Escape To Athena [DVD] [1974]

1) Tele Savalas as a Greek resistance fighter / Monk. Tele as you would expect brings the same gritty realism as he did to his Portrayal of Blofeld in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
2) David Niven is superb as a British Antiques expert held prisoner by the German army. Niven expertly manages to convey the characters inner turmoil and disbelief of the situation he has found himself in. Niven also manages to turn in a great comic performance with the help of Elliot Gould's character.
3) The director George P Cosmatos manages to expertly capture the futility and horrific nature of war, in a style of direction that is reminiscent of early William Friedkin work.
4) However, the real star of the show is Roger Moore. Moore plays a German Officer who witnessing the atrocities carried out by his country decides to switch sides and help the allies, namely Tele and his band of fighters. Moore shows once again what a truly gifted actor he is, with the simple twitch of an eyebrow he can convey the purest of emotions, that would send even the most stone hearted person to tears.

So in summary...Escsape to Athena is a life changing movie, it shows that the British film industry could still produce films as good as / or even better than their American rivals, but from a personal view it restored my faith in humanity and what people can achieve when they work together.

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.

1) Tele Savalas as a Greek resistance fighter / Monk. Tele as you would expect brings the same gritty realism as he did to his Portrayal of Blofeld in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
2) David Niven is superb as a British Antiques expert held prisoner by the German army. Niven expertly manages to convey the characters inner turmoil and disbelief of the situation he has found himself in. Niven also manages to turn in a great comic performance with the help of Elliot Gould's character.
3) The director George P Cosmatos manages to expertly capture the futility and horrific nature of war, in a style of direction that is reminiscent of early William Friedkin work.
4) However, the real star of the show is Roger Moore. Moore plays a German Officer who witnessing the atrocities carried out by his country decides to switch sides and help the allies, namely Tele and his band of fighters. Moore shows once again what a truly gifted actor he is, with the simple twitch of an eyebrow he can convey the purest of emotions, that would send even the most stone hearted person to tears.

So in summary...Escsape to Athena is a life changing movie, it shows that the British film industry could still produce films as good as / or even better than their American rivals, but from a personal view it restored my faith in humanity and what people can achieve when they work together.