Escape to Athena (1979) User Reviews

Cute quirky comedy

[HotToastyRag · 7/10 · 15 February 2018]

It's really tough to make a comedy out of a POW movie, and it's even tougher to make the most predominant Nazi character likable. Somehow, Escape to Athena manages to do both.

Elliott Gould and Stephanie Powers are American entertainers, taken to the famous Stalag 17 prison camp, where veteran residents David Niven, Sonny Bono, and Richard Roundtree show them the ropes. 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. By far, my favorite part of the movie is when Elliott and Stephanie arrive. They walk past some prisoners outside in the fenced yard, and Elliott gives a double-take to William Holden. "You're still here?" he asks, referencing Bill's Oscar-winning performance in 1953's Stalag 17.

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. 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. If this type of quirky comedy appeals to you, you'll probably like it. It's not one I'll watch over and over again, but I did enjoy it.

Come on guys; it was pretty enjoyable!!

[patriciahammond · 7/10 · 20 April 2008]

This film came free with today's paper, so perhaps I'm in an indulgent frame of mind. However, much as I admire the wit shown by IMDb members in panning this film, I have to disagree with them. Escape to Athena is a very enjoyable romp indeed, with all sorts of excellent stylistic touches, some really gratifying explosions, humour that is a trifle dated but not so bad if you lean back and accept it, and an interesting plot. I don't know why people require a movie to go all the way in one direction, ie be edge-of-the-seat suspense, or cataclysmic tragedy, or roll-in-the-aisles hilarious, or weepie romantic etc. etc. Why can't it be a bit of everything? I think we're far too used to the extremes that have become fashionable of late. Forget Daniel Day-Lewis bursting a vein, if just for one evening. You'll feel better for it. However, Telly really can't dance. That I must agree with.

An amiable and silly warlike movie full of action, adventures and humor

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 11 May 2009]

This WWII movie takes place on somewhere in Greek islands during 1944 , a misfit prisoners group(a stoic David Niven,a two-fisted Richard Roundtree, among them) are scheming escape from the concentration camp and at the same time the robbing in an Ortodox monastery at the top of the island's mountain. At the bunch appear a distinguished David Niven(whose son David Niven Jr is producer), an Italian cook(Sonny Bono), a member of the Greek Resistance(Telly Savalas), a prostitute( beautiful Claudia Cardinale) and among Nazis are a former Viennese art merchant(likable Roger Moore) and a cruel Nazi(Anthony Valentine).The gentleman Nazi officer Moore is stuck with the outfit of goof-offs as they search for the Greek treasure.

Basically an amusing action filled /wartime/and comedy set during WWII. It's a crossover among the rogue soldiers from ¨The Kelly's heroes(Brian G Hutton)¨, the getaway from ¨The great escape(John Sturges)¨ and the humor included in ¨Hogan's heroes¨ taking parts here and there. This wartime picture which is short in realism instead we have far-fetched but moving blow up, shoot'em up, fighting , it should please most adventure-action-comedy buffs.Middling screenplay by the prestigious Edward Anhalt.Some characters aren't credible in 1944 setting , neither the Nais soldiers dressed in black when parade along with the secret German rocket installation.Roger Moore is miscast as an Nazi official and Elliott Gould as a hippie-alike sound embarrassing. Cameo by William Holden as prisoner smoking a cigar in prison camp and he appears uncredited. Luminous and shimmer photography by Gilbert Taylor. Stirring and military musical score by Lalo Schifrin. This improbable motion picture is professionally directed by George Pan Cosmatos. Although the movie has some aspects a little tough to take , this caper film still has its moments.This large-scale and lavishly produced pic attempts a bemusing atmosphere with regular results.

an underrated, underdog of a movie

[waldorfsalad · 10 March 2000]

This movie was blasted by the critics but who cares? It's not exactly a comedy, not a drama, but it does have a lot of action and adventure plus an all-star cast that all play wonderfully off one another, notably Elliott Gould and Stephanie Powers, who always have great comic timing anyway, but here they're a delight together, especially in the "stripping" scene on stage. It's got some good chases and gorgeous scenery of the island of Rhodes. Give it a whirl!

Why does everyone hate this film?

