62 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

I remember seeing this movie on UK Tv in the mid 1980s and thinking it was a lot of fun....I saw it recently here on cable in the US and I still really enjoy this entertaining action adventure.

[Blofeld's Cat]

I've moved this here as it's not related to James Bond.

PS: Sorry guys, but I've decided to move this thread back to the Roger forum as there are a couple of Bond related connections.

[DLibrasnow]

I'm a little confused....I thought I had put this in the Roger Moore forum anyway (because it's a Roger Moore movie)

[Blofeld's Cat]

Because it was a Roger movie I went ans saw it at the cinema, but even with all those stars in it I found it to be quite lacklustre and had that made-for-tv-ish quality to it. Even the score by Lalo Schifrin was underwhelming.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
I'm a little confused....I thought I had put this in the Roger Moore forum anyway (because it's a Roger Moore movie)

Well yes, but it's not really all that Bond related other than what I stated in my above thread.

We don't really want this forum cluttered with threads about movies just because Rog was in them. Escape To Athena is a little tenuously Bond related, but I put it back all the same.

[Kingdom Come]

I loved Escape To Athena - such a handsome looking film.

[DLibrasnow]

I really thought Roger played an interesting character in this movie - sort of a German James Bond. I was never quite sure why he changed sides so willingly though -- e.g. saving the female lead from the Nazi frogmen).
I disagree about the score BC, I thought it fitted the Greek locale quite well.

[mkkbb]

I loved this film, just the way it was filmed is very Bondish. And is a fun gem of a movie. Definately recommend a viewing of this.

[Bryce (003)]

Cerrtainly an interesting film.

I remember the "rocket" crew looking like they were extras from Star Wars.

What I also remember is a great cameo by the legendary William Holden (who at the time was Stephanie Powers SO).

Sonny Bono is walking up through the camp on the island and he pauses, does a double take. Camera pans to include William Holden, leaning against a wall chewing on a cigar. Sonny walks up to him.

Bono - Are you still here?

Holden - It's not a bad life. Gotta light?

Now - the gag : This is EXACTLY the exchange between Holden and a british officer from the great "Bridge on the River Kwai". For film buffs, this easily provides one of the best laughs/winks in the film.

There's a lot of Bond/spies creeping around this film. The look, locale, action and cast round it up -

i.e.
David Niven - Say nooooo more!
Roger - Between Spy & MR
Stephanie Powers - That's the GIRL from UNCLE aka April Dancer (the US version of Emma Peel).
Telly Savalas - Blofeld
Richard Roundtree - Shut yo' mouth;)

Slick little film - Would love to find it on DVD. The closest production of the time filled with as much Bond crew/cast are two others -

Force Ten from Navarone
The Sea Wolves

Escape to Athena is a fine film, and whenever I catch it on cable somewhere, I leave it on. It does REALLY suffer from not being letterboxed though.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
Cerrtainly an interesting film.

I remember the "rocket" crew looking like they were extras from Star Wars.

You are not alone...I thought they looked kinda space age which is odd because it was set in World War 2

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
What I also remember is a great cameo by the legendary William Holden (who at the time was Stephanie Powers SO).

Yeah that was a great moment....a real treat for film fans.

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
There's a lot of Bond/spies creeping around this film. The look, locale, action and cast round it up -

i.e.
David Niven - Say nooooo more!
Roger - Between Spy & MR
Stephanie Powers - That's the GIRL from UNCLE aka April Dancer (the US version of Emma Peel).
Telly Savalas - Blofeld
Richard Roundtree - Shut yo' mouth;)

Slick little film - Would love to find it on DVD. The closest production of the time filled with as much Bond crew/cast are two others -

Force Ten from Navarone
The Sea Wolves

Escape to Athena is a fine film, and whenever I catch it on cable somewhere, I leave it on. It does REALLY suffer from not being letterboxed though.

I'd like this to be released on DVD also....but for right now I am satisfied to have this on tape and "Ffolkes" comng out soon on DVD.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Gee, I must have got out the wrong side of the bed the day I saw this movie, because I just couldn't get into it all.

The biggest problem for me was trying to believe that Rog was a German officer. It probably ranks as one of his most unRoger-like characters.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat

The biggest problem for me was trying to believe that Rog was a German officer. It probably ranks as one of his most unRoger-like characters.

I will agree with you there, but his character was like a German James Bond....somewhat disorientating but a great deal of fun...

[Blofeld's Cat]

Actually about the only thing I do like about Escape to Athena is that the Japanese record label Seven Seas (who released the LP version of NSNA) released Lalo Schifrin's score under the US(?) title of "Offside 7." I snapped it up when I had the oportunity, despite my real lack of interest in the actual score, because I knew that the LP (like most Seven Seas albums) would'nt be around long, and now it's quite rare and expensive.

