Dec 18th
Escape to Athena
GB 1979. ITC/Pimlico. 117m. Panavision

Archaeologists join forces with resistance fighters to liberate a Greek island from the Germans in 1944 in order to also seek hidden treasure.
Scenically very attractive but centrally miscast and very corny WWII adventure, whose tongue-in-cheek humour seems at odds with the heavier atmosphere of Greek resistance fighters defying the Nazis, and the element of James Bondery towards the film's climax is totally unnecessary. The overall tone of the film therefore is somewhere between Secret Army and 'Allo 'Allo.

Written by: Edward Anhalt, Richard Lochte, George P. Cosmatos.
Producers: David Niven Jnr, Jack Wiener.
Director: George P. Cosmatos.
Starring: Roger Moore, Elliott Gould, Telly Savalas, David Niven, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono, Anthony Valentine, Michael Sheard.
Photography: Gilbert Taylor (aerial photography by Ron Goodman).
Music: Lalo Schifrin.

+ William Holden has an uncredited gag appearance as a PoW - a reference to his Oscar-winning role in Stalag 17