Alan Turing: The Enigma Man – Nigel Cawthorne

“Alan Turing – The Enigma Man” by Nigel Cawthorne is the latest in the long line of Turing-themed books i’ve been delving into recently so, here we go again!

I went into this book with some trepidation because the last Turing book i read that wasn’t by Andrew Hodges or Jack Copeland left me rather disappointed. (The Big Idea: Turing and the Computer by Paul Strathern. I wrote about it HERE). But actually i was very pleasantly surprised.

It’s by no means a long book, but it gets everything in. In fact i’d certainly recommend it if you’re looking to learn about Turing but not to the detailed extent of reading the better known works. It’s not exactly an original book, you can tell Cawthorne has taken his information from other available sources but i think he’s created something that many people may actually seek out which is a brief overview of Alan Turing’s life and work. There’s a good numbers of chapters each split up into little sub-sections. It gives you the important points and often says “this is what happened then”, “then because of this that happened”, “by doing this they did that” no wild tangents, no pages and pages of context or details just that.

However! Don’t take this to mean it’s just a big stream of boring facts with no emotion behind it because that’s not true. We still get a few fun anecdotes and personality quirks and the important people around him get mentioned where appropriate.

It’s difficult to fully explain, but as someone who has read the biographies by both Andrew Hodges and Jack Copeland this book pleased me. I felt like it got everything in there you would want to tell if you were giving an overview of Turing and his work and you still got a sense of the important moments in his life.

After the last book i was sort of semi fact-checking as i read but as far as i can see everything matched up to what i have read from other sources. There is one TINY moment in the final chapter when someone is quoted from the 1970’s in a passage that implies that Colossus was used to crack ENIGMA codes which is incorrect, but that is the mistake of the person quoted and not the author.

What is quite unique to this book though is the final chapter dedicated to saying how and through what means Alan Turing’s story bled out into the public eye. From a few published papers to the Hodges Biography and the Hugh Whitemore play. It even references “The Imitation Game” film as this version was published in 2014.

Overall, i’d recommend this book! Especially to anyone who wants to know about Turing but sees the brick sized biography of Andrew Hodges and withdraws in terror. There is the Copeland biography of course (which i wrote about HERE) especially if his work is the main focus of your interest. Maybe you want to spread the word of this wonderful man to a friend but not by giving them something too overwhelming.

If you’re interested you can find the book on amazon.com HERE, or from other shops/regional amazon sites.

Written by Jess5_11 on 2 July 2015. No comments »
Category: Books, History
Tags: Alan Turing, nigel cawthorne, the enigma man

Road to Hamlet: Discovering Hamlet (1990)

This summer, thousands of us Cumberfans will descend upon London to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet. This is, of course, terribly exciting for all of us! Some are seeing Benedict live for the first time ever. Many of us are theatre novices. And then there’s the play: Hamlet. Probably Shakespeare’s most famous play. Maybe you’re already fairly familiar with the bard’s work. Or maybe you’ve just picked up a copy of the famous play and were quite taken aback by how complex it all sounds, by how different the language appears to be from modern English. I myself went through quite a Shakespeare phase in my teens but still find the prospect of three hours of Shakespearean English daunting. And so I plan to do what I always do: I over prepare. In the next few weeks I will be looking at different secondary materials that might help us find a way to access and become more comfortable with Shakespeare in general and Hamlet in particular. If nothing else, I hope that these books, DVDs and apps might be able to get us into a Hamlet mood.

First up: the DVD Discovering Hamlet (1990), with Derek Jacobi (Director) and Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet). The DVD is available on Amazon UK and a bit cheaper on Amazon US (if you can work with Region 1 DVDs).

This is a rather fascinating look at a 90s stage production of Hamlet with Kenneth Branagh in the lead role and Derek Jacobi (who has played the Danish prince several times) as director. Although the DVD does not include the play itself, it’s worth a look because it shows the rehearsal process and how a play is being put together. I know next to nothing about theatre, so was captivated by how the director shapes the play during rehearsals. Benedict’s Hamlet has just entered this phase of the project and it gives you some idea of what he might be up to at the moment. Derek Jacobi is particularly hands on as director as he is an actor himself and really gets swept up by the action on stage. It was interesting to see that even a week before opening night Branagh still felt daunted by the part. The main feature leading us through the rehearsal process is only 50 minutes long but the behind the scenes interviews and very detailed bonus rehearsal footage let us go quite a bit deeper. I got particularly excited by the sword fight choreography on the bonus disc, as I’m a sucker for a good sword fight. The Hamlet production we will get to see will probably differ quite a bit from this one. Nevertheless, it’s an enjoyable trip backstage and an interesting look at the rehearsal process.