I also remember reading on a soundtrack collecting site (forget which one ) in which Jerry Goldsmith was interviewed and he said he turned down the scoring job for Athena because he didn't like the script.

Here's the only decent image I can find of the LP cover but it's wrapped in plastic, hence the ridge lines in the upper half.....

[DLibrasnow]

Well I thought it was a fine piece of 70s hokum....I liked the job by not only Roger Moore but also Telly Savalas and David Niven....It was also kinda neat to see the William Holden character cameo.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
I remember the "rocket" crew looking like they were extras from Star Wars.

They are the ones in black at the bottom of the LP cover.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
Well I thought it was a fine piece of 70s hokum....I liked the job by not only Roger Moore but also Telly Savalas and David Niven....It was also kinda neat to see the William Holden character cameo.

No sweat.

I seem to be the only one in this thread that didn't like it, so I'm definitely in the minority.

Unfortunately, what this thread has done is regenerate interest in the movie for me, and I wish I had that soundtrack to play now. I've most likely only played it once when I bought it over 20 years ago.

[DLibrasnow]

Not one who is really into soundtracks I videotaped the movie when it was on cable about a year ago...I wouldn't say I was crazy about it, but I do enjoy it (apart from that whole Stephanie Powers sex comedy-farce stuff, which ends up just being plain dumb)...

[Double-Oh-Zero]

Pity...I don't think I'm able to find this film at my local video store, along with Ffolkes. I think they're both pretty obscure little films, but if I can find them, would they be under Action or Comedy?

[DLibrasnow]

They are action comedies....As for "Ffolkes" it is being released on DVD next month....

[TheSaint]

Only Roger could play a benevolent nazi! Sea Wolves was a much better Roger non-Bond film.

[DLibrasnow]

Yes "Sea Wolves" was a very good picture but I thought it was great for Roger to play something a little different.
On another note has anyone seen "Shout at the Devil"?? I think Roger really delivered a solid performance in that picture playing a father grieving the death of his son.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

cool.. I gotta check this film out


I am in the mood to see all of roger's other films he made in his Bond Years (1973 -1985) and all his fake spy films he was probably paid a boat load of money to star in

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

Personally I didn't like Sea Wolves.. I thought it was just ok... it felt like Roger was there for only 1 week to do all his scenes.. and that he did it in between doing another film.

but..

ffolkes... I LOVED ffolkes!! Thats a great movie! roger plays a totally different character.. I just love the end when they give roger some cats as their gift to him.... that was great

[Athena007]

I saw this thread and what like... what the hell?! (Who loved ESCAPE TO ATHENA)... then it clicked... oh Roger Moore, movie... anywho... I have heard of this film but have not had a chance to see it yet... I might have to check it out...

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by 4 Ur Eyez Only
Personally I didn't like Sea Wolves.. I thought it was just ok...

I agree with you. As it was made by the same production team it was marketed as another "The Wild Geese," but in doing so all they really did was highlight how mediocre it was.

The novel it was based on by James Leasor, who wrote the Jason Love spy thrillers, was good though.

[Blofeld's Cat]

I just had a look in IMDb for The Sea Wolves and on the Trivia page it notes that "Some magazines and newspapers mistakenly announced this production as the new James Bond film because of 'Roger Moore' being in it."

Ironic that the very next Bond movie ended up being filmed in India, but I wonder if the same magazines reported that Moore was in India in 1983 to film The Sea Wolves 2.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat
I just had a look in IMDb for The Sea Wolves and on the Trivia page it notes that "Some magazines and newspapers mistakenly announced this production as the new James Bond film because of 'Roger Moore' being in it."

Ironic that the very next Bond movie ended up being filmed in India, but I wonder if the same magazines reported that Moore was in India in 1983 to film The Sea Wolves 2.

I didn't really like The Sea Wolves when I first saw it in the movie theater because I think I was expecting a James Bond type movie. However over the past two decades I have begun to like it more and more with each viewing.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by 4 Ur Eyez Only
cool.. I gotta check this film out


I am in the mood to see all of roger's other films he made in his Bond Years (1973 -1985) and all his fake spy films he was probably paid a boat load of money to star in

Really I am surprised you did not catch onto this thread much earlier 4 Ur Eyes Only...

[zencat]

Originally posted by Athena007
I saw this thread and what like... what the hell?! (Who loved ESCAPE TO ATHENA)...

That thread would be called "Escape From Athena."

[Bryce (003)]

*Bryce spits out coffee*