A
new addition about Soccer related films
Spoiler
Alert: I assume most people have already seen these films, as a result I
discuss the plot as much as I can. I will not try to go into every detail but
generalize as much as possible.
Film: Escape to Victory (1981)
The
problem with Soccer related movies (or any sport for that matter) is that they
are cliché ridden. The last second goal, overturning a seemingly lost deficit,
the unsung hero who makes the crucial play, etc..
‘Escape
To Victory’ (titled ‘Victory’ in USA) has some of those elements.
The
movie was directed by legendary Hollywood director John Huston and filmed on
location in Budapest, Hungary.
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Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 19, October 1981
(Pele
and John Huston)
|
The
stars of the film are Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Max Von Sydow.
It
also includes then current and recently retired players such as Pele, Bobby
Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, John Wark, Paul van Himst and Kazimierz Deyna.
The
film is set during World War II in a German Prison Camp for Allied Prisoners of
War.
Max
von Sydow plays a German Officer and Soccer fan, who recognizes Michael Caine’s
character, who was a former English Professional.
He
organizes a match between the Germans and the prisoners that his superiors want
to use as a propaganda tool.
John
Colby (Michael Caine) acts as the Player Manager of the Allies.
The
most talented player of the team is naturally Pele, who plays a Trinidad and Tobago
National.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 19, October 1981
(Pele
in the POW camp)
|
Stallone
is an American POW (Robert Hatch) who has been in contact with the French
Resistance to plan an escape attempt for the team. Though he has no experience
in playing soccer, he convinces the manager to be in the team as his presence
is crucial for the escape. As a result he becomes the team’s goalkeeper.
The
French resistance are planning to tunnel to the players locker room to help
them escape during the halftime of the match with the Germans.
Onto
the big match at Paris’ Stade Colombes, predictably the Germans with the
complicity of the referee built up a 4-1 halftime lead and clobber Pele’s
character (shades of Portugal 1966).
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 57, September 1980
(Pele
during the match with the Germans)
|
At
halftime, the Resistance has tunneled in and are ready to rescue the players.
However, the players want to remain and win the match. They try to convince
Hatch (Stallone), who is the most reluctant. Naturally, he comes back and plays
the second half along with the rest of the team.
The
Allies reduce the deficit and tie up the match with the most dramatic scene of
the film (or the most predictable/unbelievable, your preference), when Pele
with a scissor kick ties up the match (shown in slow motion and different
angles).
At
this moment, Max Von Sydow’s character refuses to follow the party line and in
admiration stands up and claps.
The
stage is set for the final dramatic act, when the Germans are awarded a penalty
kick (naturally awarded under dubious circumstances).
Hatch
(Stallone) saves the penalty kick (big surprise) with the entire stadium
singing ‘La Marseillaise’.
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 57, September 1980
(Sylvester
Stallone after the crucial penalty kick save)
|
At
this point the fans rush onto the field and hide the players and usher them to
safety and THE END.
This
was the first movie I saw as a full fledged soccer fan and as a ten year old, I
was dazzled at seeing all those big name players as actors in a movie.
However,
the adult in me would have frowned upon the utter lack of any surprise.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 57, September 1980
(The
Allies team with John Huston)
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