The Night of the Generals

In Warsaw during the Second World War, a prostitute is found murdered, and the evidence points to a German officer. Major Grau, an intelligence officer, takes charge of the investigation and narrows his suspicions to three generals stationed in the city. Grau's inquiry is quietly set aside and the suspects are transferred elsewhere. When a similar killing follows in a different city, and another years later in Hamburg, the pattern of the case resurfaces and draws in Inspector Morand.

Anatole Litvak directed this crime mystery, his ninth film, made after Anastasia and a career that began in the late 1930s with The Sisters and The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse. Peter O'Toole plays General Tanz, with Omar Sharif as Major Grau, Tom Courtenay as Corporal Hartmann, Donald Pleasence as General Kahlenberge, Joanna Pettet as Ulrike and Philippe Noiret as Inspector Morand. The screenplay was written by Joseph Kessel, Paul Dehn and Gore Vidal, and Sam Spiegel and Litvak produced it as a British, American and French co-production.

Made for about five million dollars, the film took in roughly two million at the worldwide box office, a modest return for a production of its scale. On TMDB it holds a 6.8 rating from around 190 votes, suggesting a modest but settled reputation among viewers.