Let’s imagine taking that cigar right out of Churchill’s mouth and having him utter “Heil.” Five Graves to Cairo comes from Billy Wilder, who also helped write the script alongside Charles Brackett; it's adapted from Lajos Biró’s play Hotel Imperial. The film features Franchot Tone, Anne Baxter, Akim Tamiroff, Erich von Stroheim, and Peter Van Eyck. Miklós Rózsa composed the music, and John Seitz was in charge of cinematography. Tone portrays John Bramble, the only one left from a British tank division who wanders into an almost empty desert town that suddenly becomes full of Field Marshall Rommel’s soldiers. He takes on the identity of a waiter who died at the hotel managed by Farid (Tamiroff), earning everyone's trust. However, he discovers the waiter he’s impersonating was actually working as a secret agent for the Germans. If Bramble can maintain his disguise and avoid detection, he could significantly influence the North Africa Campaign. This is an excellent film, an early Wilder production that does very well with suspense and smart storytelling while also possessing a strong sense of intelligence. The cast members all do a good job bringing the story to life; Tone’s performance is understated, Baxter is quite moving (and has a believable French accent), and Von Stroheim delivers a wonderfully emotional portrayal of a complicated Rommel. The technical aspects are top-notch as well, with particular praise going to the sound work and Seitz's photography, which elevate the film even further into classic territory. It’s not an action-packed war movie; instead it focuses on character development, which is ultimately what makes it so good. Wilder also includes moments of humor alongside the more pointed dialogue. From the somber beginning—a tank slowly moving across the desert with a dead pilot hanging from the turret—to a very touching ending involving a parasol, Wilder’s film keeps you engaged throughout. It's a superb story delivered by an accomplished director. 8/10

Source on TMDB