Whether you have soccer fever after the World Cup or are just a massive fan of the late, Pelé, the John Huston-directed Escape to Victory is the perfect movie to watch if you're a fan of the sport. The 1981 historical drama stars Sylvester Stallone, Max von Sydow, Michael Caine, and soccer legend Pelé, among a veritable smorgasbord of other beloved soccer stars.
Sylvester Stallone Brings Star Power With Michael Caine, Pelé and Max Von Sydow Michael Caine plays British army officer and former professional soccer player John Colby. He is tasked by the leader of the POW camp, Major Von Steiner with choosing a team of his fellow prisoners to play against the Germans. For his part, Von Steiner is sympathetic to the plight of his Allied prisoners and intends the match as a gesture of good will.
'Escape to Victory' Delivers on Every Level Every moment of the film has been leading up to this all-important moment, and Caine's team plans to make the most of it. The match really is what makes the movie such a joy to watch. The scene is incredibly effective as the film's climax for three main reasons: The anticipation payoff, the realistic nature of the gameplay, and its use as a wartime metaphor.
As for the realistic nature of the gameplay, the effort to employ actual soccer players paid off in a big way in the final scene. World-class players including the aforementioned Pelé, Bobby Moore, John Wark, Ossie Ardiles, show how a real soccer match should look. For lovers of "the beautiful game," this is a welcome change to the silver screen's disinterested treatment of the sport, both before and since the film's 1981 release.