Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Breaking the Code

      1992 1 hr. 30 min. Biography List
      Reviews 83% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score Based of the true story of Alan Turing (Derek Jacobi), this drama depicts various periods in the pioneering British mathematician's life. The film closely recounts his activity during World War II, when his code-breaking Turing Machine proved to be a major military asset, helping the Allies to defeat the Nazis. An openly gay man living in an intolerant time, Turing faced challenges due to his sexual orientation, and his intellectual genius was offset by his troubled personal life. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (3) audience reviews
      Audience Member It a very good film and Derek Jacobi is excellent as usual Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Fascinating, well done film telling the true story of the man that brought us the computer at a point no one knew what it was. As a by product, he saved the Britsh from being road kill from the Germans in WWII. Sad to say, to this day the British thankless have not pardoned this man from being a homosexual. Queer, ain't it? See it here: http://www.openculture.com/2012/02/alan_turing_ibreaking_the_codei.html NOTES: ....."the British government once again refused to pardon Alan Turing. One of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century, Turing laid the foundations for computer science and played a key role in breaking the Nazi Enigma code during World War II. In 1952 he was convicted of homosexuality. He killed himself two years later, after being chemically castrated by the government.----openculture.com [img]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxLkofLBzB6ud4t-5WWWFiYo1Rbt-EoYip5Twbo1TbAGqkCXYWqw[/img] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Alan Turing was a brilliant Mathematician who helped break the German Enigma code and was a pioneer of modern computing. Turing was also a homosexual at a time in Britain where it was a crime. Turing ended up being convicted for gross indecency and was forced to be castrated and undergo hormone therapy. A year after this, in 1954 he committed suicide. He was subsequently pardoned in 2013. Breaking the Code is a terrific biopic with a great cast, and it shows the tragic side of his life, mixed with his incredible discoveries, especially how he managed to break the Enigma code, used by German U-boats. Derek Jacobi gives a powerful, emotional performance as Turing, and he makes the role his own. This film is a well crafted biopic on a very complex man. It may not be perfect, but for what we get, it's a nicely directed feature with a terrific cast and tells a poignant true story about one of the smartest men of the 20th Century who face appalling treatment due to his sexual orientation. Made for TV films tens to be cheaply done, and have many imperfections, but with Breaking the Code, the film has much strength due to the fact that Derek Jacobi really shines in the lead role, and it is a very well done film that should be seen by those interested in the subject. While watching this film, you come to feel for Turing, and you sympathize with him and feel bad for him for the treatment he received because of his sexual orientation. Breaking the Code, for me anyway was a wonderful film about a great man, and watching this, you'll realize at how unfair this great man was treated and that instead of being prosecuted, his government owed him a debt of gratitude, which was only until recently, was granted a Royal Pardon. Breaking the Code is not perfect, but it definitely is one of the best Made for TV features that I have seen, and with a memorable, powerful and ultimately poignant performance by Derek Jacobi, it makes it that much more worth seeing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Based of the true story of Alan Turing (Derek Jacobi), this drama depicts various periods in the pioneering British mathematician's life. The film closely recounts his activity during World War II, when his code-breaking Turing Machine proved to be a major military asset, helping the Allies to defeat the Nazis. An openly gay man living in an intolerant time, Turing faced challenges due to his sexual orientation, and his intellectual genius was offset by his troubled personal life.
      Director
      Herbert Wise
      Genre
      Biography
      Original Language
      English