According to the news, the German military have banned Tom Cruise’s new movie to be filmed in their country because they claim the actor’s Scientology religion is not recognized as a church in Germany, and also claim the controversial religion is a “money-making cult”. This comes as a bad joke to Tom Cruise who was set to begin filming the movie Valkyrie in Germany this summer. The Hollywood actor has vowed Scientology will have no impact on the movie or any character, but Tom’s promises were in vain because the permission to film scenes has been denied by the country’s Defence Ministry.
In the movie Tom Cruise plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of an unsuccessful plot to kill Adolf Hitler during World War II.
(Producers) 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. 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.
- Harald Kammerbauer, spokesman for the country’s Defence Ministry, says -
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.
- His producing partner and United Artists CEO Paula Wagner says -
I’m outraged that someone’s religious beliefs are made the basis for turning down a permit to film a movie. Doesn’t this remind anyone of what Germans are infamous for doing to those they want to demonize and degrade? Tom Cruise’s basic human rights, to think freely, to worship freely, are being used to deny him something that would be available to a Christian, Muslim, or, one hopes, a Jew in Germany. What if they had turned down Spielberg’s request for a permit because he’s a Jew? This pisses me off no end. Instead of denigrating Tom Cruise and Scientology, we should be aghast at what this officious idiot in Germany has done.
June 28th, 2007