Do you mean Germans like Thomas Kretschmann (Remer), Christian Berkel (Mertz von Quirnheim), Matthias Freihof (Himmler), Valdemar Kobus (von Helldorff), Werner Daehn (von Freyend), Gerhard Haase-Hindenberg (Goering), Anton Algrang (Speer), Helmut Strauss (Freisler), and of course Philipp von Schulthess (von Tresckow's aide), who is the grandson of Claus von Stauffenberg? This was an international production and was reflected by an international cast, hence Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Bernard Hill, Terence Stamp, Tom Wilkinson, and Eddie Izzard (English), not to mention Carisa Van Houten and Halina Reijn (Dutch). The film was directed and co-produced by Bryan Singer (American), who wanted Cruise (also American, as well as a co-producer) in the picture and didn't want a docu-drama, but a wartime political thriller. Germany was originally very hesitant to provide resources for this film, as Cruise (who bears a strange resemblance to von Stauffenberg) is controversial due to his adherence to Scientology, which is banned as a cult in Germany. Eventually they did cooperate and allowed film production to proceed on location at Studio Babelsburg, Berlin's oldest surviving film studio. Originally off-limits to film producers, the Finance Ministry allowed use of the notorious Bendlerblock, where the executions actually took place.
American films tend to be in English, reflecting the mother tongue of the intended audience. This film started out in German and changed to English during Cruise's voice-over at the beginning of the film, a familiar-enough device that tells us all it's being translated for us, not necessarily for the benefit of the cast (most of whom speak or understand German) but for that of the audience. It may be displeasurable for some, but is it REALLY a major issue in this film?
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