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Breaking the Codes

Original title: Breaking the Code
  • TV Movie
  • 19961996
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
654
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Derek Jacobi, Richard Johnson, and Amanda Root in Breaking the Code (1996)
  • Biography
  • Drama
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 ... Read allA 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 Br... Read allA 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.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
654
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Herbert Wise
  • Writers
    • Andrew Hodges(book "Alan Turing: The Enigma")
    • Hugh Whitemore(play)
  • Stars
    • Derek Jacobi
    • Alun Armstrong
    • Blake Ritson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Herbert Wise
  • Writers
    • Andrew Hodges(book "Alan Turing: The Enigma")
    • Hugh Whitemore(play)
  • Stars
    • Derek Jacobi
    • Alun Armstrong
    • Blake Ritson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Photos

    Derek Jacobi, Richard Johnson, and Amanda Root in Breaking the Code (1996)
    Richard Johnson and Amanda Root in Breaking the Code (1996)
    Derek Jacobi, Richard Johnson, and Amanda Root in Breaking the Code (1996)
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    Top cast

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    Derek Jacobi
    Derek Jacobi
    • Alan Turingas Alan Turing
    Alun Armstrong
    Alun Armstrong
    • Mick Rossas Mick Ross
    Blake Ritson
    Blake Ritson
    • Christopher Morcomas Christopher Morcom
    William Mannering
    William Mannering
    • Young Alan Turingas Young Alan Turing
    Prunella Scales
    Prunella Scales
    • Sara Turingas Sara Turing
    Julian Kerridge
    • Ron Milleras Ron Miller
    Harold Pinter
    Harold Pinter
    • John Smithas John Smith
    Richard Johnson
    Richard Johnson
    • Dilwyn 'Dilly' Knoxas Dilwyn 'Dilly' Knox
    Amanda Root
    Amanda Root
    • Patricia 'Pat' Greenas Patricia 'Pat' Green
    Scott McKinstry
    • Smokeras Smoker
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Herbert Wise
    • Writers
      • Andrew Hodges(book "Alan Turing: The Enigma")
      • Hugh Whitemore(play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The New York City production of "Breaking the Code" by Hugh Whitemore opened at the Neil Simon Theater in New York City on November 15, 1987 and ran for one hundred sixty-nine performances. Sir Derek Jacobi was nominated for the 1988 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and re-created his stage role in this movie production.
    • Quotes

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

    • Connections
      Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #10.5 (1997)

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    Brilliant performance
    A moving depiction of the life of genius Alan Turing, the mathematician who broke Nazi Germany's Enigma code during WWII and who provided much of the theoretical foundation of modern computer science. Jacobi masterfully portrays Turing in all phases of his life, from his troubled days as a student to his career as codebreaker at Bletchley Park, and to his later suicide after having been hounded to the point of despair by an ungrateful and mistrustful government over his homosexuality.

    If this film has a flaw at all, it's that Jacobi is physically unlike Turing in every way; there's absolutely no point of resemblance. But his performance is so absorbing that you don't really notice until it's all over with.
    helpful•16
    4
    • Acolyte-2
    • Sep 13, 2002

    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 2, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Breaking the Code
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • The Drama House
      • WGBH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.6:1

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    Derek Jacobi, Richard Johnson, and Amanda Root in Breaking the Code (1996)
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