Review of The Night of the Generals (1967) by Brandon C — 06 Dec 2010

This was a film that when I read the synopsis I couldn't help but immediately w/o any hesitation said heck yes and watched with utter curiosity. What I discovered was a film that was as haunting as it was alluring and brought together so many talents I was stupefied beyond all conceivable sense of myself.

This WWII thriller brings together the idea behind what classifies a person as a monster. What it delivers is a non-stop edge of your seat thriller that leaves you without words or immediate reaction until long after the ending has been revealed and the dust has settled.

Peter O' Toole is at the top of his acting game in the role of the enigmatic General Tanz whose heroic reputation allows him significant leeway and access to all ears unhindered. Omar Sharif (O'Toole's costar from the David Lean episodic classic Lawrence of Arabia) brings charm and an sympathetic yearning for pure justice as the hot on murderer's heels intelligence Major Grau.

Donald Pleasence and Charles Gray are given top marks as General Kahlenberge (Pleasence) and General von Seidlitz-Gabler. I absolutely was blown away by everyone's performances and even the cinematic delivery of director Anatole Litvak who delivers a Ripper-esqe murder mystery which I place on one of the highest tiers of unsung masterpieces.