Victory

This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes take a look at "Victory", or "Escape to Victory", as the film has somehow come to be known.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field enjoy the movie, but neither thinks it entirely works. One of the biggest surprises on this revisit is just how central Sylvester Stallone’s character is to the story. Both Mikes remembered him as more of a supporting player, but instead his character becomes the film’s primary focus, despite being one of its least likable figures.

For both Butler and Field, Michael Caine’s character feels like the far more natural protagonist. His role within the team, his relationships with the other prisoners, and his involvement in the match give the film a stronger emotional center than Stallone’s escape-focused storyline.

The film also struggles to generate much real danger. Its POW camp often feels less like a prison and more like a strangely relaxed summer camp for captured soldiers, while the so-called Bureau of Escape is almost comically organized. Many members of the soccer team are played by actual footballers rather than actors, which makes the final match more authentic but also leaves much of the team underdeveloped as characters. Combined with German soldiers who rarely feel especially threatening, the movie never builds the level of tension its premise seems to promise.

Still, "Victory" remains an entertaining watch. The final match delivers some genuinely impressive soccer, including more from Stallone than either Mike expected, while Pelé naturally steals the show once the players take the field.

The Mikes also dig into the strange production history surrounding the film, including the director’s dislike of the finished movie and stories about Stallone being less than popular with the cast while juggling filming with work on "Rocky III" and spending his downtime traveling around Europe.

Messy, oddly low-stakes, and built around the wrong central character, "Victory" is far from perfect. But once the match finally begins, there is enough charm, spectacle, and genuine athleticism to make the whole thing worth the trip.

What are some other forgotten soccer (football) films? Let us know in the comments below!

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0:00 - Introduction

3:14 - Film Facts

10:17 - Film Discussion

34:59 - Reviews

40:10 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

41:41 - Why Is This Forgotten?

45:41 - Plugs

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