About this episode
Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this Christmas Special Episode, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by author John Smith to talk about his new book - 'Escape: A Love Letter to a Cult Football Classic' all about the film 'Escape to Victory'. The trio delve into the making of the film, revealing behind-the-scenes stories, discussing the film's historical context, and analysing the football sequences. We take a look at inside stories from the remarkable cast and crew, including Pele and Sylvester Stallone. The three discuss amusing anecdotes, the authenticity of the football matches and the film's lasting impact. This episode is a must-listen for fans of film and football history. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from the It Was What It Was team!00:00 Introduction and Welcoming John Smith04:41 The Making of 'Escape to Victory'20:44 Historical Resonances and Themes28:59 Behind the Scenes Stories34:09 The Escape Plan in the Film37:11 The Cast and Their Connections41:36 The Missing Footballer Mystery46:01 Lack of Female Characters47:06 The Football Game Analysis53:19 The Half-Time Escape Plan58:00 The Final Match Moments01:06:13 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
