Victory (1981)

As allied P.O.W.s 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 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvester Stallone	...	The Players: U.S.A. - Capt. Robert Hatch
Michael Caine	...	The Players: England - Capt. John Colby
Pelé	...	The Players: Brazil - Cpl. Luis Fernandez
Bobby Moore	...	The Players: England - Terry Brady
Osvaldo Ardiles	...	The Players: Argentina - Carlos Rey
Paul Van Himst	...	The Players: Belgium - Michel Fileu
Kazimierz Deyna	...	The Players: Poland - Paul Wolchek
Hallvar Thoresen	...	The Players: Norway - Gunnar Hilsson
Mike Summerbee	...	The Players: England - Sid Harmor
Co Prins	...	The Players: Holland - Pieter Van Beck
Russell Osman	...	The Players: England - Doug Clure
John Wark	...	The Players: Scotland - Arthur Hayes
Søren Lindsted	...	The Players: Denmark - Erik Ball (as Soren Linsted)
Kevin O'Callaghan	...	The Players: Ireland - Tony Lewis (as Kevin O'Calloghan)
Max von Sydow	...	The Germans - Major Karl Von Steiner (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 | prisoner of war | sports team | world war two | prison | 

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Taglines:

Now is the time for heroes.

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Genres:

Drama | Sport | War

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an early scene, when the Allied officers are playing cards and chatting, Rose (Tim Pigott-Smith) jokingly says "Elementary, my dear Shurlock" to Shurlock (Julian Curry). Three Allied officers in that scene played in Sherlock Holmes productions: Julian Curry and Daniel Massey played in back-to-back episodes of The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991), and Sir Michael Caine played the great detective himself, in the comedy-adventure production Without a Clue (1988). He also did voice-over work in Sherlock Gnomes (2018).

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Goofs

Around the 61th min. after Hatch escaped, when the German soldier comes to report the number of prisoners, he speaks in Hungarian, but not in German.

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Quotes

Renée - The French: [Hatch has asked how she feels about sheltering him] How do I feel? I feel responsible. Hopeful. When I get word that someone I sheltered is safe, then I'm happy. I can forget them. But when I hear that they've been caught or killed, then I remember everything. I remember their face, their voices, what they said about their parents, their child, their pets, and I mourn for them. I don't want to mourn for you.
Hatch: Well, you're safe with me, Renée.
Renée - The French: How?
Hatch: Well, I'm, uh... an orphan, a bastard. I have no ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

CBS edited 20 minutes from this film for its 1983 network television premiere.

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Connections

Referenced in Murphy's Law: Electric Bill (2003)

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Soundtracks

Hohenfriedberger Marsch

User Reviews

Implausible but enjoyable

I was looking through the action collection at the video store and trying to find something that might interest my husband and myself, a daunting task. When I picked up Victory, I thought 'why not?' as it has Max Von Sydow who we both enjoy. The fact that it had Michael Caine was an added bonus. Besides I wanted to know what kind of film could have those two AND Sylvester Stallone. Somehow I couldn't picture Stallone playing football with the Europeans, at least not doing it well. I was right. Stallone couldn't play, but it didn't matter because that was part of the shtick for the character.

I'll admit that there were a couple of places where the plot was rather predictable and places where I simply thought it was completely unbelievable. However, all in all I would recommend this movie. It's fun and, at times, touching.

Details

Country:

UK USA Italy

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

31 July 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape to Victory

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$10,853,418

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,853,418

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Film Entertainment, Victory Company, New Gold Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1