Tony Blair has joined in the condemnation (see yesterday's story) of the second world war thriller U-571 for its rewriting of history.

Speaking in the Commons, the prime minister claimed that U-571 was an "affront" to the British sailors that were killed during the war and added "I hope that people realise these are people that, in many cases, sacrificed their lives in order that this country remained free."

The film - a massive success in the United States and riding high in the British box office at number 4 - portrays the capture of the German Enigma coding machine which marked a vital turning point in the war. At the time, the British-planned and executed action was described by George VI as the single most important event in the war at sea. The Hollywood version, however, re-casts the British war heroes as a group of hardy American naval officers.

At the end of the film, it is made clear that the movie is fictional but inspired by real events. Culture secretary Chris Smith however, has already said he will raise the issue in Hollywood, and added: "I think one of the things we need to make clear to Hollywood is, yes you're in the entertainment business but the people who see your movies are going to come away thinking that's information, not just entertainment."