This is one of those ugly movie related stories that rear their head every once in a while.
Germany Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer says that the country is refusing to allow the upcoming World War II picture Valkyrie from filming because of star Tom Cruise’s religious beliefs.
“[Filmmakers] will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult,” Kammerbauer said. “In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg’s person.”
Ridiculous. How the hell is Tom Cruise’s PERSONAL beliefs going to effect a Bryan Singer ensemble movie into blurring the reality of what really happened on July 20 1944? The answer is it won’t and you really have to wonder if there is a hidden agenda here from the Defense Ministry, because it really seems like they are clutching at straws on this one.
Is it not more likely that the Adolf Hitler assassination plot and the way Germany will be depicted is more troubling to him? Are they just trying to find a way out here with the movie to stop them filming in their homeland?
Tom Cruise’s producing partner and CEO of United Artists Paula Wagner responded to the German Ministry’s comments…
“Aside from his obvious admiration of the man he is portraying, Mr. Cruise’s personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie’s plot, themes, or content. And even though we could shoot the movie anywhere in the world, we believe Germany is the only place we can truly do the story justice.”
Seriously I report on some crap for this site sometimes, but this is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard and just goes to show what ignorance still exists in the world. I mean has any Scientologist ever bombed anywhere or committed a terrorist act?
I mean they are pretty harmless apart from the abduction of Katie Holmes.
Hate to say it but this is the type of thing the Nazi’s would have done.
source – coming soon
5 Comments
I don’t understand why the Bundeswehr doesn’t allow Cruise to film, but they must have some reason!
But I can’t agree with the last comment you made it’s just too harsh. You can’t compare the German government now with that one of Hitler’s!! I mean I am by no means a fan of the Germans but this comparison clearly goes to far.
Is it really though?
Refusing to allow someone to work because of their relegion in the 21st century is absolutely dispacable in my act. It’s as bad as racism in my point of view.
It’s like not hiring a guy because of his race. I have no time for people like that.
I found a complete article about this whole affair
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,490765,00.html
This is, for lack of a better word, silly. I don’t understand what Cruise’s religion has to do with the film and the articles I’ve read that are being attributed with the story simply say that it’s because Scientology is a ‘cult’ but that’s not exactly a good reason for not allowing the filming. It’s not like he’s planning to convert Germans while he’s there.
Guess the krauts are still trying to live down that whole plunging the world into the worst war in history thing. This is Germany using any dumb excuse to spite the fimmakers.
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[...] GERMANS HALT CRUISE – Germany Defense Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer has stated that Tom Cruise would not be allowed to film the upcoming WW 2 picture Valkyrie at German military sites because of the actor’s affiliation to Scientology. No Tags This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 4:32 pm and is filed under Movie Watch. 19/06 – Valkyrie14/06 – ValkyrieEddie Izzard joins Valkyrie26/06 – Hitman26/06 – Frost/Nixon [...]
[...] German Defense Ministry is now going back on it’s statement from two days ago about blocking the crew of Bryan Singer’s World War II movie Valkyrie from filming at [...]