If only the emphasis had been on action throughout the film would have been a hit. Escape to Athena. The film was financed by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment, who had previously made The Eagle Has Landed. A World War II adventure, involving a group of Allied P.O.W.s, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a secret German rocket base. A South African gold mine manager discovers a plot hatched by the mine owners and London bankers to flood the mine in order to curb gold production and consequently manipulate its price on the stock markets. 1 film locations It stars Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono and Elliott Gould. The final scene cuts to the modern day, by which time Zeno's former headquarters have been turned into a state museum housing the treasures of Mount Athena. The film is set during the Second World War on a German-occupied Greek island. Professor Blake learns from one of the freed monks that their treasure — Byzantine plates made of gold — is safe, having been hidden in the brothel the entire time. For James Bond fans, especially fans of the Roger Moore era of 007, this movie is certainly worth owning, as it marks the first non-Bond Roger Moore film available on Blu-ray. Unknown. Available for: 16 months . At the Movies: Producer Sets Hoffman's Sail For 'Popeye' Edit Submit Cancel We have produced a Style Guide to help editors follow a standard format when editing a listing. It's 1944, and on an occupied Greek island Germany's Major Otto Hecht (Roger Moore) oversees an archeological dig. It was directed by George P. Cosmatos, and is set during World War II is German-occupied Greek island. Grade's first five films had been made in partnership with General Cinema Corp, but Grade would finance this slate himself. "[3], In October 1977 ITC announced what was then known as The Athena Boodle as part of a $97 million slate of movies Lew Grade was making which also included The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Movie Movie (then called Double Feature), The Boys from Brazil, Raise the Titanic, The Golden Gate from the Alistair MacLean novel (never made), Love and Bullets, The Muppet Movie and Road to the Fountain of Youth with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope (which was never made). Dangaard, Colin. It turns out, the gang is only pretending to behave and cozy up to their captors; they're involved in a secret plot to liberate the camp, with outside help from Telly Savalas and Claudia Cardinale. Flatley, Guy. I too received a copy of the film for Christmas and can confirm that whilst the film was all shot on location on Rhodes the monastery that you mention is not here in Rhodes. Bishop, trusted advisor to the president, has shots fired at him when Pachenko comes to him about a traitor in highest level of government. That was produced by the team of David Niven Jr and Jack Wiener, and had been successful, so ITC agreed to finance two more films from the same team, Escape to Athena and Green Ice. A World War Two comedy thriller, Escape To Athena is lazy, hazy, and tonally uncoordinated. Hi! "[11], According to a number of sources, this film's motorcycle chase scene is, as one critic said, "one of the most memorable motorcycle chase scenes in cinematic history". Somehow, Escape to Athena manages to do both. New York Times 14 Oct 1977: 58. Try looking for 'Escape To Athena' on Amazon (paid link) Date Removed: 1st March 2021. It was filmed on location on the island of Rhodes. Escape to Athena is a 1979 British adventure comedy war film directed by George P. Cosmatos. The music was composed by Lalo Schifrin. A World War Two adventure involving a group of Allied POW's, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery and a secret German rocket base. By far, my favorite part of the movie is when Elliott and Stephanie arrive. It stars Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono and Elliott Gould. Info Page: Escape to Athena Here is all the information you need about "Escape to Athena" on BritBox in the UK. [10], Producer Jack Wiener said during the shoot that the film cost $10 million and needed to make $30 million at the box office to recoup its cost. Escape to Athena. Take a look ahead at all the major movie releases coming to theaters and streaming this season. Lewin, David. During the World War II, the prisoners of a German camp in a Greek island are trying to escape. They not only want their freedom, but also seek an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the summit of the island’s mountain. [4] The film was also known as The Athena Crisis. Escape To Athena (1979) Directed by George P. Cosmatos - starring Roger Moore, Telly Savalas et al, presnted by Box Office Films - film and movie box office details with weekly chart and lifetime grosses. There were of course many from the film Escape to Athena. Colour Colour. Why buy with musicMagpie? Zeno uses gas to knock out most of the soldiers, but not before their commander orders a V-2 rocket launch to destroy the invasion fleet. A World War II adventure, involving a group of Allied P.O.W.s, Nazis, black market priceless art treasures, Greek resistance, a Greek monastery, and a … Escape to Athena|Roger Moore. However, on climbing to the monastery, the group discover a heavily armed garrison. Was this review helpful to you? It's endemic of how the experiences of war had, by that stage in cinema, become so filtered through to entertainment at its purest that it starts to resemble a starry, action packed pantomime - the end point of which would become 1981's Escape to