Germans warm to ‘Valkyrie’

Tom Cruise has defied expectations and won favorable reviews from German critics for his portrayal of a Prussian army officer who tried to assassinate Hitler in 1944 in the film “Valkyrie.”

German reviewers who were initially highly suspicious have warmed to the film, describing it as a serious work, and Cruise has overcome unease about his suitability for the role.

“ ‘Valkyrie’ is neither scandalously bad nor the event of the century. Neither is it the action thriller we feared, but it is a well-made and serious film,” said public broadcaster ZDF.

Initially, Germans balked at the prospect of Cruise, star of blockbusters such as “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible,” playing Col. Claus von Stauffenberg. Stauffenberg’s son even called on Cruise to “keep his hands off my father” and go home.

Frank Schirrmacher, co-publisher of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, said Cruise’s depiction would change the image the world has of Germans.

The Koelner Stadt Anzeiger said, “[The fear that] the myth of the German resistance would be put through a Hollywood filter has turned out to be wrong and prejudicial. On the contrary, the American origin of this film is its biggest advantage.”