As Claus von Stauffenberg, Col. Tom Cruise (sporting a funky, funky eyepatch, man) plots to kill Adolf Hitler in the new trailer for Bryan Singer’s Valkryie, also starring Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terence Stamp, and Eddie Izzard. Hmmm, maybe.
One thought on “Risky Business.”
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Back in the 60’s, my father wrote a play on von Stauffenberg and the July 20 bomb plot. I believe that it arose out of his interest in questions of individual freedom, conscience, loyalty and honor in the face of evil. He used the story of von Stauffenberg to explore these issues in the guise of retelling a dramatic and little known story.
Today, we are faced with the need to ask the same questions. To whom or what should we be loyal? How far must we follow them? At what price? What is the right thing to do? These questions, timeless as they are, are once more made urgent for us all by the current state of our politics, our nation, and our world. The story of von Stauffenberg may once again provide us with useful lessons, or at least encourage us to ponder.
I applaud the writers, actors, producers and crew for their efforts. Let us hope that they do justice not only to the memory of those involved in the efforts to overthrow Hitler, but also to the profound questions that their actions again raise for all of us.