[Jonathan_G · 7/10 · 14 May 1999]

No one likes this film. Why not? It is a remarkably good film, with an excellent cast. Telly Savalas seems to be remarkably at home in this film; he is very natural. I also think that it is good to see David Niven in a different setting to his usual role as the English gentlemen. However, Roger Moore's German accent is appalling. The character of Charlie is also well imagined, and the motorcycling stunts are first class. There are some great one-liners: "I think your defection to the Allies must be taken as something of a mixed message." And did I mention the soundtrack from Heatwave (at the end of the film) ...

What it for the scenery, including Roger!

[sue-06239 · 7/10 · 2 July 2023]

The wonderfully handsome Roger Moore was my main reason for sitting down one afternoon, while full of cold and feeling lousy, to watch this star-studded old film.

Roger is his gorgeous, charming self playing a benign German camp commandant on an idyllic Greek island in 1944. His scenes with the sadistic SS Officer, who he clearly despises (Anthony Valentine, well cast) are good.

Lots of big stars populate this film as a small group of favoured POWs are tasked with uncovering valuable treasures from around the island. Elliott Gould and Stephanie Powers are quite corny and annoying as two vaudeville entertainers who end up in the camp after being shot down.

Telly Savalas is a hard man local resistance fighter and David Niven is an urbane POW with a useful expertise in ancient artifacts.

Shallow this may be, but were it not for the lovely setting and my long passion for Roger I would probably not have enjoyed this film as much.

I'm guessing that this star-studded cast had an absolute ball filming this on the island and I can imagine that a brilliant time was had by all off camera!

Below Average War Adventure

[JamesHitchcock · 4/10 · 27 July 2006]

Films about the Second World War were highly popular in the British cinema throughout the fifties and sixties, but by the time "Escape to Athena" was made at the end of the seventies the genre was beginning to run out of steam. The film could be described as a sort of "Guns of Navarone" meets "Colditz". Like the former, it is set on a German-occupied Greek island, and like the latter it concerns the attempts of a group of Allied prisoners to escape from a prisoner of war camp. The prisoners, however, are not merely concerned with escaping. They also plan to make a raid on a nearby monastery in order to loot a collection of priceless Byzantine golden plates. The local Greek Resistance are also interested in the monastery, because the Nazis are using it as a base for the V2 rockets with which they hope to defeat any Allied attempt to liberate the island.

One unusual thing about the film is that it features a "good German", although both the noun and the adjective need to be given a fairly wide definition. Major Otto Hecht, the commandant of the prison camp, is Viennese by birth, and therefore only German by virtue of the 1938 Anschluss between Germany and Austria. In civilian life he was an antique dealer, and he is not above using his military position to loot antiquities which he ships to relatives in Switzerland, hoping to sell them at a profit after the war. In wartime, however, embezzlement of this nature is a minor offence compared with the other crimes of the Nazis, and the comparatively liberal Hecht is repelled by the brutality of some of his comrades such as the fanatical SS Major Volkmann (played by Anthony Valentine who had played a very similar role in the early seventies British TV serial "Colditz"), and has no difficulties about throwing his lot in with the prisoners he is supposedly guarding.

The other characters are something of a mixed bunch. We have David Niven going through the motions as an upper-class English archaeologist, Telly Savalas as a Resistance leader, Richard Roundtree as a black American POW and Sonny Bono as an Italian marooned on the wrong side after his country switched sides in the war. The war film is normally a male-dominated genre, although this one has rather more glamour than normal, with Claudia Cardinale as a Greek prostitute and Stefanie Powers as a swimmer turned actress (presumably based on Esther Williams), one of two American entertainers captured by the Germans, the other being Elliott Gould's Jewish comedian.

It was a surprise to see Roger Moore playing something other than an Englishman, although it must be said that he does not make a convincing German. This film came halfway through his reign as 007, and he sounds much the same as he did when playing James Bond, making only the most perfunctory attempt at a foreign accent. As in some of his less successful Bond films he just seems content to stroll through the film without putting any great effort. To be fair, however, the same could be said of most of the rest of the cast. One wonders if they signed up merely in order to spend a few months in the Greek sunshine. Niven, for example, too old in his late sixties to be taking a leading role in an action film like this, seems even more laid-back than Moore.

