On July 20, 1944, German army conspirators tried to end Europe's nightmare by assassinating Adolf Hitler, an action they called Operation Valkyrie. Exposure or failure would bring terrible and far-reaching consequences.

That assassination attempt is the story behind Valkyrie, a new film from United Artists. Directed by Brian Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men) and starring Tom Cruise (the Mission Impossible series, Born on the Fourth of July), it has been described as "a thriller set during the war."

The project began when Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun) was taking a tour of Berlin while scouting locations for another movie. The tour concluded at the Bendlerblock where the conspirators were executed. The location was closed, but the tour guide told him about the events there and noted that the courtyard has within it the only memorial in Berlin to any German soldier of World War II.

McQuarrie turned to his companion and said, "That would make a great movie."

On December 26, 2008, that movie— Valkyrie —makes its nationwide debut. Recently McQuarrie, who also served as producer on the film, talked with ArmchairGeneral.com about bringing it to the screen.

To read an interview you won't find anywhere else, click here.