The Night of the Generals

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

1967 2h 28m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 194

ThrillerMysteryWarCrime

Synopsis

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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.

“Patriotism has been known to have its vicious side.”

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Cast

Peter O'Toole
General Tanz
Omar Sharif
Major Grau
Tom Courtenay
Corporal Hartmann
Donald Pleasence
General Kahlenberge
Joanna Pettet
Ulrike
Philippe Noiret
Inspector Morand
Charles Gray
General von Seidlitz-Gabler
Coral Browne
Eleanore von Seidlitz-Gabler

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Anatole Litvak
Writers: Joseph Kessel, Paul Dehn, Gore Vidal
Languages: French, Polish, English, Spanish
Countries: France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 46% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

59 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: French, Polish, English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Anatole Litvak, shot by Henri Decaë. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Maurice Jarre. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alan Osbiston shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif and Tom Courtenay carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Anatole Litvak directs. Henri Decaë behind the camera. Maurice Jarre scores. Alan Osbiston cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in French, Polish, English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 46% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
259 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: French, Polish, English, Spanish.
4International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.
5Directed by Anatole Litvak, shot by Henri Decaë. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Maurice Jarre. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Alan Osbiston shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif and Tom Courtenay carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Patriotism has been known to have its vicious side.".
10IMDB entry: tt0062038 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 19 themes, including "paris, france", "general", "world war ii", "flashback".
12Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Henri Decaë
Original score: Maurice Jarre
Editing: Alan Osbiston
Production design: Alexandre Trauner
Makeup / hair: Michel Deruelle
Runtime: 148 min · 2h 28m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $5,200,000
Box office: $2,400,000
Return: 46% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Night of the Generals (1967)

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Anatole Litvak

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Wuchak2024-09-19
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

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