Victory. Escape to Athena (1979) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Escape to Athena (1979) - IMDb Directed by George P. Cosmatos. [12], Another says: "Film is an uneven mix of comedy and military action, but includes a stand out motorcycle chase. As prisoners of war labour to dig up priceless Greek art, the island's resistance leader schemes to defeat the occupiers. Judson knocks out the control room with grenades, but one of the Germans survives long enough to activate the base's self-destruct mechanism. The Unteroffizier was a Luftwaffe non-commissioned officer serving at Mt. BBC One London, 31 August 1997 14.20. I believe that it must have been filmed on mainland Greece. Extras 1 High Definition extras tbc. Los Angeles Times 15 Oct 1977: b9. Hecht … Impressive motorcycle stuntwork featuring some excellent jumps". The camp Commandant, Major Otto Hecht, a former Austrian antiques dealer, is sending some of the valuable pieces to his sister living in Switzerland. However the prisoners have discovered that they will be sent to other camps once the finds run out, so they arrange to keep "discovering" the same pieces. Reistoffer: Volkmann's adjutant, This page was last edited on 3 March 2021, at 14:02. It certainly looks much more like those that can be found in more northern Greece. Add the first question. Norwegian resistance tries to stop German efforts to produce an atomic bomb component during World War II. Grade had wanted an action film and felt it "did not live up to expectations of the script" turning out to be "a broad comedy with action-adventure sequences and the combination just didn't work." A German plot to kidnap Sir Winston Churchill unfolds at the height of World War II. Escape to Athena. Title: 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,431. 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. MOVIES: DAVID NIVEN LIKES LIVING IN LUXURY I believe that it must have been filmed on mainland Greece. Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler is ordered to execute ten times that Italians. [5], Filming began in Greece on 21 February 1978. I too received a copy of the film for Christmas and can confirm that whilst the film was all shot on location on Rhodes the monastery that you mention is not here in Rhodes. Los Angeles Times 1 Oct 1978: o31. [13] Author Mark Hinchliff of Motorbike Writer ranks the chase in Escape to Athena as 3rd, only after those in The Great Escape (1st) and Skyfall (2nd).[14]. If you are unsure how best to edit this programme please take a moment to read it. Resistance to the Germans is led by Zeno, a former monk, and his few fighters. A man becomes destructively obsessed with killing a dangerous rat, which has taken residence in his, recently renovated, house. I see you're using an ad-blocker. If you are unsure how best to edit this programme please take a moment to read it. [8], William Holden was visiting his girlfriend Stefanie Powers during filming and was persuaded to make a cameo in the prison camp scene, presumably reprising his role as Stalag 17 escapee Sergeant Sefton. Starring Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven 1944: an unnamed Greek island controlled by the Germans. Sonny Bono on a New Horizon There were of course many from the film Escape to Athena. Not realising the danger immediately, Charlie and Rotelli scour the monastery for the treasure, while Judson frees the monks. Chris Makrozahopoulos , The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Roger Moore/Maureen Stapleton. During World War II, the prisoners of a German camp on a Greek island are trying to escape. FREE Delivery on all Orders! Soon he is searching for his teenage passion, Elena (Raquel Welch). There are some tense moments when the gang takes steps in their master plan of escape, and there are some pretty cute moments of camaraderie. BBC Two - Escape to Athena This programme is not currently available on BBC iPlayer A group of Allied prisoners of war plan to escape while excavating an archaeological site on … He informed Hauptmann Lantz that their radio appeared to be dead. Zeno, the monks and the Americans escape the monastery before it explodes. DVD Starring: Charles Bronson, James Garner, Steve McQueen No Escape. Escape to Athena was filmed in Panavision with original lab work by Rank. Extras 3 Bonus Footage, Interviews: Cast and crew, Location report, Trailers. Awards [edit | edit source] Pilot's Badge; Notes [edit | edit source] Although it's likely he died when the Mt. Los Angeles Times 25 Apr 1978: f8., https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Escape_to_Athena&oldid=1010035070, Films about World War II resistance movements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Richard Wren as Capt. Zeno now receives word from Allied intelligence that the planned invasion of the islands has been brought forward, and so the German garrison in the monastery atop Mount Athena must be neutralised. [6] The bulk of the film was shot on the island of Rhodes. Zeno finds the self-destruct clock, but he cannot deactivate it. Prime Video From £2.49 £ 2. Rome, March 23, 1944: 33 German soldiers are killed by a bomb. Chicago Tribune 15 Oct 1978: h58. "You're still here?" 2015 | Suitable for 15 years and over | CC. Kilday, Gregg. Grade gave the job of directing to George Costmatos who had just made The Cassandra Crossing for ITC and who Grade felt "would make a great action movie and as "action" was in vogue again I was confident we were on to a winner. In 1944, Allied prisoners at a POW camp on an unnamed Greek island are forced to excavate ancient artifacts. Here are some of our favorite films that sparked the popularity of these danceable Holi numbers. Without revealing the whole truth, Zeno tells Charlie, Rotelli and Judson that in return for helping liberate the monks from the Germans, whatever they find there would be theirs. Even though the movie can feel a little strange at times-Roger Moore plays a Nazi and he frequently jokes around with the POWs, and he treats Stephanie like a girlfriend instead of a prisoner-it's actually pretty good. They use the local brothel, run by his girlfriend, as an undercover headquarters. Use the HTML below. It seems worse than it is because with the actors involved, the physical setting and the plot idea, most of us watched it expecting more than it delivered. (1979). 