Written by Cumberchicken on 15 June 2015. No comments »
Category: Education, Film & TV, Theatre
Tags: Branagh, Hamlet, Jacobi, Rehearsal, Theatre

Turing: Pioneer of the Information Age – Jack Copeland

After Andrew Hodges’ book this is probably the best known biography.

Overall really enjoyable. The way the author writes is extremely readable! Great length chapters with clear stop and start points to each. It focuses a lot on Turing’s work, often giving credit to him where it may have been misplaced over time (there are a few great sections that say “people may think the first time this was thought of was [insert event here] but really Turing had started it all off”…or something to that effect) which shows the true impact he had on our society and how amazing he really was.

Also it is clear that throughout the book information has been very well collected (it seems Copeland collected some of his information from friends of Turing that he got to speak to back in the 90’s) and presented to give the important points. It never seems to go on and on or fly away on a tangent. Even when it the author tells us, as is often the case, how ideas that Turing started have developed in recent years or gives background to how things were working before Alan began to work on them. It’s all completely fascinating and Copeland makes all the maths and technical stuff really readable and easy to understand.

As much as this biography is quite work-centric, this is still entwined with aspects of Turing himself. What his friends thought of him, what he was like or particular memories people had of his attitude and personality, we still get to hear about the man behind the magic. There is, unfortunately, very very little about Turing as a young boy. There is no mention at any point of Christopher Morcom which is a shame but it doesn’t take away from the book because these parts of his life are clearly not the main focus.

There is, however, a chapter dedicated to the end of Turing’s life. It seems Copeland wanted to try and push the range of views about his death. He seems to be quite skeptical of the suicide verdict in his writing. Although he never says it is definitely an incorrect verdict he seems to favour the argument that is was some kind of accident (a view which Turing’s mother held very strongly). There are, of course, many different opinions of this and with so little inquest into the situation at the time there are things we will never know. But he does end with this wonderful quote:

“The exact circumstances of Turing’s death may always remain unclear… …Perhaps we should just shrug our shoulders, agree that the jury is out, and focus on Turing’s life and extraordinary work.”

Definitely recommend this book if you’re interested in Turing! Copeland’s writing style is very appealing as it is clear and understandable yet still detailed, with a few fun pictures and diagrams to help at times too. He has written many other things related to Turing too.

You can purchase the book HERE at amazon.com. Of course other sites/shops are available along with regional amazon websites.

Written by Jess5_11 on 14 June 2015. No comments »
Category: Books, History
Tags: Alan Turing, b jack copeland, jack copeland, pioneer of the information age

London, city of movies by Marta Luengo Cabanillas

It would be an insult to talk about London and don’t quote “Notting Hill” (1999). Both the film and the neighborhood. It’s stuck in the eyes of all those young dreamers the walks of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant through Portobello Road or an impossible love hidden for a few days in Kensington and Chelsea. We can remember the Coronet Cinema, where Will used the goggles to see the movie, or even Rosmead Road and the garden where Anna and Will sneak to spend the night together. Without moving from Kensington and Chelsea,there’s somewhere important to visit. Michael Caine, in his role in “Alfie” (1966) had his apartment in the small street of Stephen’s Gardens, where the visitor will fall in love with the facades of the street. And with Michael Caine himself.

The antithesis of the seducer Alfie is “Bridget Jones” (2001), starring Renée Zellweger. London, his hometown, doesn’t play fair with continuous rain ruining her dresses and makeup. You can find her home in Southwark, above a pub Borough Market. Maybe Bridget would have needed the help of Lionel Logue to face the embarrassing situations that she has to bear every day. Lionel Logue, speech therapist of King George VI of England, was the protagonist of the film “The King’s Speech” (2010). It was played by Geoffrey Rush, and Colin Firth like the monarch himself. The consult where they were working to improve the King’s diction is located in the City, in Portland Place number 33. It’s in the famous Regent’s Park where, walking and talking, both therapist and patient made a good friendship between them.

Also, it’s in Regent’s Park where the followers of Alfred Hitchcock can recognize the semicircular colonnade in the south of Marylebone Road. This is where the main character of “The thirty-nine steps” (1935), Richard Hannay (played by Robert Donat), leaves the stolen milk truck after the mysterious murder of the secret agent Annabella Smith (played by Lucie Mannheim). If you fancy doing some stylish shopping, you can go to Savile Row and see if any “Kingsman” (2014) like Harry Hart (played by Colin Firth) or Eggsy (played by Taron Egerton) is willing to make you a suit or persuade you to enter in an international detective agency.

