"The Night of the Generals" movie

Texas Star · #1 08-21-2011, 06:10 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdEg6...eature=related

This is one of the best war films and crime films that I've ever seen, with a stunning all-star cast. Based on the book by Hans Helmut Kirst, it tells how Intelligence officer Maj. (later Lt. Col. )Grau ((Omar Sharif) stalks a German general who has murdered a prostitute in Warsaw. To prevent him getting in the way of another matter, he is transferred to Paris, where he enlists the aid of a French police inspector, when he learns that his quarry has also come to France.

When the murderer (SS General Tanz ; Peter O'Toole) kills Grau, his French friend, grateful for Grau having spared the lives of captured French resistance fighters, tracks him down 20 years after the war ended. What happens with the general's reluctant orderly, framed for a subsequent grisly murder, and the daughter of another general comprises the romance in the movie. They romp in a bed formerly used by the King of Poland, fall in love, but must hide... Until the Frenchman opens an unexpected door that leads to justice.

Simply a superb film! I saw it in theaters as a very young lad, and had only a worn VHS copy until I found the DVD a few weeks ago. I was delighted to find the DVD quality excellent.

I've also read the book, and the movie is very close. The book is available in German and in English, maybe in other languages. Kirst was one of Germany's better known postwar authors. Your library may have his books.

DCWilson · #2 08-21-2011, 08:08 AM

Thanks for reminding me of that excellent film. I saw it when it came out, again about 15 years later, and not again since. I need to find the DVD and watch it once more.

Moonman · #3 08-21-2011, 08:47 AM

I considered the movie to be a classic.

cmort666 · #4 08-21-2011, 11:39 AM

It's based on the novel "Night of the Aurochs".

I supposed that even before the total collapse of the public educational system, there were doubts that people would know what an "auroch" was. Today, people would probably think it was a monster movie.

Texas Star · #5 08-21-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmort666

It's based on the novel "Night of the Aurochs".

I supposed that even before the total collapse of the public educational system, there were doubts that people would know what an "auroch" was. Today, people would probably think it was a monster movie.

I know what an aurochs is/was, but I read the book by Hans Helmut Kirst, and I think the title was the same as the movie.

Good thing to know what an aurochs was. Heck, I met a girl recently who's a smart college student and who can't name a single Canadian province! Our schools are mostly a dead loss in many areas. They just graduate young smart-alecs who think they know it all when, in most areas, electronics and computers excepted, they probably know less than any prior generation. Okay, they probably know more about sex, if less about responsibility.

Texas Star · #6 08-21-2011, 12:08 PM

The Night of the Generals - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The book and the movie have the same title.

But I'm curious if the true aurochs is now extinct. Guess I'll check that.

sipowicz · #7 08-21-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Good thing to know what an aurochs was.

I can't tell you how many times that aurochs come up in every day conversation...no, really, I can't...

Rule3 · #8 08-21-2011, 12:54 PM

Thanks. I added it to my Netflix queue.

Texas Star · #9 08-21-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rule3

Thanks. I added it to my Netflix queue.

Let us know what you think of it. I believe you'll really like it.

imjin138 · #10 08-21-2011, 01:41 PM

There is a similar movie made in Germany in the 50's titled 'The Devil Strikes at Night' A former detective invalided out of the Army after service on the eastern front is assigned to find a multiple killer. the only catch is the Nazi do not want to admit they convicted the wrong man.

I like both films. Night of the Generals is one of my favorites.

safearm · #11 08-22-2011, 10:05 AM

Great movie: Story is intriguing, Peter O'Toole plays the part of psychotic General Tanz to perfection, and the supporting cast does a good job of holding the plot together.

Rule 303 · #12 08-22-2011, 12:33 PM

Funny you should bring that up Sip, we were just discussing breeding back Bos primigenius cattle yesterday. Every day discussion around here.

And the movies is better than the discussions.

Rule 303

wbraswell · #13 08-22-2011, 01:50 PM

Does is seem to you that an SS General would be charged or prosecuted for killing a prostitute?

cmort666 · #14 08-22-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbraswell

Does is seem to you that an SS General would be charged or prosecuted for killing a prostitute?

Nazi "justice" was WILDLY capricious.