If the cast seem uninspired, that is possibly because they are dealing with a very uninspiring script. The film's occasional attempts to blend humour with action (mostly involving Gould's character) tend to fall flat. "Escape to Athena" is very much an average war adventure, or even a below average war adventure, with little to set it apart from all the other indifferent war films that had appeared on both sides of the Atlantic over the preceding few decades. 4/10

Actually Works

[TheFearmakers · 7/10 · 12 July 2021]

About the only thing ESCAPE TO ATHENA is known for is how miscast the famously British James Bond actor Roger Moore is at playing a WWII Nazi... but Moore's actually a charming German major reluctantly running a Greek Island-set POW camp and can care less about Hitler...

In fact he's what true Nazi villain Anthony Valentine calls "an antique collector" so, as a German Archeologist flirting with sassy ingenue Stefanie Powers, Moore fits much better than scene-wrecker Elliott Gould, partnered with Powers as a captured USO team... and the goofy, flamboyant Gould seems lost in the wrong movie...

One that's tonally-challenged either way, showing a public execution one minute and silly pratfalls the next...

Yet ESCAPE is beautifully directed by George P. Cosmatos, using creative camera shots to cover what feels like every inch of the sea-cliff Greek village of antique buildings and glorious ruins, where the other characters fare better...

Like Sonny Bono as an endearing Italian chef, David Niven as an experienced old Brit and Richard Roundtree as an American con man, eventually joining Greek cutthroat Telly Savalas and heart-of-gold-hooker Claudia Cardinale...

So despite the maligned reputation, ATHENA has loads of neat action, explosions, gun fights, twists, turns, and only the overlong race-against-time climb to a treasure-laden mountain slows down this adventurous/ambitious Lew Grade produced b-picture... that ultimately tries too hard for epic mainstream status: A far better action flick than heist flick.

Promises a lot but delivers little

[Big S-2 · 4/10 · 26 May 2001]

I only recently got to see this movie and – on the basis of the all-start cast and the still pictures that I had seen – I was expecting a well-made and slightly offbeat war film. I was very disappointed. This movie can't make up its mind whether it wants to be a comedy or an action / adventure yarn, and in the end it largely fails to deliver on either front. Roger Moore is hopelessly miscast as the antiques-loving German (or rather Austrian) PoW camp commandant, and a number of the other characters such as Sonny Bono's Italian chef, Michael Sheard's oafish German sergeant and Telly Savalas' Greek resistance leader are extremely caricature-ish. Even Richard Rowntree's PoW character comes across merely as Shaft in a GI uniform (coming out with expressions like `he's one cool cat'). The character Charlie (played by Elliot Gould) is a civilian USO entertainer whose plane was shot down over the Mediterranean, with him and his female colleague being captured and placed in the PoW camp. However, when these two are introduced early on, we see them looking like a pair of well-heeled American holidaymakers. Both are immaculately groomed and dressed, and they certainly don't look like two people who have just been fished out of the Mediterranean after their plane has been shot out of the sky - the woman is even lugging all her suitcases behind her!!! I assume that we're supposed to believe that they too would have survived the shootdown without even a scuff mark and then floated up from the plane wreckage to be conveniently retrieved. I have to admit that initially I found the Charlie character fairly amusing and even laughed at some of his one-liners. But ultimately he became more annoying than funny. The action scenes later on were also fairly predictable and boring. I got the impression that the makers of this movie were trying to combine elements from those classic war films `The Guns Of Navarone', `The Great Escape' and `Kelly's Heroes' (we even had David Niven who appeared in the former and Telly Savalas from the latter). But this movie is not a classic in any way, shape or form. It oozes mediocrity in all areas. On the plus side, the Greek islands location is wonderful and the camera work is on the whole pretty good. And the beautiful Claudia Cardinale graces any movie that she's in. On balance though I'd have to give this film just 3½ out of 10. Not the worst war film I've ever seen, but definitely `below average' and – given the amount of big names in it – the end result is a massive disappointment.

I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 13 July 2023]

A group of Allied Prisoners of War on a Greek island plan to escape, but not before they've lifted some valuable treasures.

Wow, this was quite something, a mix of Stalag 17, James Bond and Kojac, I truly had no idea what to expect with this film, I didn't quite expect it to play out as it did.

