Victory (1981)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(9,701 ratings)

John Huston directed this exciting World War II action film, which culminates in a rousing soccer game. In a German prisoner of war camp, Major Karl von Steiner (Max Von Sydow), the camp commander, once a member of the German national soccer team, decides to put together a soccer match between a… More John Huston directed this exciting World War II action film, which culminates in a rousing soccer game. In a German prisoner of war camp, Major Karl von Steiner (Max Von Sydow), the camp commander, once a member of the German national soccer team, decides to put together a soccer match between a team of Allied prisoners, led by Captain John Colby (Michael Caine), a former English international soccer player. The game is to be played in Colombes Stadium in Paris and exploited for maximum propaganda effect by the Nazi publicity machine. Robert Hatch (Sylvester Stallone) is enlisted to assist the Allied prisoners to train for the event. But, in fact, the Allies are planning a risky escape during the soccer match. Famed Brazilian soccer great Pele makes an appearance in the film, along with Bobby Moore, the captain of Britain's 1966 World Cup champions, and Argentine soccer star Osvaldo Ardiles. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: John Huston
Written By: Evan Jones, Jeff Maguire
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jul 30, 1981 Limited
On DVD: Feb 24, 1998
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
The form of the film is conventional, but the manner in which it has been executed is not.
Variety Staff, Variety
A frankly oldfashioned World War II morality play, hinging on soccer as a civilized metaphor for the game of War.
Gavin Bainbridge, Empire Magazine
Huston, showing admirable range in his old age, creates enough on-field magic and nostalgia for the beatiful game as an idyll of now-extinct sportsmanship.
, Time Out
Unsatisfactory both for fans of star-studded prison escape dramas and for football fans hoping to see cunningly devised tactics from Pele and his squad of internationals.
, Film4
A cracking good story and some of the best football action committed to celluloid have made this a Bank Holiday classic.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Alternately hokey and inspiring.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Imagine the brilliance of combining The Great Escape with football. If The Great Escape didn't have you crying manly tears of true awesomeness into a nice cup of tea then this surely will. The use of real actors and footballing professionals really does give the film a more… More
Imagine the brilliance of combining The Great Escape with football. If The Great Escape didn't have you crying manly tears of true awesomeness into a nice cup of tea then this surely will. The use of real actors and footballing professionals really does give the film a more realistic edge than many sporting films. Well at least during the games and training. Not just for football fans, who may actually be too picky and disgruntled of Stallone being the lead. Uplifting, salute worthy and just a bit of fun. Sydow is also brilliant as a nice German officer, which I didn't get since we all know that Germans in war films are evil.
Tsubaki S

Such a cheesy premise that you have to give it some credit for daring.
xGary X

A real oddity in which WWII prisoners of war attempt to hatch an escape plan during an exhibition football match. All the usual feelgood rooting for the underdog cliches, but it's fairly watchable because of the presence of some genuine stars. Helps if you like football, of… More
A real oddity in which WWII prisoners of war attempt to hatch an escape plan during an exhibition football match. All the usual feelgood rooting for the underdog cliches, but it's fairly watchable because of the presence of some genuine stars. Helps if you like football, of course...
Andre T

Film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during World War II and accept the chalenge of a soccer game facing the German national squad. The film was directed by John Huston and stars Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and Max von Sydow. The film… More
Film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during World War II and accept the chalenge of a soccer game facing the German national squad. The film was directed by John Huston and stars Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and Max von Sydow. The film received great attention upon its theatrical release, as it also starred football superstars Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, Paul Van Himst and Pelé. Numerous Ipswich Town F.C. players were also in the film, including John Wark, Russell Osman, Laurie Sivell, Robin Turner and Kevin O'Callaghan. Further Ipswich Town players stood in for actors in the football scenes - Kevin Beattie for Michael Caine, and Paul Cooper for Sylvester Stallone.Good fun in this movie, specially for soccer lovers(as myself).Despite the poor theatrical performances by the soccer players, the final result is good and interesting.
David S

Let's be honest, this will never be remembered as one of the great war films. Hell, it's not even a good sports film! This is definitely one of Huston's lesser films (there's no visual flair here at all) and even Michael Caine looks bored. Stallone is trying to… More
Let's be honest, this will never be remembered as one of the great war films. Hell, it's not even a good sports film! This is definitely one of Huston's lesser films (there's no visual flair here at all) and even Michael Caine looks bored. Stallone is trying to convince himself that he is McQueen in The Great Escape but fails miserably (and he is the worst goalkeeper ever!) and the script and story never really develop the characters fully. It's left to some good acting from Von Sydow and Massey and a football game that is nowhere near long enough and badly shot to lift this up to an ok film. It's entertaining seeing all the greats on the pitch and Pele's skills are still amazing. One to watch every four years during the world cup but not a patch on The Great Escape.
Barry L

Brilliant....Shame they won...

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Sylvester Stallone as Robert Hatch

            Michael Caine as John Colby

            Max von Sydow as Maj. Karl Von Steiner

            Pelé as Luis Fernandez

            Werner Roth as Team Captain Baumann

            Carole Laure as Renee

            Daniel Massey as Col. Waldron

            Gary Waldhorn as Mueller

            George Mikell as Kommandant

            Amidou as Andre

            Jurgen Andersen as Propaganda Civilian

            Arthur Brauss as Lutz

            Julian Curry as Shurlock

            Anton Diffring as Chief Commentator

            Benoît Ferreux as Jean Paul

            Jack Lenoir as Georges

            Clive Merrison as The Forger

            Bobby Moore as Terry Brady

            Tim Pigott-Smith as Rose

            Maurice Roëves as Pyrie

            Jean-François Stévenin as Claude

            Michael Wolf as Lang

            Osvaldo Ardiles as Carlos Rey

            Zoltan Gera as Viktor

            Michael Cochrane as Farrell

            Pelé
            
See full cast