Valkyrie

I remember hearing about this film when it came out but I failed to see it in the theaters. The director & cast of “Valkyrie” intrigued me and so when the chance came to watch the film, I did so. The anxiety it exudes and the acting impress me. This true story had to be told and for the most part, the film was historically accurate. I love movies like that.

I was exposed to the work of director Bryan Singer through his comic book films such as “X-men” and “Superman Returns”. I felt he did a great job with “Valkyrie” in creating the suspense and telling the story. Tom Cruise does a good job as the protagonist and Bill Nighy was amazing as can be expected of him. Supposedly, he had trouble wearing his Nazi costume considering what it represents. Terence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson were perfect actors for their parts. Kenneth Branagh is one of my favorite actors and considering his “Hamlet” persona; he was great for this movie. I also like Bernard Hill’s small role. I like the transition from German to English at the start in both the text and Tom Cruise’s opening lines. For the rest of the film, we understand that these characters are actually speaking German. It is established early on that Stauffenberg is against Hitler. I love the opening attempt at Hitler’s life. Branagh performs the scene wonderfully. That scene establishes the type of anxiety that we will feel throughout the film. It is interesting to see Germans in air raid shelters when we are used to seeing British. This scene and others with Stauffenberg & his family show especially that not all the Germans were evil. I love the audacity of Operation Valkyrie. Use one of Hitler’s own plans to take control of Germany once he is dead. The real dramatic punch comes when it is explained that the treasonous plan would be widely circulated and with Hitler’s signature. They have to trick Hitler and then kill him. I like the scene when Fromm is recruited. The use of the telephone creates fear that Fromm may report Stauffenberg and Olbricht right then & there. I also like how Fromm appears when he was needed so that only Hitler will see the changes to Valkarie, or rather overlook them. It is a relieving moment. In that scene, Hitler has some ironic lines concerning Staffenberg and that is entertaining & nerve-racking. It is important that we see future images of what the plan entails considering its complexity. I love Stamp’s narration during that sequence. Another sequence that I enjoy is Stauffenberg’s first entrance into the Wolf’s Lair past all the soldiers. The threat is going right past all of them and they don’t even know it. After the abort, Fromm is out and the mission becomes harder. I like the nice touch of how Mussolini almost got taken out in “Valkarie”. That would have been a godsend if that had happened in real life. I love how you can hear the acid in the briefcase as time closes in on the detonation.

The film portrays three complications in Stauffenberg’s assassination attempt: only one of the bombs was activated, Hitler was not in the bunker but rather in the conference hut and the briefcase was moved on the other side of the table leg. One study showed that if just one of any of the three complications had not occurred, Hitler would have been killed. I am a big fan of the Mythbusters and in their test however, it proved that the location did not make a difference. Hitler would have survived in either the hut or the bunker. This leads me to understand that the most important factors were the number of bombs being used and the table leg acting shielding the target. Focusing back on the film, I love how Staffenberg at the gate during his escape was keeping phone hung up with his one arm and bluffing that an officer was on the other end of the line. Probably another reason why the mission was doomed was that in the film, Olbricht decided not to mobilize the army. I love the symbolism of taking down Hitler’s portrait to get operation going. Another great shot was in the scene with all the ladies hands raised. When Fromm calls the Wolf’s Lair, we see certain characters there and realize that something has gone wrong with the mission. We still however wonder whether Hitler is dead or alive. Once we hear his voice on the phone, all speculation of the audience is put to rest. We remember actual history & realize that Hitler obviously must have survived and here is the proof. When everyone at the Bendlerblock shows their yellow cards, we know that there is no turning back. Hopelessness however sets in once the radio confirms to headquarters that Hitler is alive. It is very quiet. The montage of those executed is quite powerful considering that these men, with the exception of maybe Fromm, are now the heroes in post WWII history. I love how execution scene was filmed at the actual Bendlerblock. Cruise held a moment of silence before the first night of filming. Most of the special effects shots in the film were used to create Stauffenberg’s injuries and they are quite well done.

Growing up, I assumed that everyone in Germany and Japan were supporting their leaders but I guess I never learned very much from “Star Wars”. It is interesting that it took as long as it did for this story to be portrayed by Hollywood. The direction was well done and the acting was amazing. The film is a legitimate thriller in my book. I love history movies, especially those set in WWII, and I will watch this movie again.

4 Stars