Near the end of World War II, Gen. Dietrich von Choltitz receives orders to burn down Paris if it becomes clear the Allies are going to invade, or if he cannot maintain control of the city. After much contemplation Choltitz decides to ignore his orders, enraging the Germans and giving hope to various resistance factions that the city will be liberated. Choltitz, along with Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling, helps a resistance leader organize his forces.
Elenco: Gert Fröbe , Orson Welles , Jean-Pierre Cassel , Alain Delon , Leslie Caron , Jean-Paul Belmondo , Marie Versini , Bruno Cremer , Kirk Douglas , Claude Rich , Charles Boyer , Claude Dauphin , Michel Piccoli , Robert Stack , Wolfgang Preiss , Yves Montand , Simone Signoret , Anthony Perkins , Harry Meyen , Pierre Vaneck , George Chakiris , Jean-Louis Trintignant , Daniel Gélin , Hannes Messemer , Pierre Dux , Skip Ward , Joachim Hansen , Sacha Pitoëff , Bernard Fresson , Claude Vernier , Georges Claisse , Patrick Dewaere , E.G. Marshall , Serge Rousseau , Georges Poujouly , Cécile Vassort , Mike Marshall , Maria Machado , Jeanne Herviale , Michel Fugain , André Falcon , Suzy Delair , Germaine de France , Billy Frick , Glenn Ford , Günter Meisner , Michael Lonsdale , Jacques Léonard .