Pelé Movies
World-renowned soccer star, onscreen in dramatic roles from 1981. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2001
The great British obsession with football (soccer to Americans) receives a thorough skewering in this mock documentary look at perhaps the most hapless coach in the history of professional sport. The manager of England's national football unexpectedly succumbs to a heart attack, and suddenly the search is on for a replacement. Most people who seem qualified for the position have the good sense to turn it down, and so the responsibility falls to Mike Bassett (Ricky Tomlinson), a scruffy and loud-mouthed lout whose claim to football fame is leading a previously undistinguished team to a league championship. Bassett insists that England will win the World Cup under his leadership, but that's before he replaces his star player with a once-gifted footballer (Dean Lennox Kelly) who has since developed a drinking problem, and hired a one-time car salesman (Philip Jackson) as his assistant. After several stunning losses to Poland, Bassett goes from a favorite of both fans and the press to one of the most hated men in England; hoping to whip his team into shape, he subjects them to the high-tech training methods of eccentric Dr. Shoegaarten (Ulrich Thomsen), which injures more players than it helps. Despite Bassett's ineptitude, England manages to qualify for the World Cup tournament thanks to a loophole in the rules, and he flies to Rio with his team in hopes of somehow turning their bad luck around. British television journalist Martin Bashir, musician and comic Keith Allen, and international football sensation Pele all appear as themselves to lend Mike Bassett: England Manager an air of authenticity. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricky Tomlinson, Amanda Redman, (more)
- 1986
- PG
Jimmy (Jim Youngs) is from a wealthy family and longs to be a professional soccer player in this plodding sports drama. His mother Georgia (Rutanya Alda) and father Nick (Peter Henry Schroeder) are opposed, believing Jimmy should focus on other endeavors. After he fails in his tryout with the New York Rockers, Jimmy travels to Brazil to learn from the soccer superstar Santos (Pele). Jimmy wins a spot on the team with a chance to play in the proverbial "big game." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Youngs, Pelé, (more)
- 1983
In this syrupy drama, a terminally ill priest continues trying to keep his orphanage from closing. Fortunately, a rousing soccer game (featuring the legendary player Pele) saves the orphanage ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1983
The orphans of St. Francis School for Boys are about to be evicted from their home by a crooked town commission. With their guardian, a priest (John Huston), the group must unite to save themselves and the home. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
John Huston directed this exciting World War II action film, which culminates in a rousing soccer game. In a German prisoner of war camp, Major Karl von Steiner (Max Von Sydow), the camp commander, once a member of the German national soccer team, decides to put together a soccer match between a team of Allied prisoners, led by Captain John Colby (Michael Caine), a former English international soccer player. The game is to be played in Colombes Stadium in Paris and exploited for maximum propaganda effect by the Nazi publicity machine. Robert Hatch (Sylvester Stallone) is enlisted to assist the Allied prisoners to train for the event. But, in fact, the Allies are planning a risky escape during the soccer match. Famed Brazilian soccer great Pele makes an appearance in the film, along with Bobby Moore, the captain of Britain's 1966 World Cup champions, and Argentine soccer star Osvaldo Ardiles. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, (more)
