Rent The Night of the Generals (1967)

Enjoyable Murder Hunt set against the backdrop of the Valkyrie Hitler Assassination attempt in 1944 - The Night of the Generals review by PV

I enjoyed this - a good old late 60s war film, set mostly during the Second World War in Poland and Paris, and then later in a contemporary (1966) setting. Those time shifts are handled and signposted well - other directors please take note!

An all-star cast here Peter O'Toole (still in his wildman drinking days), Omar Sharif (oddly believable as a Nazi, seeing as he is Egyptian), Tom Courtenay, Donald Pleasence, and recognise-the-face-not-the-name actor Charles Gray, plus Gordon Jackson.

The backdrop is the almost-successful attempt on Hitler's life at The Wolf''s Lair in East Prussia (Poland) - that story is covered in VALKYRIE (2008) and the German TV movie STAUFFENBERG (2004). This is actually filmed in Poland under Communism in 1966, which is quite an achievement, so is really authentic re locations etc. No CGI fakery in those days, and no western or British city standing in for it either.

However, this is no historical biopic. It is a crime drama, really, against that backdrop. I liked it. The same sort of thing is done well in TV series VIENNA BLOOD.

A bit long, yes; a tad meandering maybe. But still better than the woke dross pumped out these days. So 4 stars.

Almost outstanding - The Night of the Generals review by CM

For all its faults - lack of character portrayal, Omar Sharif looking a bit Semitic for a cop in Nazi-occupied Poland, annoying fast sweeps with the camera, rather dry script - the tale is well-told, & brings its surprises. Strong points in showing continuity of characters' lives post-war, survival of Nazi ideology & comradeship decades later (horribly relevant to today), amazing scenes of destruction as General Tanz goes full on Teutonic efficiency in flushing out Warsaw partisans, stellar cast.