by Mof Gimmers

Five have been the first of the terrestrial channels to really get in the mood of the impending World Cup.

After the marvellous Legend’s Match, they completed their feast of football with the footy B Movie, Escape to Victory, starring Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and Pele!

The film is based in a prisoner of war camp, slap bang in the middle of Nazi Germany. There are posh blokes with minions, forever trying to plot their escape. A touch of satire is threaded through these sections, as the posho generals never try to get out, as they’re too important to be shot at (oooh! handbags!)

However… the war isn’t the interesting bit of this film. It’s the football!

I won’t spoil the ending for those who haven’t seen it, but the climax is during a footy match between the Allies and Ze Germanz. The Allies have an all star team, including Pele, John Wark (who was a good player once upon a time), Russell Osman (whom I don’t recall ever being that good) and best of all, Sir Bobby Moore.

Caine’s performance of the caring man of the people is a little forced and doesn’t come close to Sly Stallone’s portrayal of a cocky American oik… maybe little research was needed for the part? I say that because this film has one of my fave bits of trivia in it.

During filming, a over confident Stallone told Pele how easy this ‘soccer’ lark was. So Pele said he’d give Sly a bundle of cash if he could save just one of ten penalties taken. The first nine went in no problem. The tenth? Pele nearly broke Stallones arm.

If that’s not reason to love this film, I don’t know what is!