A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.
Acting
Pelé's bicycle kick — no doubles, no CGI, just legend.
Direction
Huston somehow made Nazis lose with dignity.
Practical Effects
Real 1981 Ipswich Town players as the German team.
Director
John Huston
Sylvester Stallone
Captain Robert Hatch
Michael Caine
Captain John Colby
Max von Sydow
Major Karl von Steiner
Pelé
Cpl. Luis Fernandez, Brazil
Carole Laure
Renée
Bobby Moore
Terry Brady, England
Osvaldo Ardiles
Carlos Rey, Argentina
Paul Van Himst
Michel Fileu, Belgium
Kazimierz Deyna
Paul Wolchek, Poland
Mike Summerbee
Sid Harmor, England
John Wark
Arthur Hayes, Scotland
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Stallone insisted on scoring the winning goal; the original script had the prisoners losing 4-3. He broke a finger diving for a save.
Based loosely on the 1942 'Death Match' where Ukrainian players beat a German team and were allegedly executed — the film sanitized this into feel-good entertainment.
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