59. Victory (1981)
from Cinematic Underdogs Hosted by Paul Keelan / Jordan Puga
Hello Underdog Nation! We're back and our bark is louder than ever! On this episode, illustrious cinephile & Sylvester Stallone super-fan Lauren Knight joins us to discuss 1981's overlooked Victory (aka Escape to Victory) starring Michael Caine, Pele, and Stallone himself. The fact that this film is not slotted in the pantheon of classic sports movies is downright criminal. Set during WWII, Victory is the story of a ragtag group of POWs who are propositioned to play a propagandistic soccer match in Paris against their Nazi occupiers. The purpose of the game is to showcase German superiority; for the fascists, things don't go according to plan. John Huston gives the film an elevated air (infusing many scenes with the gravitas of golden-age Hollywood movies), while Stallone's boyish charisma animates the margins with humor, action, and a goofy panache. If you can imagine a mash-up between The Longest Yard & The Great Escape, you'll have a pretty darn good idea of what to expect. You can rent Victory on Amazon Prime for a meager $2.99. It's well worth the price. But first, prime yourself for this once-in-a-lifetime cinematic experience (maybe hyperbole, maybe not) by listening to our rollicking fun conversation. Enjoy!
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