Escape to Athena

Escape to Athena

6/6/1979 2h 5m 5.7/10

Overview

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.

Director

Derek Cracknell

Top Billed Cast

Stefanie Powers

Stefanie Powers

Dottie Del Mar

Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Nat Judson

Roger Moore

Roger Moore

Otto Hecht

Telly Savalas

Telly Savalas

Zeno

Claudia Cardinale

Claudia Cardinale

Eleana

David Niven

David Niven

Professor Blake

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

1/2/2025

6/10

I can just imagine Telly Savalas getting a few of his pals around a table for some ouzo on the rocks and suggesting they set a comedy-adventure film on a Greek island so they can all get a tan whilst he exudes his obvious pride in his homeland. Luckily, David Niven's experiences at cirrhosis-by-the-sea made him ideally qualified to take part and Roger Moore was also up for something shaken not stirred, so off to Rhodes they all went, bringing along Stefanie Powers and Elliott Gould for some extra international box office. Niven is an archeology professor; Moore the commandant of an open-air excavation/prison and their host is a local freedom fighter determined not just to get shot of the Nazis, but to prevent the looting of some ancient Byzantine treasures reputedly being hidden by the monks in a mountaintop monastery. "Dane" (Gould) and the temptress "Dottie Del Mar" (Powers) are on an USO tour when their plane is shot down and so she takes to doing the troop-entertaining while her more "greedy than suspicious" pal sets about helping stoke the fires of a coup! This is all light-hearted and engaging stuff with everyone looking like they are enjoying themselves, some stunning photography of the island - how did they ever manage to build a monetary like that? There's loads of over-acting, thick accents and Michael Sheard (after he'd been strangled by "Darth Vader") seems to have found his feet as a scene-stealing sergeant. Lalo Schifrin's score tries it's best to emulate the "Zorba" style theme of Mikis Theodorakis and on the whole I did quite enjoy their daft seaside escapades.

Similar Movies

How to Train Your Dragon

7.9

How to Train Your Dragon

2010

Raiders of the Lost Ark

7.9

Raiders of the Lost Ark

1981

Captain America: The First Avenger

7.0

Captain America: The First Avenger

2011

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

5.9

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

2001

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

7.8

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1989

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

5.5

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

7.3

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

1984

Empire of the Sun

7.5

Empire of the Sun

1987

King Kong vs. Godzilla

6.9

King Kong vs. Godzilla

1962

The Caine Mutiny

7.2

The Caine Mutiny

1954

I Wish I Were a Pigeon

0.0

I Wish I Were a Pigeon

1990

V hodine dvanástej

0.0

V hodine dvanástej

1959

Saints and Soldiers

6.3

Saints and Soldiers

2003

To End All Wars

6.4

To End All Wars

2001

Das Tal der sieben Monde

0.0

Das Tal der sieben Monde

1967

13 Hours That Saved Britain

6.2

13 Hours That Saved Britain

2011

World War Two: A Timewatch Guide

0.0

World War Two: A Timewatch Guide

2016