After just watching "Escape to Athena," I could understand why it might not be highly rated by many people. But, when reading the IMDb reviews, I found that reasons for low ratings given so far were not what I thought was a debit of the film. Most didn't like the plot or thought the action was weak. I thought that many people may not see much of a comedy in a film that shows brutal killings by the Nazis, which this has. Even with the character of Elliott Gould's Charlie Dane, the comedy is quite lame and comes across almost as crass and indifference to the people in the midst of the Nazi brutality,
There is some subtle comedy in David Niven's Professor Blake and Roger Moore's Major Otto Hecht, and that works okay. The film was billed as action, adventure and comedy. I guess the European makers of the film had completely forgotten about the war or didn't recognize that the setting was wartime. It should be billed as a war movie. That's where I will take exception, as well, with those who don't see much action, because this film is loaded with it. The operation to seize control of the German base and facilities provides some good action.
As to the unbelievability of the plot, well, quite a few war movies were made that were highly fictional and that really stretched the imagination. But they offered some big entertainment. A couple that leap to mind, that most movie buffs will have seen, are "The Dirty Dozen" of 1967, and "Kelly's Heroes" of 1970. And, there have been films made about the German's confiscation of great works of art and things of historical importance. So, the location of a special German camp where prisoners work in archeological digs isn't that far-fetched at all.
Of course there are some things about this film that are unbelievable or that stretch reality. Other military men or those who know history and firearms can challenge some of the weapons used in this film. I would just add that in my three years of Army service in a combat Airborne infantry unit, including serving as a platoon armorer and RTO (Radio-Telephone Operator), I never once saw a firearm silencer. Yet in this film, it seems that everyone has them - almost all of the Greek underground and Allied escapees. There are silencers on what look like German lugers, and on rifles. Then, there is the matter of pinpoint accuracy of just about everyone firing a handgun. At 10- and 20-feet, most people with a pistol, revolver or luger would be able to shoot and hit a man in the torso. But some of these shots were 75 to 100 feet away, and they were all taking down Germans with their handguns. When the aged Professor shoots the German soldier right between the eyes as he's holding a hostage, David Niven had to be 30 yards or more away from him. Then, too, a lot of these guys had Sten guns, the British submachine guns used in WW II.
Gould's character would have worked much better as something other than a comedian - say, a singer or piano player. Then, he could still have arranged camp entertainment and had greedy eyes for ancient treasurers, but not been so indifferent to the treatment of the Greek citizens
This movie struck me as a project to bring together a number of middle-aged stars and older, for one last fling of a wartime action movie. And this cast of big names probably had fun making the movie. The last plus for the film is the scenic shots of the Aegean Sea and Greek Islands there. Anyone who has sailed or flown to that area knows the striking beauty of the waters and islands of the Aegean. Another thing about Greece is the number of monasteries it has on the mainland and islands, many of them built high up in the hills or mountains and accessible only on foot.
The movie was shot on location on the Island of Rhodes, the southeastern-most reach of Greece and the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The screenplay, direction and action shots with the older folks are a little shaky at times. And, it has an adult theme with the brothel in town. But most of the cast, the considerable action and pyro techniques and beautiful scenery should please most movie fans.
There is some subtle comedy in David Niven's Professor Blake and Roger Moore's Major Otto Hecht, and that works okay. The film was billed as action, adventure and comedy. I guess the European makers of the film had completely forgotten about the war or didn't recognize that the setting was wartime. It should be billed as a war movie. That's where I will take exception, as well, with those who don't see much action, because this film is loaded with it. The operation to seize control of the German base and facilities provides some good action.
As to the unbelievability of the plot, well, quite a few war movies were made that were highly fictional and that really stretched the imagination. But they offered some big entertainment. A couple that leap to mind, that most movie buffs will have seen, are "The Dirty Dozen" of 1967, and "Kelly's Heroes" of 1970. And, there have been films made about the German's confiscation of great works of art and things of historical importance. So, the location of a special German camp where prisoners work in archeological digs isn't that far-fetched at all.
Of course there are some things about this film that are unbelievable or that stretch reality. Other military men or those who know history and firearms can challenge some of the weapons used in this film. I would just add that in my three years of Army service in a combat Airborne infantry unit, including serving as a platoon armorer and RTO (Radio-Telephone Operator), I never once saw a firearm silencer. Yet in this film, it seems that everyone has them - almost all of the Greek underground and Allied escapees. There are silencers on what look like German lugers, and on rifles. Then, there is the matter of pinpoint accuracy of just about everyone firing a handgun. At 10- and 20-feet, most people with a pistol, revolver or luger would be able to shoot and hit a man in the torso. But some of these shots were 75 to 100 feet away, and they were all taking down Germans with their handguns. When the aged Professor shoots the German soldier right between the eyes as he's holding a hostage, David Niven had to be 30 yards or more away from him. Then, too, a lot of these guys had Sten guns, the British submachine guns used in WW II.
Gould's character would have worked much better as something other than a comedian - say, a singer or piano player. Then, he could still have arranged camp entertainment and had greedy eyes for ancient treasurers, but not been so indifferent to the treatment of the Greek citizens
This movie struck me as a project to bring together a number of middle-aged stars and older, for one last fling of a wartime action movie. And this cast of big names probably had fun making the movie. The last plus for the film is the scenic shots of the Aegean Sea and Greek Islands there. Anyone who has sailed or flown to that area knows the striking beauty of the waters and islands of the Aegean. Another thing about Greece is the number of monasteries it has on the mainland and islands, many of them built high up in the hills or mountains and accessible only on foot.
The movie was shot on location on the Island of Rhodes, the southeastern-most reach of Greece and the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The screenplay, direction and action shots with the older folks are a little shaky at times. And, it has an adult theme with the brothel in town. But most of the cast, the considerable action and pyro techniques and beautiful scenery should please most movie fans.