Escape to Victory
Escape to Victory (or simply Victory) is a 1981 American-British-Italian sports war film directed by John Huston and starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow and Pelé. The film is about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during the Second World War who play an exhibition match of football against a German team.
| Victory | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Huston |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by |
|
| Based on | Two Half Times in Hell by Zoltán Fábri |
| Produced by | Freddie Fields |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Gerry Fisher |
| Edited by | Roberto Silvi |
| Music by | Bill Conti |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 117 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Box office | $27.5 million |
The film received great attention upon its theatrical release, as it starred professional footballers Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, Paul Van Himst, Mike Summerbee, Hallvar Thoresen, Werner Roth and Pelé. Numerous Ipswich Town players were also in the film, including John Wark, Russell Osman, Laurie Sivell, Robin Turner and Kevin O'Callaghan. Other Ipswich Town players stood in for actors in the football scenes – Kevin Beattie for Michael Caine, and Paul Cooper for Sylvester Stallone. Yabo Yablonsky wrote the script and the film was entered into the 12th Moscow International Film Festival.