I understand why it has such a low score, it's hardly one thing or the other, it's an action packed, comedy caper, it looks sublime, but at times the content really is hollow.

There are some imaginative ideas, and it's hard not the enjoy the idea of a team of allies fighting The Nazis on a Greek island, but the ending lost me a little, it does take a pretty wild turn.

The major positive has to be the film's appearance, the camera work is fantastic, those sweeping panoramic scenes look great. Plenty of explosions throughout to keep you entertained.

I liked the music, you'll hear several well known melodies that you can sing along to.

I thought David Niven, Stefanie Powers and Elliot Gould were all good value. Roger Moore's German accent......Cafe Rene, he should have done a stint on Allo Allo, it would have fitted in well.

I thought it was better than its reputation would suggest, just be mindful to manage your expectations.

7/10.

The Reluctant Nazi

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 20 February 2008]

Roger Moore is the Austrian commandant of a German POW camp located in the Grecian Isles in Escape to Athena. He's got a couple of favorites among the prisoners, an Italian cook in Sonny Bono, an archaeologist in David Niven and a black GI magician in Richard Roundtree. In addition USO entertainers Elliott Gould and Stefanie Powers are shot down in their transport plane and become Moore's prisoners.

Moore really hasn't got his heart in the commandant business. He's an antique dealer in civilian life and he relishes the assignment only because of the location where he's also involved in Adolph Hitler's looting of Greek antiquities of which there are many in that area. Niven and company aid him because if they didn't they'd be in the hands of the SS. STill they want there freedom.

Which they get when they join with resistance leader Telly Savalas and his mistress, bordello madam Claudia Cardinale. It's rumored there's a lot of hidden loot in a monastery on a nearby hill, whatever Moore hasn't taken for his own private stock for after the war. But Savalas is interested in some prototype V2 rockets located there.

Escape to Athena mixes the plot elements of The Guns of Navarone and Topkapi, but they're not stirred too well. The scenery is quite nice and I'm sure the prospect of some paid time in the Aegean Sea might have been a big inducement for all these people signing on for the movie.

As he was involved with Stefanie Powers at the time, William Holden gets a small unbilled cameo in a brief scene with Elliott Gould. As it turns out Moore's Prison Camp is also Stalag XVII. That might have been part of the package for Stefanie to go to Greece.

It was also plain dumb to make Richard Roundtree a black GI. Americans were not involved in that theater, let alone black soldiers. Now if they had made his character be part of the African colonial troops of the British Empire, it would have made more sense. Then again we couldn't have heard Roundtree call a German soldier a 'cool cat'.

The action sequences are done well enough, but the cast here just collected their paychecks and walked through the parts.

Enjoyable Saturday Afternoon Classic!

[greene515 · 10/10 · 7 July 2006]

'Escape To Athena' Is an enjoyable late seventies's Action War Comedy, That has an all Star Cast, The story is set somewhere in the Greek islands circa 1944, and center's around the efforts of local, Resistance fighter Zeno Telly Savalas) Who is aided by the ever gorgeous Claudia Cardinale,

Their plan is simple liberate the islands from the inhumane German occupation,And rightfully reclaim the Art treasure's of Athena before the Nasty Nazi's do!

Roger Moore, Is Major Otto Hecht, A Former shady antique's dealer come jazz lover, Elliout Gould, And Stephanie(Hart To Hart, Power's) Play a USO duo who provide's the film with some light hearted moments's

Sonny Bono, is a Italian chef, This guilty pleasure also star's The original 'Shaft' Richard Roundtree, And David Niven,

The film is chock full of Action which display's some stunt technique's then 'new' at the time such as ramp's to propel the stunt's person forward in an explosion,And hidden air Cushion's for some high fall's(which for some reason there's lot's!)

There is a great stunt motorcycle chase,with Elliott Gould which feature's some great Steadicam work, all in all a great film, now available on DVD in 2:35:1 widescreen

The Greek Escape.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 7/10 · 15 January 2018]

Planning to catch up on TV shows last week,all my viewings got stopped, when I caught some Australian flu. Getting over the illness,I looked for an easy-going flick to view. Missing it during a showing a few months ago,I was pleased to see this title appear on the BBC iPlayer,which led to me escaping to Athena.

