The Night of the Generals

2/2/19672h 28m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Patriotism has been known to have its vicious side. ~

Overview:

A German intelligence officer investigates a prostitute's killing in Warsaw during World War II. He lands on three major Nazi generals as suspects, two of whom are also involved in a plot to kill Adolf Hitler.

Director:

Anatole Litvak

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$5,200,000.00

Revenue:

$2,400,000.00

Key words:

paris, france
general
world war ii
flashback
sociopath
murder
conspiracy
serial killer
german occupation of france
army general
murder investigation
rommel
nazi occupation
1940s
1960s
cold case
warsaw, poland
murder of a prostitute
german occupation of poland

Cast

Peter O'Toole

~ as ~

General Tanz

Omar Sharif

~ as ~

Major Grau

Tom Courtenay

~ as ~

Corporal Hartmann

Donald Pleasence

~ as ~

General Kahlenberge

Joanna Pettet

~ as ~

Ulrike

Philippe Noiret

~ as ~

Inspector Morand

Charles Gray

~ as ~

General von Seidlitz-Gabler

Coral Browne

~ as ~

Eleanore von Seidlitz-Gabler

John Gregson

~ as ~

Colonel Sandauer

Nigel Stock

~ as ~

Otto

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Wuchak
Written 1 year(s) ago
~~
Intrigue in the heart of Europe during World War 2

In German-occupied Warsaw in late 1942, a major of the Abwehr (Omar Sharif) conducts an investigation concerning the grisly murder of a German agent working as a prostitute. All he knows is that the culprit is a German general and this narrows it down to Gabler (Charles Gray), Kahlenberge (Donald Pleasence) and Tanz (Peter O’Toole). Nineteen months later they all happen to be in Paris when several senior Wehrmacht officers conspire to assassinate der Führer.

“The Night of the Generals” (1967) is a worthwhile pick if you’re in the mood for the décor and intrigues of WW2 minus the battles, similar to “Triple Cross” from the year prior. Christopher Plummer starred in that earlier film and has a cameo here as Field Marshal Rommel. Both movies include the July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Hitler in the last act, which is what Cruise’s “Valkyrie” was based on four decades later.

There’s a subplot concerning the beautiful daughter of General Gabler (Joanna Pettet) and her romantic relationship with a lance corporal (Tom Courtenay). The latter becomes General Tanz’s driver and tour guide in Paris.

For another WW2 drama that focuses on parallel behind-the-scenes events of the German high command (minus the fictitious murder mystery), check out “Rommel” (2012).

The film runs 2 hour, 27 minutes, with the first act shot behind the Iron Curtain in Warsaw (a rarity for Western films at the time); the second act was filmed in Paris; and the final sequence in Munich, Bavaria, southeast Germany.

GRADE: B