Escape to Victory is a 1981 film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a German prison camp during World War II . It was directed by John Huston and stars Michael Caine , Sylvester Stallone and Max von Sydow . The film received great attention, as it also starred football superstars Bobby Moore , Osvaldo Ardiles , Kazimierz Deyna and Pelé .
Numerous Ipswich Town F.C. players were also in the film, including John Wark , Russell Osman , Laurie Sivell , Robin Turner and Kevin O'Callaghan . Further Ipswich Town players stood in for actors in the football scenes - Kevin Beattie for Michael Caine, and Paul Cooper for Sylvester Stallone. The script was written by Yabo Yablonsky .
In some locations, such as the United States , the film is known as Victory .