Breaking the Code

TV Movie
19961996
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

660

YOUR RATING

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

660

YOUR RATING

- Herbert Wise
- Andrew Hodges(book "Alan Turing: The Enigma")
- Hugh Whitemore(play)
Stars

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See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations total

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

Featured review

9/10

Excellent biopic of Alan Turing.

Based on the book, "The Enigma Of Intelligence", this film has to be one of the best scientific biopics ever made, either for TV or the silver screen.

It manages to cover both the personal and scientific side of Turing's life, without becoming a documentary. Jacobi's performance is first rate (he was awarded for this film), and so are the supporting cast.

Unfortunately, many of the earlier aspects of Turing's life have to left out, due to time constraints.

If you enjoyed this film, then I heartily recommend you read the source book, which is also one of the best biographies going.

Anyone working, or involved with computers, should see this film, and the shabby way the British establishment treated the most important computer scientist since Babbage (sorry Noam).

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