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Valkyrie – An Interview with Christopher McQuarrieGerald D. Swick November 21, 2008 | 11 comments | Print | E-mail CMQ: It’s interesting. All I wanted to do was get away from crime, do something different. When Valkyrie was over, I stepped back and realized I’d done the same thing all over again. What the conspirators attempted was, after all, a crime; many people disapproved of their actions. It’s a conspiracy story. More than anything, it’s a thriller. It’s not a biopic—it’s a conspiracy thriller. (Wryly) Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in. ACG: Do you prefer writing a purely fictional story or working with one like this where the facts dictate much of the framework? CMQ: Each one has its advantages, and each one has its drawbacks. I like the confinement of history and historical events. On the other hand, there’s something liberating about writing fiction. The closer you get to being historically accurate, the more criticism you get. People will focus on the three or four liberties you take instead of the hundreds you didn’t. In movies like Gladiator, which was just a passing nod to history, they don’t notice that. I’m very happy with what I did. If I decided that what I wanted to do was a bloated bio pic, I could have added an hour following other characters, telling their backstory. There are lots of things you’d like to add, but even in a work of fiction I would have cut them out because they don’t play into the central story. What we left out were the things that distracted from the central thesis of the film, the events of July 20.
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            Tags: Historical Figures, interview, movies, World War II
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11 Comments to “Valkyrie – An Interview with Christopher McQuarrie”
Thank You very much for this site. I cannot remember when I singed up for this site, It has been awhile, but I come back here often. Thank You for the emails and the fsatenating articles that are on this site. Thank You for this site and this interview.
By Len Hawkins on Nov 24, 2008 at 5:53 pm
This is the first time I had the chance to read articles in this forum long after I have registered. In fact, I think this is the first time that I’ve open the forum again. I find the interview very fascinating specially for someone like me who is a history buff and an avid student of historical figures. I wonder if there are other features on Asian war generals like North Vietnamese General Giap. Cheers to Armchair General
By E. Mercado on Nov 24, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Thank you so much for this interview! I can’t wait to see Valkyrie once it comes out in theatres. Stauffenberg was a real hero who was not afraid to do an unpopular and extremely dangerous thing; he was also a German war hero who fought with distinction in North Africa, as well as a Catholic—a combination that is rare to say the least, and not found often in WWII.
It is articles and interviews like this that make the Armchair General website such a great place. Thank you to all of the ACG magazine and website staff for all of the great work you do! I am very thankful to you today more than ever, on Thanksgiving. God bless!
Sincerely,
Alexander Wilson
By Alexander Wilson on Nov 27, 2008 at 9:41 am
Thank you very much to send me this message. I am a English learner. So I am very happy that I can join in this forum. It will do a lot to my English study. Thank you very much.
By sophie on Nov 28, 2008 at 7:31 am
The web site Axis History Forum has a site on “German Genenerl Casualties” in which they discuss von Staufennbergs career, education (1936 Genral Staff Course) and backgroud.
By bigun6605 on Dec 3, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I can’t wait for this movie to come out. They need to make more movies about WWII – least our future generations don’t forget this horrible war and repeat it!
Hilter was a mad man and should have never been in power but for every bad thing there is good that comes from it and I’m sure there was a reason for all of it.
Christopher McQuarrie – if your listening here are some future ideas for moves based on history.
The story of Saul or Paul from the Bible and his entire life – it would be a amazing and rare account for a movie. Trust me.
Maybe a movie about the “Winter War” in 1940 when the Soviets invaded Finland and how they defeated them beginning highly out-gunned and out-numbered.
A movie about the Nazi seige of Leningrad and how the Russian people survived almost four years of starvation in that city.
Just some ideas…………………..
By Blitzkrieg the 2nd on Dec 8, 2008 at 11:01 pm
It’s very telling of these people to discuss their motivations for making motion pictures, its almost the story within the story. Thanks for the interview. Love reading World War II
By odanny on Dec 10, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Personally, I thought the movie was amazing.
I’m not one for Tom Cruise (usually), but I liked this.
It was well written, well directed, and well cast (for the most part).
I cannot wait for this movie to come out on DVD.
This interview just added to my excitement. Great interview!
By jcms_academic.superbowl on Jan 16, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Sources. What were McQuarrie’s actual sources? Which ones out of many did he use? Why isn’t a history magazine asking him about his approach to and use of historical materials?
This interview reads like a puff piece from any dumb entertainment publication, not something that is appearing in a serious magazine for history buffs, who want to see serious topics dealt with with the care and attention that they deserve.
Right?
Ask the man real questions the next time.
By Mike on Oct 29, 2009 at 12:32 am
For example, “the exact fuses that Stauffenberg used”. Who cares. Hollywood is famous for its overemphasis on trivial details of this sort, while getting the characterizations of the historical figures wrong.
Whose books did you use, fellah? Which records state the manufacturer of Stauffenberg’s fuses?
By Mike on Oct 29, 2009 at 12:41 am