What do you think?
Escape: A Love Letter to a Cult Football Classic
The definitive story of cult classic movie Escape to Victory, bringing you the inside track through new interviews with the football legends, cast and crew.
From John Smith, author of the widely acclaimed Booked!, Second Yellow and Final Third!
Blessed with the winning combination of Pelé, Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, this much-loved classic is the gold standard of football films. This compelling
Explores the familiar tale we know from the screen, and a multitude of stories we haven’t heard from off screenOffers fresh insight from stars of the film and football legends – including Ossie Ardiles, Mike Summerbee, John Wark, Hallvar Thoresen, Paul van Himst, Russell Osman, Soren Lindsted and Werner Roth – as well as first-hand accounts from crew, with tales from on and off setTraces the film’s development from the germ of an idea, to the all-important casting and filming in Hungary, to achieving its cult statusGives a personal take on one of the author’s favourite films, with new observations and insightsPacked with stories and revelations, from Ipswich Town to Tinseltown, Escape is a must-read for film buffs and football fans, along with anyone who enjoys sharing anecdotes and trivia with friends. Everything you ever wanted to know about this timeless classic is here!
From John Smith, author of the widely acclaimed Booked!, Second Yellow and Final Third!
Blessed with the winning combination of Pelé, Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, this much-loved classic is the gold standard of football films. This compelling
Explores the familiar tale we know from the screen, and a multitude of stories we haven’t heard from off screenOffers fresh insight from stars of the film and football legends – including Ossie Ardiles, Mike Summerbee, John Wark, Hallvar Thoresen, Paul van Himst, Russell Osman, Soren Lindsted and Werner Roth – as well as first-hand accounts from crew, with tales from on and off setTraces the film’s development from the germ of an idea, to the all-important casting and filming in Hungary, to achieving its cult statusGives a personal take on one of the author’s favourite films, with new observations and insightsPacked with stories and revelations, from Ipswich Town to Tinseltown, Escape is a must-read for film buffs and football fans, along with anyone who enjoys sharing anecdotes and trivia with friends. Everything you ever wanted to know about this timeless classic is here!
320 pages, Hardcover
Published October 20, 2025
About the author
John Smith
2,235 books107 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 31, 2026
The definitive account of a cult classic, drawing on fresh interviews with the football legends, cast and crew who made it happen.
Smith retells the story we know from the screen while uncovering plenty of off-screen tales I hadn't heard before. His affection for the film is infectious, even if it occasionally leads him down some indulgent rabbit holes - most notably a baffling chapter that simply lists films featuring football scenes. And an obsession about a deleted murder scene from the movie.
Still, the book succeeds where it matters: explaining why this improbable mix of war movie, sports drama and star power has endured for more than four decades. A few trims wouldn't have hurt, but it's mostly a lovely read.
Smith retells the story we know from the screen while uncovering plenty of off-screen tales I hadn't heard before. His affection for the film is infectious, even if it occasionally leads him down some indulgent rabbit holes - most notably a baffling chapter that simply lists films featuring football scenes. And an obsession about a deleted murder scene from the movie.
Still, the book succeeds where it matters: explaining why this improbable mix of war movie, sports drama and star power has endured for more than four decades. A few trims wouldn't have hurt, but it's mostly a lovely read.
Read
September 12, 2026A detailed look at the making of one of my favorite sports films (because it is also a WWII POW film). The author has interviewed a lot of the players from the film and tells some good stories about what went on while on set. I hadn't realized just how big most of these players were at the time of the making of the film (ca. 1981), besides Pele, obviously. The author is a devout fan of the film, and he even makes a case for this being the best football film out there. Maybe.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews