The German government OKs Cruise’s new movie at a historically sensitive site

By Juontel White

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 9/14/07 – First, the German government banned Tom Cruise himself from filming in Germany as he is a Scientologist. They backed down a bit, allowing him to film, but not at a historically sensitive site.

Now Cruise’s march is complete, the Germans are allowing him to film part of “Valkyrie” at Benderblock, where some of the action originally happened.

United Artists expressed that it is “extremely grateful to the German government for allowing us to film at the Bendlerblock.” It pledged to “take special care to respect its dignity and keep our activities there within the guidelines laid down by the government.”

Bendlerblock was the only site initially rejected for film shooting; officials granted permission to all other sites including the area around the Finance Ministry, once the Nazis’ aviation ministry.

“Valkyrie” tells the story of Col. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, an aristocratic army officer who was executed after a failed attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler on July 20, 1944.

Benderblock is the site where Stauffenberg worked and, unfortunately, died. “Filming at the Bendlerblock has always been important to us symbolically, creatively and for the sake of historical authenticity,” said United Artists.

“We have been in constant communication with the government in an effort to dispel any concerns or misperceptions about the nature of `Valkyrie,” the production company.

After talks with the German government, Defense Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe, said that filmmakers were approved to film at the former military headquarters.

Raabe admitted that his inspection of the site in 2003 played a vital role in United Artists permission rejection, however, he did not elaborate.

According to Raabe, the movie was approved especially because it appeared it highlighted the idea that “barbarism did not win, but rather a democratic Germany finally arose.”

Cruise plays Stauffenberg and was questioned whether he should be playing a Nazi era hero based upon his Scientology beliefs.

Stauffenberg was executed after he and his followers were found after Hitler survived the assassination explosion on his East Prussian military headquarters.

The movie is directed by Bryan Singer and scheduled for a release next year.