Alan Turing, Bletchley Park, Benedict Cumberbatch.
Discussion
I saw it this evening. A very good and enjoyable film spoiled for me by their use of the word "smart" several times when in the 40's surely they would have said "clever" or "intelligent". The screenplay was written by American Graham Moore sadly. I'm surprised Benedict or others didn't correct the writer on this.
Smart in those days would have meant well dressed.
Oh yes, and according to the sub titles at the end of the film Turing was "honored". For me this was all very annoying in something intended to be very British.
Smart in those days would have meant well dressed.
Oh yes, and according to the sub titles at the end of the film Turing was "honored". For me this was all very annoying in something intended to be very British.
Edited by RegMolehusband on Thursday 4th December 11:49
Finally saw it last Saturday. A very interesting biopic - Cumberbatch was good, and it was a good story in isolation.
However, I beseech anyone who sees this (looking at you America), not to think you have learned some 'history' though.
A lot of it was portrayed as quaint and British - one bloke in a shed deciphering all the messages on his own Enigma machine, only 6 code-brekaers and one MI6 person knowing it was broken and playing God? - I grant you the broad principal of using the information very sparingly held good - but Bletchley Park was a code breaking factory employing 9000 people by the end of the war...
Also - the use of 'smart' stood out like a sore thumb and I know every film needs a 'bad guy' - but surely the portrayal of poor old Alistair Denniston was nothing short of a character assassination?
Sorry - I wish I could help this sort of smug b
hing, but I can't. I may need help.
Also - and I am sure EricMC can answer this. Was the Bombe ever known as Christopher - don't recall it?
However, I beseech anyone who sees this (looking at you America), not to think you have learned some 'history' though.
A lot of it was portrayed as quaint and British - one bloke in a shed deciphering all the messages on his own Enigma machine, only 6 code-brekaers and one MI6 person knowing it was broken and playing God? - I grant you the broad principal of using the information very sparingly held good - but Bletchley Park was a code breaking factory employing 9000 people by the end of the war...
Also - the use of 'smart' stood out like a sore thumb and I know every film needs a 'bad guy' - but surely the portrayal of poor old Alistair Denniston was nothing short of a character assassination?
Sorry - I wish I could help this sort of smug b
hing, but I can't. I may need help. Also - and I am sure EricMC can answer this. Was the Bombe ever known as Christopher - don't recall it?
Bombe came from "bomba kryptologiczna", so named by the Polish guys (Rejewski, Zygalski and Różycki), apparently after an ice cream. They didn't create the bombe machine but devised the methods it used.
I've never heard of a bombe called anything but that and am not aware of any being given a pet name.
Its probably more bullst made up by some script writer somewhere.
If you want the real story this is a great book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enigma-Battle-Cassell-Mili...
If you want to get really complicated Gordon Welchman wrote a book called "The hut 6 story", you won't get much loser to the truth than from someone like him!
Loads of other books on Bletchley too, all of which are probably far more worthwhile than some random story that was made up for a movie.
One I haven't got yet is a sort of biography of Dilly Knox by Mavis Batey (nee Lever), she was one of Dilly Knox's girls, she met and married Keith Batey whilst working at Bletchley. Should be interesting that one.
I've never heard of a bombe called anything but that and am not aware of any being given a pet name.
Its probably more bulls
t made up by some script writer somewhere.If you want the real story this is a great book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enigma-Battle-Cassell-Mili...
If you want to get really complicated Gordon Welchman wrote a book called "The hut 6 story", you won't get much loser to the truth than from someone like him!
Loads of other books on Bletchley too, all of which are probably far more worthwhile than some random story that was made up for a movie.
One I haven't got yet is a sort of biography of Dilly Knox by Mavis Batey (nee Lever), she was one of Dilly Knox's girls, she met and married Keith Batey whilst working at Bletchley. Should be interesting that one.
vescaegg said:
Really need to see this.
Up for best picture at Oscars now with Cumberbatch and Knightly up for best leads too.
Best picture ??????Up for best picture at Oscars now with Cumberbatch and Knightly up for best leads too.
TBH The Imitation Game and I'll include Budapest Hotel were surely the best of a bad lot.
Of course I've been entertained in 2014 with Equaliser, Fury etc etc but rather disappointed about the mush this year that has 'emperor's clothes' stamped over them. I'm sure 'The Budget' has something to do with it but I'm putting my head over the parapet and saying I would like to have seen better.
226bhp said:
I watched this last night and thought it excellent. I wonder if Benedict Cumberbatch is in danger of getting typecast into playing people with Aspergers, not a bad thing as it's something he does do very well.....
Whilst it is generally accepted that Turing probably had Aspergers, he may not have. He probably didn't commit suicide either.
Pit Pony said:
226bhp said:
I watched this last night and thought it excellent. I wonder if Benedict Cumberbatch is in danger of getting typecast into playing people with Aspergers, not a bad thing as it's something he does do very well.....
Whilst it is generally accepted that Turing probably had Aspergers, he may not have. He probably didn't commit suicide either.
RegMolehusband said:
As I said above, I enjoyed the film to some extent but I will never add the DVD to my collection because the use of the word "smart" grates too much.
I'm surprised that Cumberbatch didn't point out to the American writer that Turing and his peers would never have said this.
He probably did, but was ignored. Or thought as much and didn't bother saying.I'm surprised that Cumberbatch didn't point out to the American writer that Turing and his peers would never have said this.
Overall it was definitely enjoyable, surprisingly so. Maybe a little too much "creative license", but if that gives more people even the slightest insight into Bletchley park and Turing, that has to be a good thing.
Thought it was a bit light to be honest. Almost felt like watching something written for a stage production if that makes sense? In terms of scene structures/limited locations/restricted cast numbers.
It got some of the story of Turing across but was so simplified I'm not sure it was really worth it.
It got some of the story of Turing across but was so simplified I'm not sure it was really worth it.
I'm glad I didn't go to the cinema to see it. Vast swathes of it were nowhere near the truth. I'm sure it made for a better film for American audiences, but there was very little fact in it. I won't bother you with all the details. Great for raising the profile of one of the most important people ever in world history (and Alan Turing too) but not much relation to what actually happened.
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