The plot-

Nazi Occupied Greece 1944:

On a small Greek island, Major Otto Hecht uses POWs to dig up artifacts on the island that he can send to his sister. Aware that their lives depend on artifacts constantly being found,the POWs slyly take objects back to the site for "re-discovery." Learning of a nearby U-Boat refueling depot,the POWs plan to finally escape from Athena.

View on the film:

Losing 30 minutes of footage in the hopes of it playing better in the US, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Edward Anhalt and Richard S. Lochte) director George P. Cosmatos retains a Boys Own Adventure atmosphere,with the isolated state of the island building tension between the POWs and the Nazis,that explodes in the second,action-filled part of the movie. Breaking out the Men on a Mission genre, the writers keep all the characters at a rough sketch level,but give the movie enough quirky asides to keep the bullets flying,from the unique use of artifacts at the centre of the island,to a Nazi joining the goodies!

Whilst not a match for their extraordinary TV productions, ITC make sure that the glossy, almost- futuristic sheen that glows in The Avengers & The Prisoner is prominent, with the gliding crane shots from cinematographer Gilbert Taylor (who had worked on some Avengers eps) giving the film's setting an isolated in time aura. Later taking one man war machine Rambo to war in First Blood part 2, director George P. Cosmatos's takes these Men on a Mission to war with rapid fire set-pieces,from a thrilling,ultra stylised motorbike chase,to the blast of smoke and fire in the shoot-outs being against an ancient Greece backdrop.

Casually dropping the German accent mid-scenes,Roger Moore gives a wonderfully boo-hiss,not at all threatening performance as Major Otto Hecht,whilst fitties Claudia Cardinale (who has an eye-catching dance number) and Stefanie Powers give the macho-action a touch of glamour. Joined by a tough talking Richard Roundtree as Nat Judson, David Niven perfectly matches Moore by layering on the charm as POW Professor Blake,who breaks out with the artifacts.

Uneven war romp with brilliant stuntwork

[shakercoola · 5/10 · 9 May 2018]

A British action adventure; A story about Allied POWs on a Greek island who plan to escape and pull off an art robbery. A joke cameo by William Holden signals a trace of tongue-in-cheek in this 'Stalag 17' style adventure. Tonally, the film shifts between violent war thrills and light comedy, and with no obvious lead character it has a disjointed feel. It is served by a good cast and is nicely photographed with some interesting locales. The action is good - there is a fabulous motorcycle chase through the narrow streets of Rhodes. All in all, a moderately pleasing distraction for a postprandial Sunday afternoon.

A surprising gem

[aman-3 · 30 May 1999]

I happened across this film at a used video sale, saw the cast list and immediately bought it. I mean, Sonny Bono AND Richard Roundtree? Cosmotos did a bang up job of translating the James Bond formula to the 1940's (though with the ocassional anachronism -- the word "groovy," Bono's haircut). And what a motorcycle chase! I'm not a chase fan, but this one is on par with some of the greats. Just enough stuff to keep the jaded fan amazed.

Fluffy

[edwoodjr2003 · 7/10 · 14 January 2012]

Hogan's Heroes meets Batman-like camp. Totally and utterly implausible and fluffy. A lot of dumb Germans, etc. But if you go int it thinking that way it's not THAT bad. After all, it is a movie. Lots of explosions and gunfire and flames. It looks like they had fun making it. A nice vacation for all involved. If not just a payday. weird jump to "current times" (1979?) at the end. I saw this twice as a kid at the local town theater. Probably had a pack of Sweettarts and a flat coke. End credits include "lingerie by.......". Definitely wouldn't pay $10+ to see it but if you catch it on cable, give it a try. I'm now trying to make the required 10 lines here for submission.

Lots of action in this WW II film set in the scenic Aegean Sea

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 26 November 2020]

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.

Great cast, poor film

[TurboarrowIII · 3/10 · 7 September 2014]

A great cast cannot save this poor film. It is meant to be set in WW2 but everyone appears to have 1979 hairstyles and talk in 1979 language. It was meant to be tongue in cheek I think but it just comes across as over the top and not even remotely realistic.

When the Germans are setting up their rocket towards the end the operators have crash helmets with obviously 1970's reflective mirror visors.

