Escape to Athena (1979)

A World War II adventure, involving a group of Allied POWs, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a secret German rocket base.

Director:

George P. Cosmatos

Writers:

Edward Anhalt (screenplay), Richard S. Lochte (screenplay)

Stars:

Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Moore	...	Major Otto Hecht
Telly Savalas	...	Zeno
David Niven	...	Professor Blake
Stefanie Powers	...	Dottie Del Mar
Claudia Cardinale	...	Eleana
Richard Roundtree	...	Nat Judson
Sonny Bono	...	Bruno Rotelli
Elliott Gould	...	Charlie / Charlie Dane
Anthony Valentine	...	SS Major Volkmann
Siegfried Rauch	...	Braun
Michael Sheard	...	Sergeant Mann
Richard Wren	...	Reistoffer
Philip Locke	...	Vogel
Steve Ubels	...	Lantz
Paul Picerni	...	Zeno's Man

Storyline

During World War II, the prisoners of a German camp on a Greek island are trying to escape. They don't want only their freedom, but they also seek for an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the top of the island's mountain.

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Plot Keywords:

1940s | treasure | monastery | mountain | island | 

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Taglines:

An exciting World War II prison camp drama with an all star cast.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 June 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape a Atenas

Filming Locations:

Kalithea Spa, Rhodes, Greece

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITC Entertainment,Pimlico Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie is one of a handful of action-thriller films made within a five year time-span around the time of the mid to late 1970s that used a mountaintop monastery in Greece. Other films include Sky Riders (1976) and For Your Eyes Only (1981).

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Goofs

High-voltage wires cannot touch the ground.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: Somewhere in the Greek Islands 1944

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Connections

Referenced in Escape to Athena: Cast and Crew Interviews (1978)

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Soundtracks

Oh When the Saints Go Marching In
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed by Louis Armstrong
Heard on a phonograph in Hecht's room

User Reviews

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.