Taglines: They were fighting for what they believed in. Getting rich!
Escape to Athena movie storyline. The ever efficient German war machine had little trouble sweeping over Greece, yet some stubborn resistance remained active. Various civilian prisoners were thrown with the officers in Stalag VII-Z, a camp on the site of a Neptune temple under two masters: S.S. Major Volkmann (Anthony Valentine) enjoys the unpleasant ways of brutal Nazi extremism, but the gentleman camp commandant, former dodgy Viennese art merchant Major Otto Hecht (Sir Roger Moore), definitely prefers the finer things in life, regardless of “political correctness”.
Therefore, the camp, meant to send Berlin archaeological treasures, actually keeps the true treasures for his private black market trade, via Hecht’s sister in Switzerland. His “guests”, all fortunate to be spared by him the usual harsh treatment of escapees, et cetera, include the brilliant archeology Professor Blake (David Niven), the Italian cook Bruno Rotelli (Sonny Bono), American show-people Charlie (Elliott Gould) and Dottie Del Mar (Stefanie Powers), and even black U.S. P.O.W. Nat Judson (Richard Roundtree).
Hecht’s hospitality seems poorly rewarded when they mount an elaborate plan to take over the camp, in league with the local Greek resistance leader Zeno (Telly Savalas), who is determined to prevent the arbitrary execution of villagers as reprisal. As they all seem to agree upon a common goal, the priceless art treasures in the monastery on nearby Mount Athena, Hecht is persuaded to join for a cut, but Zeno has a military agenda, as the allied invasion is approaching, and the monastery’s mountain is also the cover for a secret German rocket installation.
Escape to Athena is a 1979 British adventure war film directed by George P. Cosmatos. It stars Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono and Elliott Gould. The film is set during the Second World War on a German-occupied Greek island. The music was composed by Lalo Schifrin. It was filmed on location on the island of Rhodes.
Escape to Athena (1979)
Directed by: George P. Cosmatos
Starring: Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono, Elliott Gould, Anthony Valentine, Siegfried Rauch, Elena Secota, Mimi Denissi
Screenplay by: Edward Anhalt, Richard S. Lochte
Cinematography by: Gil Taylor
Film Editing by: Ralph Kemplen
Costume Design by: Yvonne Blake
Music by: Lalo Schifrin
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Associated Film Distribution
Release Date: June 6, 1979
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