49 to rent. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Description: In a World War Two prison camp, the Fuhrer's scheme for looting a treasure-laden island off Greece is under way. From £7.99 to buy. [1], The film was partly financed and produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. Escape To Athena General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. [7], David Niven agreed to be in the film because his son produced it and he liked the idea of returning to Rhodes, where he had made The Guns of Navarone. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. During a battle with the resistance, SS Major Volkmann escapes on a motorcycle with Charlie (played by Elliott Gould) chasing after him on a motorcycle with sidecar down narrow village streets. Vote films up or down and leave your comments. Written by During the victory celebration in the village, Hecht, Charlie, and Dottie plan after the war to capitalise on treasures Hecht has already looted, by making copies to sell to Americans. Grade thought ""the first eighty minutes were a failure because of these different elements but the last forty, action-packed minutes were wonderful. Escape to Athena is a 1979 British adventure comedy war film directed by George P. Cosmatos. he asks, referencing Bill's Oscar-winning performance in 1953's Stalag 17. Still, with the pre-sales I'd made we didn't lose nearly as much as we might have". Mann, Roderick. They don't want only their freedom, but they also seek an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the top of the island's mountain. Details include the date it was added to BritBox UK, any known expiry dates and new episodes/seasons, the ratings and cast etc. They don't want only their freedom, but they also seek an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the top of the island's mountain. The Great Escape + Von Ryan?s Express + The McKenzie Break + Stalag 17 + Escape to Athena + Escape from Sobibor (II GUERRA MUNDI. However Zeno tells Charlie that the treasures belong to the Greek people. The 1080p and region-free Blu-ray disc looks wonderful and suits the format especially well, at least visually. It's not one I'll watch over and over again, but I did enjoy it. 10 of 13 people found this review helpful. I'd forgotten how silly this movie was - but it does have some good action sequences. After completing the mission, Charlie asks Zeno to lead him and two other prisoners, Judson and Rotelli, up to the monastery on Mount Athena to steal Byzantine treasures kept there by the monks. Zeno, who is in contact with Allied Headquarters, is ordered to break the prisoners out of their camp and use them to help liberate the town and capture the nearby U-boat refuelling depot. Escape to Athena is a film very much of its time, both in terms of tone and casting as well as production. View production, box office, & company info. escape to athena. Athena. During World War II, the British must attack a German ship, but it's safe in neutral Goa. FILM CLIPS: Lew Grade's $97 Million Projects Tony Curtis: Giving Novel a Shove Escape to Athena. Synopsis. 7; HD; CC; Drama; 1 Hour 59 Minutes 2002; The Fuehrer’s scheme for looting a treasure-laden island off Greece is under way. The music was composed by Lalo Schifrin. A British banker hires a group of British mercenaries to rescue a deposed African President from the hands of a corrupt African dictator. [9], According to stuntman Vic Armstrong, the crew hated the director so much they stole his hat and nailed it to a mast. With Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers. During World War I, a British aristocrat, an American entrepreneur, and the latter's attractive young daughter, set out to destroy a German battlecruiser, which is awaiting repairs in an inlet just off Zanzibar. 'Anglo-Saxon Type Two-double-O-eight': The enduring, highly amused, and indomitably British style of David Niven. Prisoners of war labour under the eye of the camp’s Austrian Commandant, Major Otto Hecht (Roger Moore), as they dig up priceless Greek art. Will he find the traitor before getting killed? We should be used to it by now. Elliott Gould - A solid leading man in his day. The forced labour is proved by assorted Allied prisoners of war including Professor Blake (David Niven), Sergeant Judson (Richard Roundtree), and Rotelli (Sonny Bono). If this type of quirky comedy appeals to you, you'll probably like it. While Hecht is content to sit out the war, the SS Commandant of the nearby town, Major Volkmann, brutally enforces discipline, including reprisal executions of civilians. Partnership with General Cinema Corp, but he can not deactivate it self-destruct mechanism ) and... Location on the island of Rhodes was last edited on 3 March 2021 British Style David... 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