The premise of this film just does not work. Why would nazis care about a murdered prostitute? They were mass-murdering poles in the upper class to make "Lebensraum" from the first advance into Poland. They killed over 10,000 upper class poles and buried them in shallow graves around the countryside to make room for the expected influx of aryans. The whole idea of anyone caring about a dead whore among the nazis is ridiculous!

This movie essentially begins with a German Intelligence Officer by the name of "Major Grau" (Omar Sharif) conducting an investigation into the brutal murder of a prostitute in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of that city in 1942. Although certainly heinous, the problem in this investigation isn't so much about the victim but rather the potential suspect who happens to be one of a possible three German generals. Knowing this Major Grau has to proceed with utmost caution as his investigation, military career and possibly his life may hang in the balance. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I though this movie started off pretty good. Unfortunately, it seemed to lag in the middle part of the film which focused too heavily on "General Tanz" (Peter O'Toole) and his eccentricities at the exclusion of the other subplots, some of which could have used more coverage. Likewise, I also thought that the mystery should have been maintained a bit longer as the ending seemed rather anti-climactic once the killer was identified. At least, that is how it seemed to me. In any case, this was an entertaining movie for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Sadly, I can not join in with the chorus of those who rhapsodize over the many merits of "Night of the Generals." It isn't that I don't want to - I would love to. You have a uniformly excellent cast (Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, Donald Pleasance, Charles Gray, Coral Browne and many others) doing some very fine acting, solid if not inspiring direction, brilliant cinematography and a music score by Maurice Jarre that almost atones for the blood-congealing treacle that was his earlier "Dr. Zhivago." Unfortunately you also have from my perspective a tome that loses focus once the story shifts from Warsaw to Paris. I won't waste time with a story synopsis as other posters have already done that most brilliantly. Instead, I will move on to some of the thoughts with which the film left me. What is the value of one human life? Does it matter whose human life we are talking about - trained soldiers - freedom fighters - nationalists - innocents caught up in the cross-fire - prostitutes! Can killing of any sort ever be justified? If so, how? If not, what about 'the greater good' question?In one form or another, "Night of the Generals" poses all of the above questions - and a good deal more. But regretfully, the impact upon us of those very pertinent questions is diminished by a screenplay that gets bogged down, indeed becomes obsessed with the character study of one man. And further adding to the lessening of what I trust was the intended emotional impact of this film is the setting up of the investigating officer as a heroic white knight, galloping along on his white charger, pointing his lance and singing 'stronger than dirt.' Sorry folks, but it just doesn't wash!To conclude, a previous poster suggested a series of 'what if' questions one can see as encircling this picture. Absolutely - with each question being perfectly valid. However for me, one question got left out, namely, 'What if each of the three story lines in this film had been more economically presented through some very necessary (albeit judicious) editing? What if then?'

this film transcends the usual agenda of the usual film financiers.it is a metaphor to show that there was murder beyond the murder we have all been trained to see.there were almost 27 million soviets slaughtered in what they call the "great patriotic war", that is their war with the Germans.but who talks about that.and that is the point of the film. there are crimes committed far beyond those we have been spoon fed to digest. there is a multitude of German resistance we have not been allowed to absorb, because the group that controls the media needs a total villain deserving no mercy in order to maximize the sympathy and guilt we are all programmed to feel.if you feel repulsion at this review, then you and i are both victims of this propaganda.