Victory, or Escape to Victory as its known over here, is a movie that has some of the most differing reviews you will ever read. While American critics slaughter it freely, on this side of the Atlantic it fares quite a bit better, and is highly regarded as the best football movie ever, not that it has very strong competition.

The movie tells the tale of Allied POWs in World War 2, these include Captain John Colby (Michael Caine – Get Carter), a former West Ham Utd and England defender, American soldier Robert Hatch (Sylvester Stallone – Rocky), a man longing to escape and Colonel Waldron (Daniel Massey – Scandal), the senior British officer in the camp.
Colby has been refereeing some of the prisoners in makeshift footy games, and this catches the attention of German Major Karl von Steiner (Max von Sydow – Flash Gordon), he recognises Colby and challenges him to craft a team of Allied POWs to take on a team of Nazi soldiers. Colby’s team starts to take shape with players from all over the Allied nations forming the core of his squad. But the higher ranks in the German army have other ideas for the match. Seeing this as the perfect chance for easy propaganda, and the fact that England have never tasted defeat at the hands of German opposition, the propaganda minister changes the match to the Allied POW 11 vs. the German National team. The venue is now the stadium in Paris.
Col. Waldron sees this as the perfect chance to mount an escape, and sends Hatch out in a daring escape to meet an ally in Paris. But Hatch now has to get back into the camp to tell the team the plan, when he does this, he is put in solitary. Colby now has to get him out of solitary, and goes about this by telling the Nazi’s his keeper has a broken arm and Hatch is their sub. With him out, he reveals that the French ally will dig them out of their dressing room at half time.

Come the game, we learn that another German officer has bribed the ‘mutual’ referee, so it comes as no surprise that decisions are going against the allies and they soon find themselves 4-0 down with one of their players off injured in the form of Fernandez (Pele – A minor miracle) . Just before half time, a glimmer of hope comes through a goal, but the team still goes in 4-1 down at half time. When the French break in, the players are halfway out when a voice calls “We can win this”, after argument, the side return to the field for the second half. Fernandez also returns, despite still sporting an injury, and the team claw two goals back. An equaliser is scored, but un-rightly disallowed for either offside or a foul on the keeper, but this doesn’t stop the allies, who draw level with a sublime overhead kick from Fernandez/Pele to draw level. As the match has been playing, the Frenchmen there to support have been growing more and more vocal against the Nazis, and when the Germans are awarded a late soft penalty, they are livid. But, like the Russians,Vietcong and Apollo Creed before him, it’s the German captain’s turn to get Stallowned as his penalty is easily saved by Hatch. Cue the fans rioting and the team making an escape via the crowd, as the other Nazi’s swarm to try and stop this, von Steiner just stands and looks on.

Now, while this could be said to be a highly unrealistic piece of sports film-making, aside from the turning down the half time escape, there are really only a few small faults to be had with the plot. First of all, the movie is called (Escape to) Victory, yet the teams draw. No extra time, no penalties, the team celebrate after drawing, there is also an amusing incident where after he saves the penalty, Hatch just throws the ball away, and the team lift him up. Now, the ball is actually still in play, so why the Germans don’t take this opportunity is anyone’s guess. Exactly why the Brazilian Pele and the Argentine Ossy Ardiles are in the POW camp is anyone’s guess.
The thing that many criticise is the overcoming of the bent referee. I would just like to point out Manchester United’s current place in the Premiership and Champions League competitions. Even if you own the ref, you can still be beat.

The acting is up to scratch, with the legendary Michael Caine and von Sydow playing their parts well. Stallone does a decent job as well, and the other stars are more stars on the park, but they aren’t offensive in their small acting roles.

The music is cheesy, classic rousing music by Bill Conti. It will stay in your head for quite a while after watching this.

The football scenes are all shot very well, giving the like of Pele and Ardiles a chance to shine on the silver screen, with a few slow motion and replay shots to highlight the really classy moves.

All in all, Victory is a highly enjoyable, if cheesy piece of rousing entertainment. While fans of the sport probably wont enjoy it, anyone who does love the beautiful game will find it hard to dislike. And I would put money on you getting involved in the match like you would a real one.

Year: 1981
Titles: Escape to Victory
Victory

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups