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BERLIN - Germany has banned Tom Cruise from shooting scenes at military sites for his upcoming film about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler because the Hollywood actor is a member of the controversial Scientology church.
Cruise was scheduled to play the part of Claus von Stauffenberg, a member of the German nobility who attempted to assassinate Hitler in July 1944.
The decision drew a sharp response from Cruise's film producing partner, Paula Wagner, chief executive of United Artists Entertainment, who said Cruise's "personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie's plot, themes or content".
The film entitled Valkyrie is due to go on release next year and its makers planned to start shooting the picture in Berlin next month.
However Germany's Defence Ministry yesterday took the highly unusual step of formally banning the actor, who is also one of the movie's producers, from filming at authentic key military sites in the German capital which are central to the movie's plot.
"The film makers 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," said Harald Kammerbauer, a Defence Ministry spokesman.
In a further remark which appeared to express utter disapproval at the choice of Tom Cruise for the part, Kammerbauer added: "In general, the German armed forces have a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg's person," he said.
The German government usually prides itself on upholding artistic freedoms and normally maintains a position of neutrality when dealing with film projects.
However the Church of Scientology is regarded with the utmost suspicion in Germany where it is widely considered to be a cult that masquerades as a religion.
The organisation, which came under fire when it decided to open a European headquarters in Berlin earlier this year, is kept under regular surveillance by German intelligence services.
Tom Cruise's character, Claus von Stauffenberg, was deeply opposed to the Nazi's treatment of the Jews despite being a German army officer.
On the afternoon of July 20 1944, he travelled to Hitler's "'Wolf's Lair" headquarters in Prussia and planted a briefcase bomb next to the Nazi leader.
However Hitler was only wounded in the attack.
But nonetheless Stauffenberg went down in post-war German history as a heroic figure.
His family has not welcomed the decision to use Tom Cruise to play the part.
Berthold Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, 72, who is Claus von Stauffenberg's son, dismissed the forthcoming film.
"It is unpleasant for me that an avowed Scientologist will be playing my father," he said.
"I had hoped for a long time that the project was just a publicity stunt on the part of Cruise. Clearly that appears not to be the case."
In a statement, Wagner said von Stauffenberg is characterised as a "heroic and principled figure."
"We believe it (the film) will go a long way toward reminding the world that even within the ranks of the German military, there was real resistance to the Nazi regime," she said.
While Wagner did not cite requests for specific locations, she did add: "We believe Germany is the only place we can truly do the story justice."
Tom Cruise was not immediately available for comment.
- INDEPENDENT