None of the starry cast can really say they put in a half decent performance. Elliott Gould in particular hams it up for all he is worth and at least he looks like he had fun making it. Roger Moore as a German is not realistic either. At least he (sort of) attempted a German accent. Telly Savalas was maybe just getting over the disappointment of Kojak finishing as he was uncharacteristically poor in this. Even Richard Roundtree, so cool as Shaft, looks like he couldn't be bothered.

Overall a poor film with poor performances and very much lacking in realism.

great action movie

[allanmichael30 · 7/10 · 30 April 2021]

Lots of action and great cast, great scene of motorbike chase through city.

Everyone's in Greece for a wartime adventure romp, but it looks more like a lazy vacation.

[barnabyrudge · 4/10 · 23 May 2003]

How's this for a dazzling international cast: Roger Moore, David Niven, Stephanie Powers, Elliot Gould, Telly Savalas, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Rountree and Soony Bono? All in one film! There's also the briefest of cameos by the great William Holden. Surely to assemble such talent suggests that this film started out with a promising script. It's a shame, then, that in the final analysis Escape to Athena is such dismal, amateurish junk.

The story takes place on a Greek island during WWII. Various Allied POWs survive under the fairly relaxed custody of German officer Roger Moore, but they begin to form ideas above their station when they hear of a Nazi-occupied monastery nearby which is full of priceless art treasures. A small group of escapees scale the island mountains and attempt to steal the loot from the German forces.

Everyone looks like they're on vacation in this one. Certainly no-one seems to give two hoots about the story. The action highlights are few and far between, and much of the comedy banter - intended to breathe life into the characters - falls horribly flat. Moore gets top billing but has terribly little to do with the story; Gould probably lands the juiciest role, but he overplays it to the point of irritation.

Only if you want to see the all star cast

[imranahmedsg · 6/10 · 1 November 2020]

Thin plot bursting with stereotypes much like many 1970s war movies. Technically effects are better than most films of the time but that's little consolation for most viewers.

I also didn't note much comedy though it's listed in the comedy category too.

Watch if you have copious amounts of time and you want to see a film with an all.star cast. Or leave it on while you come and go from your TV room. You won't miss too much ...

Too many stars, not enough story.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 28 February 2022]

Yes the location footage is great and there are some fabulous action scenes. But it's just another excuse for its international cast to get a nice trip to the Greek isles, earn a paycheck and relax while not getting much to do acting wise. You've got Roger Moore, David Niven (working for his producer son), Elliot Gould, Sonny Bono, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Carfinale, Telly Savalas and Richard Roundtree lounging aroubd when they are not shooting bullets in sudden attacks on the Nazi's, with Moore playing an Austrian officer so you're never really sure which side he's on. Gould and Bono are present to provide some comic relief (not very good comedy), and it reminds me of that saying back in the seventies when a critic said that he saw a movie recently and was surprised that Elliott Gould was not in it. It is basically an opportunity to ask a trivia question of what ex's of Streisand and Cher were in a movie together.

At times, just doesn't know whether it wants to be a comedy or a war film, starting off with a sequence where. A Greek kid knocks on a Nazi officer's window, spits in his face and runs off as they chase him all around the area. Of course, a kid is going to be able to outrun a goose-stepping Nazi so there's no contest here. The effort is to get to a castle on the top of Mount Athena (certainly a gorgeous set) that the Nazis have taken over, and it takes well over an hour before efforts to get there again. So you get plenty of nonsense in the meantime including a not very good USO how led by Gould.

Powers looks nice in an Andrews sisters hairstyle, and Cardinale is pretty but tough as she holds some Nazi officers hostage. But unless you're going to see this on a big screen, it doesn't really flow all that interestingly, so at 2 hours in length, it's about 20 minutes overly long. There were so many WWII movies being made in this time that many of them just do not hold up as well as films made during the actual war, and as critics have said about many of these films, they are not very realistic or historically accurate. I can see why this was a box office bomb as obviously word-of-mouth for it was not good outside of the compliments about the photography and locations. It seems to be a variation of "The Dirty Dozen" style plotline, but to film overall indicates why that 60's movie is now considered a classic and this one has fallen majorly Into obscurity.

It's not a traditional war film because most are based on some sort of actual part of the conflict.

