    Michael Sheard
    • Sergeant Mann
    Richard Wren
    • Reistoffer
    Philip Locke
    Philip Locke
    • Vogel
    Steve Ubels
    • Lantz
    Paul Picerni
    Paul Picerni
    • Zeno's Man
    Paul Stassino
    Paul Stassino
    • Zeno's Man
    Manolis Peletis
    Manolis Peletis
    Stassia Stakis
    • Director
      • George P. Cosmatos
    • Writers
      • Edward Anhalt(screenplay)
      • Richard S. Lochte(screenplay) (story)
      • George P. Cosmatos(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Holden: As a cigar-smoking prisoner of war. Elliott Gould walks by Holden and asks him, "Are you still here?" This P.O.W. bit was an in-joke reference to Holden's starring role in Stalag 17 (1953). Holden was in a relationship at the time with Stefanie Powers, who appeared in this movie.
    • Goofs
      A control room could not survive with an open window immediately behind a launching rocket.
    • Quotes

      Zeno: [following the successful destruction of the German missile base on Mount Athena] Now you can get out of the brothel business. With the Germans gone, you'll have to. Greeks... they don't pay.

      Eleana: Some of them don't have to.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits: Somewhere in the Greek Islands 1944
    • Alternate versions
      When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 1986 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Greatest Motorcycle Chase Scenes (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Keep Tomorrow For Me
      Composed by Barry Blue & Rod Temperton

      Performed by Heatwave

    User reviews61

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    An amiable and silly warlike movie full of action, adventures and humor
    This WWII movie takes place on somewhere in Greek islands during 1944 , a misfit prisoners group(a stoic David Niven,a two-fisted Richard Roundtree, among them) are scheming escape from the concentration camp and at the same time the robbing in an Ortodox monastery at the top of the island's mountain. At the bunch appear a distinguished David Niven(whose son David Niven Jr is producer), an Italian cook(Sonny Bono), a member of the Greek Resistance(Telly Savalas), a prostitute( beautiful Claudia Cardinale) and among Nazis are a former Viennese art merchant(likable Roger Moore) and a cruel Nazi(Anthony Valentine).The gentleman Nazi officer Moore is stuck with the outfit of goof-offs as they search for the Greek treasure.

    Basically an amusing action filled /wartime/and comedy set during WWII. It's a crossover among the rogue soldiers from ¨The Kelly's heroes(Brian G Hutton)¨, the getaway from ¨The great escape(John Sturges)¨ and the humor included in ¨Hogan's heroes¨ taking parts here and there. This wartime picture which is short in realism instead we have far-fetched but moving blow up, shoot'em up, fighting , it should please most adventure-action-comedy buffs.Middling screenplay by the prestigious Edward Anhalt.Some characters aren't credible in 1944 setting , neither the Nais soldiers dressed in black when parade along with the secret German rocket installation.Roger Moore is miscast as an Nazi official and Elliott Gould as a hippie-alike sound embarrassing. Cameo by William Holden as prisoner smoking a cigar in prison camp and he appears uncredited. Luminous and shimmer photography by Gilbert Taylor. Stirring and military musical score by Lalo Schifrin. This improbable motion picture is professionally directed by George Pan Cosmatos. Although the movie has some aspects a little tough to take , this caper film still has its moments.This large-scale and lavishly produced pic attempts a bemusing atmosphere with regular results.
    helpful•21
    6
    • ma-cortes
    • May 11, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 6, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Greek
    • Also known as
      • Flucht nach Athena
    • Filming locations
      • Platia Evreon Martiron, Rhodes city, Rhodes, Greece(square with brothel)
    • Production companies
      • ITC Entertainment
      • Pimlico Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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