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Longitude

  • TV Movie
  • 20002000
  • 3h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Longitude (2000)
  • Drama
  • History
In two parallel stories, the clockmaker John Harrison builds the marine chronometer for safe navigation at sea in the 18th Century and the horologist Rupert Gould becomes obsessed with resto... Read allIn two parallel stories, the clockmaker John Harrison builds the marine chronometer for safe navigation at sea in the 18th Century and the horologist Rupert Gould becomes obsessed with restoring it in the 20th Century.In two parallel stories, the clockmaker John Harrison builds the marine chronometer for safe navigation at sea in the 18th Century and the horologist Rupert Gould becomes obsessed with restoring it in the 20th Century.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Sturridge
  • Writers
    • Dava Sobel(book)
    • Charles Sturridge
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • Anna Chancellor
    • Emma Kay
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Sturridge
  • Writers
    • Dava Sobel(book)
    • Charles Sturridge
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • Anna Chancellor
    • Emma Kay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 BAFTA Awards
      • 7 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos13

    Jeremy Irons and Michael Gambon in Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Kenneth Branagh in Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)
    Kenneth Branagh in Longitude (2000)
    Longitude (2000)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • Rupert Gouldas Rupert Gould
    Anna Chancellor
    Anna Chancellor
    • Muriel Gouldas Muriel Gould
    Emma Kay
    • Laura Gurneyas Laura Gurney
    Samuel West
    Samuel West
    • Nevil Maskelyneas Nevil Maskelyne
    Ian McNeice
    Ian McNeice
    • Dr. Blissas Dr. Bliss
    Michael Gambon
    Michael Gambon
    • John Harrisonas John Harrison
    Ian Hart
    Ian Hart
    • William Harrisonas William Harrison
    Bill Nighy
    Bill Nighy
    • Lord Sandwichas Lord Sandwich
    Brian Cox
    Brian Cox
    • Lord Mortonas Lord Morton
    Barbara Leigh-Hunt
    Barbara Leigh-Hunt
    • Dodo Gouldas Dodo Gould
    • (as Barbara Leigh Hunt)
    Gemma Jones
    Gemma Jones
    • Elizabeth Harrisonas Elizabeth Harrison
    Peter-Hugo Daly
    Peter-Hugo Daly
    • John Jefferiesas John Jefferies
    • (as Peter Hugo Daly)
    John Leeson
    John Leeson
    • BBC Produceras BBC Producer
    Nick Reding
    • Captain Campbellas Captain Campbell
    Peter Penry-Jones
    • Surgeonas Surgeon
    Charles Edwards
    Charles Edwards
    • Lt. Sewardas Lt. Seward
    Clive Francis
    Clive Francis
    • Captain Diggesas Captain Digges
    Steven Alvey
    • Learmouthas Learmouth
    • Director
      • Charles Sturridge
    • Writers
      • Dava Sobel(book)
      • Charles Sturridge
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To portray the aftermath of the shipwreck in the Isles of Scilly, dozens of extras had to lie in the cold surf, pretending to be dead, for over an hour.
    • Goofs
      During the entire movie, when H1 is seen, the ticking that can be heard belongs to H3. The actual H1 and H2 tick in a rather dull way, but H3 is instantly recognizable, which is probably why its sound was used for H1 and H2 too. H4 appears to use the correct sound.
    • Quotes

      Sir Edmund Halley: Don't touch that, boy!

      William Harrison: I didn't, sir, honest, I was just looking.

      Sir Edmund Halley: Do you know what that is?

      William Harrison: To tell the movements of the stars.

      Sir Edmund Halley: How do you know that?

      William Harrison: It's my job at home.

      Sir Edmund Halley: You have one of these at home!?

      William Harrison: No, sir, we use Mr. Johnson next door's chimney.

      Sir Edmund Halley: And, pray, what is it that you learn from Mr. Johnson next door's chimney?

      William Harrison: The time.

      Sir Edmund Halley: How can you tell the time with a chimney?

      William Harrison: If you stand in the right place, you can see Sirius.

      Sir Edmund Halley: Sirius?

      William Harrison: It moves behind Mr. Johnso's chimney 3 minutes and 56 seconds earlier every day. We need the time for our timepiece, to tell if it's true.

      Sir Edmund Halley: And is it?

      William Harrison: It's bloody perfect, sir.

    • Connections
      Referenced in 500 Days of Summer (2009)

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    Great movie for its historical and scientific significance, a definite "10"!
    Dec2004 update: I did eventually buy the DVD set, and it is very nice.

    "Longitude" is a towering achievement as a movie. Shown in 4 hours on A&E network, I taped it to skip the commercials and was able to watch it in just over 3 hours. I only give ratings of "10" to truly remarkable movies, and this is one. It helps to be a scientist, and to have had a life-long fascination with navigation and timepieces.

    The story is historical - the British government passed an act in the early 1700s for a prize of 20,000 Pounds for the first to provide an accurate and practical means of establishing longitude at sea. A Board of Longitude,comprising self-important scientists, would judge when the challenge was met.

    John Harrison, a carpenter who understood the sun's apparent movement with the Earth's rotation, figured you could do it with a very accurate clock. He, with help from his son William, did it over a period of about 50 years, and met all conditions with his 4th clock, but the board kept throwing up roadblocks to avoid giving the award to someone who was not a scientist but a mere "carpenter." Finally, when Harrison was 80, in the year 1774, was given the prize by Parliament. He died only two years later.

    The ancient story was interwoven with a WWII-era story of a man, played by Jeremy Irons, who undertook to restore all of Harrison's old clocks, and finally succeeded against similar resistance that Harrison had faced.

    If you either are not a scientist, or do not appreciate the magnitude of Harrison's effort, and its contribution to modern navigation, then it is possible that you would find this movie somewhat boring. Do yourself a favor - don't waste your time. For me, it remains one of the absolute best movies I have ever seen, both in significance of the story and the mastery of the acting and direction.
    helpful•18
    2
    • TxMike
    • Jul 12, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 2, 2000 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Долгота
    • Filming locations
      • Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda
    • Production companies
      • A+E Networks
      • Granada Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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