[dbond201 · 8/10 · 25 May 2021]

It's a fictionalised comedy, drama, thriller, action, cartoon movie made without studio cash and a totally original fun story. With James Bond type action. If you want a war film the are plenty out there. I think people are dissatisfied because that is what they we're expecting. Come on enjoy this work of fictionalised have a go entertainment. Or not?

If you are looking for historical accuracy, then choose a different film.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 26 April 2021]

"Escape to Athena" is a very odd WWII film. In many ways, it seems a lot like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" combined with "Hogan's Heroes"! It is certainly a strange film...likable but historically speaking it's pretty silly...especially seeing (and hearing) Roger Moore play an Austrian major!

I mentioned "Raiders of the Lost Ark" because the Nazi soldiers in this film are stationed on an unnamed Greek island and their mission seems to be to dig for various artifacts in order to send them back to Germany. There is some basis for this, as some German officers (Herman Goering, for example) used that war as an excuse to plunder all they could from occupied lands. I also mentioned "Hogan's Heroes" because it's about some POWs who are being forced to work here...and they are able to defeat the Germans because they all seem pretty stupid! There's no laugh track...but otherwise, I definitely see a lot of "Hogan's Heroes"! Obviously the film never takes itself very seriously and is about folks getting rich off the war (which actually makes it a bit like "Kelly's Heroes" as well)...and if you DO take it seriously, your head might explode because so much of the film can't be taken seriously.

Here are a few examples of the film and its strangely comic elements. Perhaps the silliest is a captured USO entertainer (Elliot Gould) who CONSTANTLY throws Yiddish expressions into his speech...which is INSANE since these folks are NAZIS. And, last time I checked, the Nazis weren't particularly fond of Jews. Additionally, all the Germans, though professional soldiers, can't seem to hit their targets...whereas the partisans, entertainers and POWs are amazingly accurate! And, of course, I mention (again), Roger Moore as an Austrian!! You need to hear his accent to believe it! As I said, you can't really take any of this seriously.

Despite being a historical mess, the film features some very nice camerawork (especially at the beginning...it's most impressive as the camera seems to glide about Rhodes) and the acting is generally pretty good....though Gould's character is just bizarre and seeing Sonny Bono among the POWs was odd. The only actor who seemed to take his role seriously was Telly Savalas.

So is it worth seeing? Yes, provided you set your expectations really low and you just want a good laugh. If you are a history teacher (I used to be one), it might be hard to take...but I apparently had low expectations and found it modestly entertaining.

After 10 minutes I lost the will to live.

[ianlouisiana · 2/10 · 2 August 2006]

In 1963 I bought an 8mm cine camera and immediately began shooting my first (and only )movie.The opening shot(in glorious Agfacolor and filmed on location at the Sussex Downs near Brighton) consisted of a 10 second zoom (the very latest technological miracle) of a cow evacuating its bowels.After this inspired start things went downhill pretty fast and the whole thing ended up first on the cutting room floor and later on the Guy Fawkes Bonfire.I feel that the director of "Escape from Athena" could have learned from my experience.As 8mm film was available only in 4 minute reels at least my masterpiece was mercifully brief.You filmed for two minutes,took the reel out and put it back the other way round before continuing,inevitably "fogging" about 15 seconds at either end,which left you with about 3 and a half minutes of usable footage,so he and I have at least that in common. However,I would caution you about ploughing through this terrible movie just in order to watch the motor-cycle chase,it's good - but not that good. David Niven looks as if he had recently been exhumed,Elliot Gould does an impersonation of Chico Marx that palls very quickly.I'm not sure what Stephanie Powers was doing,but at least she had the good grace to look embarrassed.Claudia Cardinale must have had an unexpected Tax Demand. Roger Moore presumably was at a loose end for a couple of days and needed to keep his eyebrows in training.Telly Savalas gets to do what is without doubt the worst Greek Dance scene in movie history and any film that resorts to featuring Sonny Bono is in dire dire trouble. Anybody I have missed out may consider themselves lucky. I will not mention the plot because plot is not the four-letter word that immediately springs to mind in conjunction with this movie. If there is even an outside chance that you can choose to watch celery grow rather than sit through "Escape to Athena" I thoroughly recommend that you take it.