Germany bans
Cruise film shoot

Germany has prohibited shooting of the Tom Cruise World War II thriller Valkyrie because of the actor's ties to Scientology.

Germany has long contended the Church of Scientology is not a religion but an exploitative, profit-based business concern.

Daily Variety reported this morning that the German Defense Ministry says the United Artists movie cannot be filmed at German military sites.

Studio chief executive Paula Wagner says, ''Mr. Cruise's personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie's plot, themes, or content.''

Cruise has had trouble with Germans before.

In 1996, German politicians called for a boycott of Mission: Impossible and other Cruise films because of his Scientology affiliation.

Cruise met with U.S. ambassador to Germany Dan Coats in 2002 in an attempt to get German officials to soften their views on the Church of Scientology. Germany has officially monitored the church since 1997. (AP)