If I remember correctly, Karl and Ilsa Koch were prosecuted for "unauthorized" killings at their concentration camp. I imagine the mindset would have been similar to that if somebody in the SS "Florian Geyer" cavalry division had been prosecuted for abusing horses in a way which diminished unit efficiency.

Trying to make sense of Nazi "policy" is in itself irrational.

nawilson · #15 08-22-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sipowicz

I can't tell you how many times that aurochs come up in every day conversation...no, really, I can't...

Actually, it came up just the other day during my 14th century poetry discussion group.

HOUSTON RICK · #16 08-24-2011, 01:00 AM

Good movie, but not in the same league as "Where Eagles Dare" or the "Eagle Has Landed".

smith revolver cop · #17 08-24-2011, 07:00 PM

Great movie! I wanted to buy it on DVD, but apparently even what is available through Amazon's site is a poor-quality re-recording (based on posted reviews).

Texas Star · #18 08-24-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smith revolver cop

Great movie! I wanted to buy it on DVD, but apparently even what is available through Amazon's site is a poor-quality re-recording (based on posted reviews).

My DVD is normal quality, quite a bit better than my worn VHS copy. I'm very pleased. I was anxious. but could return it if not satisfied.

I also found a great DVD of, "Northwest Frontier" that I was afraid might be as bad as my old VHS copy, but they'd cleaned it up and it was fine.

Amazon probably has varying quality productions, but I think they have a return policy that'll allow refunds or exchanges. I returned a set of Season Three DVD's of "The Lost World", but still got a couple of bad disks in the replacement set. I think that whole season was on poorly made disks. Some work; some don't. Fans of the show reported varying results. The manufacturer evidently had bad QC. The first two seasons were made by a different company, and I've had no trouble.

I can't view some newer movies, evidently because they got too clever trying to block copying. Some play on the computer that don't on the DVD/VHS player. Some, I just have to return or exchange for something else.

Anyone else have that trouble? My player may be too old to incorporate some coding.

Texas Star · #19 08-24-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOUSTON RICK

Good movie, but not in the same league as "Where Eagles Dare" or the "Eagle Has Landed".

Rick-

Those are action movies. The other is a more cerebral detective story. They're sort of like oranges and tangerines.
Similar, but different.

HOUSTON RICK · #20 08-24-2011, 11:41 PM

Rick-

Those are action movies. The other is a more cerebral detective story. They're sort of like oranges and tangerines.
Similar, but different.

Not sure how cerebral it really was. Maybe it was the casting, but the culprit was easy to pick out early on and that left the action in the Warsaw Uprising and a bit of occupied Paris nightlife to hold me over until Omar showed up at the division reunion.

OLDFED · #21 08-24-2011, 11:53 PM

One of my wives was an auroch.

MMA10mm · #22 08-25-2011, 01:44 AM

Not a bad movie, but don't know if I'd call it "great." This IS the movie that ruined Peter O'Toole for me. Every time I saw him on screen, he just freaked me out. If I'd seen him in real life, I probably wouldn't have heard anything other than "front sight, press" in my head...

Weird connection - Miami Vice had an episode based on a very similar theme. Due to the time-frames and plots, rather than a German general from WWII, it was an American CIA mercenary who serial-killed prostitutes before doing an assassination, starting during Vietnam and continuing to the early 80s. That particular episode has some very interesting plot twists too - not unlike the division reunion. Luckily, Don Johnson's acting isn't too central, so it's one of the better Miami Vice episodes...

Texas Star · #23 08-25-2011, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOUSTON RICK

Rick-

Those are action movies. The other is a more cerebral detective story. They're sort of like oranges and tangerines.
Similar, but different.

Not sure how cerebral it really was. Maybe it was the casting, but the culprit was easy to pick out early on and that left the action in the Warsaw Uprising and a bit of occupied Paris nightlife to hold me over until Omar showed up at the division reunion.

Omar didn't show up there. It was the French inspector.

True, one could guess the villain early on, but how it played out and the unusual ending made it worthwhile, along with the superb actors.

I concede that, "Where Eagles Dare" was also something of a mystery, and Burton and Eastwood acted well off of each other. I have the DVD; should get it out and watch again.
They don't make many movies that good now.