Valkyrie is a 2008 historical thriller directed by Bryan Singer and starring Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a German army officer who was central to the failed 20 July 1944 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime. With a screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, the film dramatizes a critical and often overlooked moment in World War II history—the internal German resistance to Hitler. Through compelling performances, a tense narrative structure, and stark production design, Valkyrie offers a thought-provoking exploration of moral courage, duty, and the limits of loyalty.
Historical Context and Plot Overview
The plot of Valkyrie is rooted in real historical events. By 1944, the tide of World War II had turned decisively against Nazi Germany. On the Eastern Front, Soviet forces were pushing westward, while in the West, the Allies had landed in Normandy and were advancing toward German territory. Disillusioned by the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, particularly the SS, and convinced that Hitler was leading Germany toward total destruction, a number of high-ranking Wehrmacht officers conspired to assassinate him and take control of the government.
The most significant attempt to do this was Operation Valkyrie, which was originally a contingency plan developed by the German Reserve Army to maintain order in case of internal unrest. The conspirators, led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, sought to repurpose Valkyrie as a tool to seize power once Hitler was dead. The plan was meticulous: Stauffenberg would place a bomb near Hitler during a military briefing at the Wolf’s Lair, and once Hitler was confirmed dead, the Reserve Army would be activated to arrest key SS and Nazi leaders under the guise of a coup to “protect” the Führer.
Valkyrie follows Stauffenberg’s personal and ideological transformation from loyal officer to determined conspirator. After being severely injured in North Africa, losing his right hand and two fingers on his left hand, as well as his left eye, Stauffenberg returns to Germany even more convinced of the need for action. He joins a group of conspirators, including General Ludwig Beck (Terence Stamp), General Friedrich Olbricht (Bill Nighy), and Colonel General Erich Fellgiebel (Eddie Izzard). As the film progresses, it depicts the intricate planning, false starts, betrayals, and ultimate failure of the assassination attempt on 20 July 1944. The bomb does detonate, but Hitler survives. The resulting confusion and failure to secure communication lines lead to the unraveling of the coup. Stauffenberg and several others are executed for treason.
Characterization and Performances
Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Claus von Stauffenberg is at the heart of Valkyrie. Cruise brings intensity and a sense of moral gravity to the role, portraying a man grappling with the weight of his conscience, his responsibilities to his country, and the dangerous ambiguity of treason in wartime. While Cruise’s casting was initially met with skepticism—particularly in Germany, where his affiliation with Scientology was controversial—his performance received a more favorable response upon the film’s release.
Supporting performances also contribute significantly to the film’s effectiveness. Bill Nighy as General Olbricht captures the anxiety and indecision that plagued the resistance movement. Kenneth Branagh, who plays Henning von Tresckow, lends gravitas and emotional depth, especially in the early parts of the film where he expresses frustration over the regime’s crimes and the failure of previous plots.
The ensemble cast includes Terence Stamp, Tom Wilkinson (as General Fromm), Eddie Izzard, Carice van Houten, and David Bamber, who plays Adolf Hitler with an unsettling blend of frailty and menace. Each character is portrayed with a mix of realism and drama, allowing the audience to appreciate the stakes and dangers of resistance within a totalitarian system.
Themes and Motifs
One of the central themes of Valkyrie is moral resistance in the face of overwhelming tyranny. The conspirators are portrayed not as perfect heroes but as individuals who come to the decision to act for different reasons—some moral, some strategic, and some personal. Stauffenberg’s journey from loyal officer to would-be assassin reflects the struggle between duty and conscience.
Another significant theme is the idea of patriotism. The film challenges the simplistic notion that loyalty to one’s country must equate to loyalty to its government or leader. The conspirators see their actions not as betrayal, but as an effort to save Germany from destruction and moral collapse. “We have to show the world that not all of us were like him,” Stauffenberg says, summarizing their collective motivation.
The film also explores fate and chance. The ultimate failure of the plot is due to a combination of bad luck and miscommunication. Hitler’s survival was, in part, due to the table leg that shielded him from the blast. These small twists of fate underscore the fragility of even the most careful plans and the human cost of resistance.
Direction, Cinematography, and Score
Bryan Singer, known for films like The Usual Suspects and X-Men, directs Valkyrie with a controlled, sober tone that emphasizes suspense and realism. The production design recreates the look of wartime Germany with impressive authenticity. The scenes set in Berlin are particularly effective in conveying the bureaucratic, militarized atmosphere of the Nazi state.
Newton Thomas Sigel’s cinematography employs a muted color palette of grays, blues, and greens that reflect the grim and oppressive mood of the time. Close-up shots are used effectively to convey the emotional stakes and internal tension of the characters, particularly Stauffenberg.
John Ottman’s score enhances the film’s emotional weight without overwhelming it. The music is restrained, relying on somber strings and subtle motifs to underscore moments of decision, fear, and tragedy.
Reception and Criticism
Upon its release, Valkyrie received mixed to positive reviews. Critics praised the film for its suspense and historical detail but criticized aspects of its execution and tone. Some viewers found the use of English-language dialogue, especially in American and British accents, somewhat jarring in a film about German characters. However, the choice to avoid heavy German accents or subtitles was a deliberate decision aimed at making the story accessible to an international audience.
The film was generally well-received in Germany, despite initial controversy over Cruise’s involvement. Many Germans appreciated the fact that a major Hollywood production was shedding light on the German resistance, a topic that had often been underrepresented in popular media.
Valkyrie performed moderately well at the box office, grossing around $200 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $90 million.
Legacy and Cultural Significance
Valkyrie contributes to a broader cultural and historical discourse about internal German opposition to Hitler. In many portrayals of World War II, Germany is depicted as a monolith of Nazism. However, Valkyrie emphasizes that there were Germans—within the military, government, and civilian society—who recognized the evil of the regime and were willing to act against it at great personal risk.
The film also serves as a cinematic memorial to the members of the 20 July plot, many of whom were executed, tortured, or imprisoned along with their families. Their legacy lives on in modern Germany, where streets, schools, and memorials are named in their honor. Valkyrie helps international audiences engage with this legacy and consider the complexities of resistance in authoritarian regimes.
Conclusion
Valkyrie is a tense, intelligently crafted thriller that brings to life a dramatic but underexplored episode of World War II history. It stands out not for action-packed sequences or spectacle, but for its focus on personal conviction, moral complexity, and the courage to stand against evil from within. Tom Cruise delivers a committed and nuanced performance as Claus von Stauffenberg, supported by a strong cast and meticulous direction from Bryan Singer.
By dramatizing a failed assassination attempt, the film challenges the viewer to reflect on the value of effort even in the face of inevitable defeat. The legacy of the Valkyrie conspirators, though they did not succeed in their mission, is a testament to the enduring human desire for justice and freedom—even in the darkest times.
