In Berlin with Tom Cruise, on the set of Valkyrie
By Ruben V. Nepales
Inquirer
Last updated 02:50am (Mla time) 08/31/2007
BERLIN, GermanyNews-making controversies may have hounded Valkyrie, Tom Cruises thriller about a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, but a recent exclusive visit to the set in the German capital showed that the production is proceeding as scheduled.
Our group of visiting journalists first met Tom on Sunday evening at Hotel De Rome, where he talked about his role, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, considered a hero in Germany. Stauffenberg and several German officers tried to stop Adolf Hitler and his atrocious regime with an assassination attempt. The thriller is being directed by Bryan Singer (the X-Men movies, Superman Returns) from a script that reunites him with Christopher McQuarrie, his award-winning scriptwriter on the acclaimed The Usual Suspects. Nathan Alexander co-wrote the screenplay.
Extraordinary
The cast includes distinguished British and German actors, including Carice van Houten (who plays Claus wife, Nina von Stauffenberg), Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, Jamie Parker, Christian Berkel and Thomas Kretschmann.
Its a very compelling story from a cinematic viewpoint, said Tom, who held a glass of iced soda drink as the sun set in the rooftop terrace of the hotel. In the background, the sun set dramatically on a courtyard, where books by the Jews and liberal writers were once burned by the Nazis.
Toms hair was cut in the style of Stauffenberg, a Catholic who was executed after a bomb he put in a briefcase exploded but failed to kill the Fuhrer. Initial publicity photos emphasized the resemblance between Tom and Stauffenberg, the best known member of the Nazi resistance, who had earlier lost his left eye, right hand and two fingers on his left handthe result of serious injuries he suffered when Allied forces strafed his vehicle in the Tunisian desert.
Its an extraordinary screenplay that Chris McQuarrie wrote, Tom continued. Bryan is a director that I had been wanting to work with since I saw The Usual Suspects. Hes a brilliant filmmaker. And the screenplay itselfmy hands were sweating as I read it.
Of the heroism of Stauffenberg, the superstar said, I thought of it in terms of what Stauffenberg represents. He was someone who realized that he had to take the steps that ultimately cost him his life... He recognized what was at stake. Its compelling when people stand up for things.
He told us the essence of the scene we were going to watch on the set the following day, Monday:
Stauffenberg comes home and Nina has surprised him by coming from Bamberg to Berlin. Berlin, at this point in the movie, is not a safe city because of the bombings. But she comes to see him. He hasnt seen his children in a long time. He is missing an eye and a hand, but he has wonderful wit.
Practice
Asked what it was like to wear an eye patch for the role, Tom answered, Your balance is thrown offyou need both eyes to get the depth of field.
He described the challenges of playing someone with severe injuries: I practiced a lot dressing myself and moving around only with the fingers and not having a hand. The thing about Stauffenberg is that he still insisted on writing so I have been practicing with my left hand. He never wanted any help. Even though his legs were also injured, he worked very hard not to have anyone notice that.
A grandson of Stauffenbergs, Philipp von Schulthesss, is in the cast. He said that about 99 percent of his family supported the making of the movie. The earlier controversy centered on the objection of a sur viving son of Stauffenbergs.
Valkyrie is one of the first movies that Tom and his business partner, Paula Wagner, are rolling out since they took over United Artists, which was founded by movie legends Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith. Asked what his and Paulas plans were for the studio that launched such successful franchises as Rocky, The Pink Panther and James Bond, the actor replied, I am going to really try to do the best that I can and tell interesting stories that I find compelling. When you look at the first two pictures that we have, Mr. (Robert) Redfords Lions for Lambs (Tom stars with Robert and Meryl Streep) and Valkyrie, youll see what I mean. I made one picture, Rain Man, there.
A lot of scope
Thats what we are going to do. I want to make pictures with a lot of scope. I love big movies with great characters. Look at the movies that Ive producedthe Mission pictures, Vanilla Sky, Minority Report and The War of the Worlds. Its a wide range of cinematic fare that I enjoy.
Elsewhere on the terrace lit with tea candles flickering in Berlins warm breeze in August, Bryan Singer, Bill Nighy, the beautiful Carice van Houten, Eddie Izzard and other cast members shared their stories about filming a potentially powerful and important movie, the kind that may reap awards and sweep the box-office charts races.
Set visit
The following day, we went to the seta pre-war villa southwest of Berlin, in an area supposedly like the Beverly Hills of Berlin. The homes backyards have a terrific view of the Schlachtensee lake.
Inside the house, the days scene unfolded: Tom and Carice waltz as their children play. One of the kids changes the music to one more suited to their mock battle. Tom and Carice stop and look on, amused at first, but as one of the kids pretend to be killed, the camera zooms in on Tom. His face slowly turns sad and anguished as he is reminded of the assassination mission he has to carry out, which could mean that, soon, he may no longer be with his family.
Without the aid of dialogue, his face obscured by an eye patch, Tom still manages to convey grief and turmoil. Watching the scene reminded us why weve always believed that Tom is an underrated actor. The superstar fame, controversies and unrelenting public scrutiny have often succeeded in eclipsing the fact that the guy is one of the finest actors of his generation.