Tom Cruise's Riveting WWII Saga Ignites Debate Among Historians
Tom Cruise stars as a German colonel in the WWII thriller Valkyrie, a film that has been critically assessed by a historian for its Hollywoodization of historical events
Summary
The war film Valkyrie, featuring Tom Cruise, has been denounced by a war historian as a "Hollywoodization of history," as it embellishes the actual events and individuals it depicts.
The movie showcases American and British actors portraying German characters, reflecting the tendency of "Hollywoodization" in order to attract a broader viewership. Cruise, for instance, takes on the role of German Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.
The analysis by the war historian emphasizes how historical Hollywood films frequently prioritize entertainment rather than accuracy, often simplifying events and individuals.
War historian James Rogers, an advisor to NATO, critically evaluates the historical accuracy of Valkyrie, a World War II thriller directed by Bryan Singer in 2008. Rogers views the film as a "Hollywoodization of history" and shares his analysis in a recent video for the History Hit YouTube channel. Focusing on the portrayal of the real-life assassination attempt against Hitler by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, Rogers examines the extent to which Valkyrie stays true to the actual events, with Tom Cruise taking on the role of the German military officer.
Rogers provides intriguing insights into various scenes in the movie, acknowledging that the film overly dramatizes the events. Take a look at some of Rogers' thoughts below:
"To be honest, this isn't my preferred war film. It succumbs to the Hollywood clichés of altering historical facts.
Now, in reality, Colonel Stauffenberg needs to obtain Hitler's signature for this. Operation Valkyrie is a contingency plan in case the German people rise up due to their dissatisfaction with the Allied bombings. If the psychological warfare successfully breaks the German morale and prompts the people to revolt, this plan aims to restore order. However, the determined colonel intends to utilize this plan to not only disarm the SS but also to overthrow Hitler. Therefore, describing this moment as tense would be a vast understatement.
This climactic scene takes place in the Wolf’s Lair in Poland, one of the most heavily fortified locations in the world. It marks the 20th of July Plot, which stands as one of the closest attempts out of more than 40 to assassinate Hitler. Now, their priority is to successfully escape from this heavily fortified compound. The Wolf's Lair in Poland boasts three layers of security measures.
Valkyrie's "Hollywoodization" Explained
: Stauffenberg mistakenly believes that Hitler has been killed and believes he has successfully carried out his plan. However, he soon learns that his assumption is incorrect. As a consequence of his attempts to undermine Hitler, Stauffenberg is ultimately sentenced to face a makeshift firing squad, resulting in his execution for his crimes against the dictator.
The historian does not provide a detailed explanation of "Hollywoodization," but the term essentially refers to a work of art that has made certain artistic choices to meet the standards set by Hollywood. In this instance, the selection of Cruise for the role could be considered an element of Hollywoodization, as an American actor portrays the main character, who is German, in an attempt to attract American audiences. In fact, the majority of the Valkyrie cast comprises American and British actors.
Rogers' complaint about Valkyrie applies to many other big-budget historical films. Often, real historical events are deemed not exciting enough, leading to the addition of elements to increase entertainment value and appeal to the audience. One prime example is Pearl Harbor, a bombastic war movie directed by Michael Bay in 2001, which is widely criticized for its inaccuracy. It prioritizes a clichéd Hollywood love story over a serious examination of the actual events surrounding the infamous 1941 attack.
In reality, historical figures are complex and cannot be easily categorized as "good" or "bad," yet Hollywood films often feel compelled to make such distinctions. Take Stauffenberg, for instance, who only turned against Hitler during the late stages of the war after sustaining injuries. He would have already been well aware of the atrocities committed against Jewish communities in Europe. Therefore, although Valkyrie is an entertaining film featuring one of Hollywood's most captivating stars, Rogers' remarks highlight that it should not be considered a highly accurate portrayal of real events and people.
Source: History Hit/ YouTube
