The Night of the Generals (Generallerin Gecesi)

The Night of the Generals is a 1967 World War II mystery film directed by Anatole Litvak and produced by Sam Spiegel. Adapted from Hans Hellmut Kirst's 1962 novel of the same name, it was scripted by Joseph Kessel and Paul Dehn. The story opens in occupied Warsaw, where the murder of a woman draws the attention of German intelligence officer Major Grau. His investigation narrows the list of suspects to three generals, among them the cold and fanatical General Tanz. Although the inquiry is disrupted by the course of the war, the case resurfaces years later in France, and the hunt for the killer resumes in postwar Europe. The ensemble cast features Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, Donald Pleasence, Joanna Pettet and Philippe Noiret. A Franco-British-American co-production, the film premiered in London in early 1967. Portions were shot on location in Warsaw, then behind the Iron Curtain, while the final sequences were filmed in Munich. The score was composed by Maurice Jarre.