What’s Aged the Worst?
Pelé's bald patch; retitling to Victory; Ipswich Town's decline; Michael Caine's soccer; Stallone's goalkeeping; no scrimmage scene; Pelé celebrating with broken ribs; Hatch's Paris subplot; Russell Osman's unsold kit
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:13Read transcript
- Pele's bald patch looked almost like a toupee; the other host had not noticed it.
- Changing the title from Escape to Victory to just Victory.
- Everyone being impressed by Pele's juggling is raised, but countered that in the 1940s it would have been mind-blowing.
- Ipswich Town kind of peaked here and has fallen on hard times.
- Michael Caine the soccer player: per the internet, leg issues meant a stunt player, Kevin Beattie, did his running scenes, and Ardiles reportedly called him awful and unable to run 20 yards.
- Stallone's goalkeeping is tough and his team role fluid; the counter is that the film never claims he is good, though holding off the Germans and saving a penalty from a top player is highly unlikely.
- There is no good scrimmage or practice scene, while 13 minutes go to Sly and the French woman; the film gets to know only Caine, Stallone and the colonel, unlike The Dirty Dozen or The Great Escape.
- John Wark reportedly said Stallone wanted to score the winning goal; a corner-kick version was tried, and the penalty save took six rehearsal takes.
- Pele jumping in to celebrate with seven broken ribs.
- The German goalie tried to save the bicycle kick for realism, and no wide shot of the actual kick could be filmed.
- Hatch's escape and Paris sojourn could be cut entirely; it seems added to introduce a female character, and his capture is never shown, though his shower escape from camp is liked.
- Russell Osmond reportedly kept his whole kit, a signed ball and a director's chair; they should go up for internet auction.