Breaking the Code (1996)

A biography of the English mathematician Alan Turing, who was one of the inventors of the digital computer and one of the key figures in the breaking of the Enigma code, used by the Germans... See full summary »

Director:

Herbert Wise

Writers:

Andrew Hodges (book), Hugh Whitemore (play)

Stars:

Derek Jacobi, Alun Armstrong, Blake Ritson

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Derek Jacobi	...	Alan Turing
Alun Armstrong	...	Mick Ross
Blake Ritson	...	Christopher Morcom
William Mannering	...	Young Alan Turing
Prunella Scales	...	Sara Turing
Julian Kerridge	...	Ron Miller
Harold Pinter	...	John Smith
Richard Johnson	...	Dilwyn 'Dilly' Knox
Amanda Root	...	Patricia 'Pat' Green

Storyline

A biography of the English mathematician Alan Turing, who was one of the inventors of the digital computer and one of the key figures in the breaking of the Enigma code, used by the Germans to send secret orders to their U-boats in World War II. Turing was also a homosexual in Britain at a time when this was illegal.

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Plot Keywords:

code | computer | homosexual | spy | comic relief | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A kód feltörése

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),The Drama House,WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.6:1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Herbert Wise had previously directed Derek Jacobi in 'I, Claudius', where Jacobi also played a character with a stutter.

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Quotes

Alan Turing: It's not breaking the code that matters - it's where you go from there.

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Connections

References The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

User Reviews

" Dark Secrets are the foundation everyone fears "

On Octuber 7th, the United States went to war with Afganistan and tried to learn as much about the Tiliban as possible. Yet a decade later, America is no closer to victory than when it began. One of the Principal reasons for the slow progress is because the American military has banned it's gay cryptographers from service to it's country. It seems little has been learned from past mistakes such as the Brisish made during world War II. Back then it was a remarkable individual named Alan Turing, a British mathematician and cryptanalyst who Broke the mysterious German Egnima Machine and thus brought the War to a speedy end. In this film called " Breaking the Code " Derek Jacobi, plays Alan Turing who's insights and expertise solved that elusive problem. The life of Turing is prime example of what world government can do to destroy people who threaten the moral fiber of a country. Yet the movie itself is a half baked attempt to render the great man's life on film. Glossing over his life, it jumps from his youth to his later life stopping briefly to remind audiences of his hidden world as a reclusive gay individual. Alun Armstrong plays Mick Ross a British Inspector who investigates a minor robbery and discovers Turning's homosexuality, causing him to lose his anonymity and thus brings him to the pubic's attention, bringing him shame and ridicule. William Mannering plays a youthful Alan Turing, living with his mother who learns of his personal problems and the legal effects of the law. The film tries it's best to mix his past with his war-time achievements and falls short due to it's half handed attempt. Still, Jacobi is brilliant as the misunderstood scientist who has to undergo Chemical castration as part of his criminal sentence. This is a must movie for all his fans and I found it extremely well done. I easily recommend it to anyone studying the life Alan Turning. ****