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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Special Edition, SYNOPSIS: Roger Moore stars as Major Otto Hecht, an anti-Nazi German who presides over a World War II POW camp. The prisoners, played by such diverse types as Elliott Gould, David Niven, and Sonny Bono, plan an escape with a group of Greek partisans (headed by Telly Savalas). It's not that the POWs are dissatisfied with life behind barbed wire -- it's just that they've been coerced into rescuing valuable art treasures from the Nazis, and there's a possibility of turning a profit! ...Escape to Athena (UK)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The movie itself isn't great. It is fun though. I like Roger Moore and David Niven and they are both superb (though under utilized). The plot is a strange cross between Kelly's Heroes and Stalag 17.
The blu ray presentation looks really good, especially considering this isn't a typical big budget studio restoration. It's the best I've ever seen this movie.
If you like the movie, get it on blu. If you've never seen it before, rent it first then get it if you liked it.
The blu ray presentation looks really good, especially considering this isn't a typical big budget studio restoration. It's the best I've ever seen this movie.
If you like the movie, get it on blu. If you've never seen it before, rent it first then get it if you liked it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Escape to Athena is another nail in the theory that the 70s was a golden age of movie-making. It's a typical example of those transatlantic star-studded messes so beloved of Lew Grade after the modest success of The Eagle Has Landed led him to inflict the likes of The Cassandra Crossing (okay, that one is a guilty pleasure), Voyage of the Damned and Michael Winner's The Big Sleep on the world. A bizarre cross between Hogan's Heroes and The Guns of Navarone (well, director and co-scenarist George Pan Cosmatos was in charge of the luncheon vouchers for the extras on that one), it throws in everyone and everything but the kitchen sink in the hope that the audiences will be too dazzled by the three ring circus to notice that virtually none of it is any good. Thus we have Roger Moore as a corrupt Austrian prison camp commandant-cum-antique dealer, Elliott Gould as a bad standup comedian, Sony Bono as an Italian cook, Telly Savalas as a Greek resistance leader, Claudia Cardinale as the local Madame, David Niven as an archaeologist, Stefanie Powers as a stripper, and Richard Roundtree as a magician, all of whom know they're in a piece of rubbish and act accordingly. But then, what else is there to do in a plot (of sorts) that sees them take over a prison camp, save various Greeks from SS man Anthony Valentine's firing squad, destroy a submarine refuelling dump and blow up the local monastery-cum-V3 launching pad without ever managing to generate much excitement or interest? Aside from a nice throwaway cameo from William Holden reprising his Stalag 17 character, some good aerial photography and a surprisingly good motorcycle chase, this one has nothing much going for it, least of all the dire disc number over the end credits.
For the more masochistic of you out there, the UK DVD boasts a decent 2.35:1 transfer, trailer and several cast and crew inteviews, while the Blu-ray only offers a trailer as extra.
For the more masochistic of you out there, the UK DVD boasts a decent 2.35:1 transfer, trailer and several cast and crew inteviews, while the Blu-ray only offers a trailer as extra.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For the contributor who suggested that, "Escape To Athena", was a sad dull movie obviously seems to have never fully watched the film. Its critics like this that put-off people buying DVD titles, but we are talking about 1979 when the film was released in the UK
Escape To Athena may have its critics, but its one hell of a war movie. This film was the second outing with Greek Director, George Pan Cosmatos had with ITC, and as with The Cassandra Crossing in 1976, he brings a sense of importance to the proceedings. Roger Moore is excellent as sympathetic Camp Commandant Otto Hecht, as is Telly Savalas as resistance leader, Zeos.
Roger Moore's casting was accurate. After playing Simon Templair, Lord Brett Sinclair, and of course, James Bond. This film reunites him with Lew Grade after a seven year gap, and his role is essential to the film's storyline.
Of the other actors, Elliot Gould, Sonny Bono, Richard Rountree, Stefanie Powers are also effective, but the main actor in my opinion has to be David Niven as he contributes most to this film.
Lalo Schifrin's Greek oriented music score is the film's most important feature, and the end dance sequence is definitely a highlight. Incidentally, the soundtrack of this film is very hard to find, and is only on Japanese issue.
Nevertheless, an excellent film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beautiful clarity
This movie is a light & comical story, a bit of enjoyable fun! I had'nt ever seen it before. The Blue Ray picture quality is up there with Zulu-- Absolutely stunning! Read more
Published 28 days ago by Sheumais
Rog out acts the scenery - just!
Kalithea/Rhodes is the stunning setting for this light bit of froth so much less than the sum of its parts but still an enjoyable romp. Read more
Published 2 months ago by John Fareham
Sunday Afternoon Movie {If You Have Nothing Better To Do}
How's this for a all star cast: Roger Moore, David Niven, Stephanie Powers, Elliot Gould, Telly Savalas, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Rountree and Soony Bono? All in one film! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Peter Clarke
WWII action adventure has its moments but it's nothing special
Set in 1944 German occupied Greece, some prisoners of war are used to dig for archaeological Greek treasures which in turned are looted by the Nazis and returned to Germany. Read more
Published 11 months ago by The CinemaScope Cat
The setting is the attraction for me - Kalithea Bay, Rhodes
Whilst I find the film subject to be only mildy interesting - the major attraction, for me, in this film is the setting - KALITHEA BAY/THERMES, in Rhodes along with Rhodes Old... Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by W. Harrison-Massam
Escape To Athena
If you are a Roger Moore fan, you won't be disappointed with this movie. Lots of good supporting actors in this action WW2 movie. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2009 by G. Kooistra
doe's it get any WORSE.
i have been adding to my war collection that contains many of the greats , and when i saw the good reviews this film was getting i bought it "hook line and sinker". Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2008 by BUBS.
A great romp
i find this fil fun as an all star cast of POWs take over a greek prisoner of war camp and go on to stop a V2 from destroying the allied invasion. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2008 by Mr. R. S. Hutton Mckee
A brilliant and hugely enjoyable film
I have watched this film on countless occasions, and I still marvel at its audacious approach to WW2. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2007 by Pandatrousers
Really enjoyable with a star studded cast.
I received this as a present having never seen it before and had a blast watching it. There a some really stellar names even if one or two struggle with foreign accents... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2007 by Tony Green
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