Escape To Athena (1979)

Escape To Athena

A ragtag group of prisoners: Italian chef Bruno (Sonny Bono), British archeology professor Blake (David Niven), American soldier Nat (Richard Roundtree) and Greek prostitute Eleana (Claudia Cardinale): befriend each other in a Greek POW camp run by Otto Hecht (Roger Moore), an art-loving Nazi officer. With the help of local resistance fighters, the inmates plot to escape and steal valuable artifacts from a heavily guarded monastery that's used as a storehouse.

Directed by

George P. Cosmatos (1941-2005)

Cast

Roger Moore as Major Otto Hecht: an Austrian who is the Wehrmacht commandant of the POW camp, a former antiques dealer

Telly Savalas as Zeno: the head of the Greek island's resistance movement

David Niven as Professor Blake: senior British officer amongst the prisoners and a well-known archaeologist

Stefanie Powers as Dottie Del Mar: an American USO artist (in fact, stripper), who was shot down with Charlie and detained in the POW camp

Elliott Gould as Charlie Dane: an American comedian, USO performer and professional partner of Dottie

Claudia Cardinale as Eleana: a local madame, girlfriend of Zeno

Richard Roundtree as Sgt. Nat Judson: African-American POW and amateur magician

Sonny Bono as Bruno Rotelli: an Italian POW, professional chef