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
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.