The house of the Admiral Boom, which was used for Disney to the making off of the movie “Mary Poppins” (1964) starring Julie Andrews, was built in 1791 and is located in Admiral’s Walk, in Camden. A unique building with a roof that simulates the deck of a boat. His author, the lieutenant Fountain North, used to shoot the cannon to celebrate his birthday, what happens the same in the film. Don’t fall asleep like Jim (played by Cillian Murphy) who wakes up “28 Days Later” (2002) in the hospital without knowing that a virus has swept in city. It’s in one of the most impressive scenes where the main character goes from Westminster Bridge to the deserted streets of the West End.

In the City, with the traffic of business men crossing to Bankside, is the Millennium Bridge. You can’t forget the destruction suffered in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009), when the Death Eaters attack the bridge causing panic among the ‘muggles’. The Millennium Bridge across the river Thames linking the City with Lambeth. Here, in the sixth district of the british capital, are the most important takes of “Closer” (2004). Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman and Jude Law used this district as a foreplay board who carried out the characters of the film. Here you can visit the Royal National Theatre, where Anna Cameron (played by Julia Roberts) dazzles with her elegance. Nearby you can visit the Sea Life London Aquarium where Anna dated Larry Gray (played by Clive Owen). On the other hand Daniel Wool (played by Jude Law), fell madly in love with Alice Ayres (played by Natalie Portman) in Postman’s Park.

You only have to look across the Thames in the Sea Life London Aquarium to have the beautiful view of the Houses of Parliament and the worldwide famous Elizabeth Tower (previously

known as The Clock Tower) and the sounds of the bell Big Ben, but… be careful! Maybe a terrorist masked with a smile (played by Hugo Weaving) and a companion (played by Natalie Portman) is planning an explosion like what happened in “V de Vendetta” (2005)

Located in Westminster is the Old War Office (now used by the Ministry of Defense). Here is the place in which James Bond returns in many of his films to inform of his secret missions. We can see the secret agent enter in this building in “Octopussy” (1983) and “License to Kill” (1989). If you want, you can stop by the 135 Portland Road, where Chris (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and his lover Nola (played by Scarlett Johansson) have lunch at this stylish restaurant hidden in Holland Park in “Match Point” (2005). The Russian mafia to which Viggo Mortensen belongs rampant on a dark London and a crime occurs in Brompton Cemetery after a match of the Chelsea in the plot of the thriller “Eastern Promises” (2007).

Now is the turn of one of my favorite movies, full of details and places to visit. In “Love Actually” (2003) Oxford Street is one of the most iconics film scenarios: at number 400 are the Selfridge’s stores, a place where Harry (played by Alan Rickman) buy the pendant for his lover. Another of the most legendary scenes from the movie is when Sam (played by Thomas Sangster) confesses to his stepfather (Liam Neeson) his love for her classmate in a bank, which is located just opposite the Riviera restaurant, just in front of Millenium Bridge and St Paul. At numer 10 of Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister, we can see how Hugh Grant occupies the house, although their access is prohibited so you only can see and take photos from a fence guarded by security guards. 2 Blenheim Road, Turnham Green, live Jamie (played by Colin Firth), where he meet his future wife (played by Lucia Moniz) before going to Portugal to propose to her. The restaurant scene, however, was recorded in Marseilles and 27 St Luke’s Mewsm, returning to Notting Hill, live Peter (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Juliet (played by Keira Knightley), and here Mark (played by Andrew Lincoln) declares his love for Juliet through cards, one of the most beautiful scenes of the film. The studies where Billy Mack (played by Bill Nighy) recorded his LP Christmas are the Westway Studios, Ladbroke Grove, also in Notting Hill. Peter and Juliet marry at Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, Mayfair, at the beginning of the film.

If you are curious to visit the most used place in London to film and also enjoy a boat ride across the Thames down to the city, you must go to the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Surely it’s familiar to you if you have seen “Amazing Grace” (2006) and the struggle of William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffudd) against slavery and might even remember that there take part some of the adventures of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes (played by Robert Downey Jr.) and his assistant Dr. John Watson (played by Jude Law) in “Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows” (2011) or remember a pirate ship docked at the port when Captain Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp) sneak from justice in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011). Do you hear the people Sing? Perhaps it’s because here there were the barricades at “Les Miserables” (2012). And finally, maybe you have to squeeze your brain to imagine how the place was completely destroyed when Malekith fought Thor in “Thor: The Dark World” (2013).

It’s time to go home. Maybe you need to catch a train at Waterloo station, Lambeth. Go away carefully, maybe Matt Damon this out there carrying out a mission, as he did in “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2007), or you can even head out to “Paddington” (2014) station and see if a teddy bear with a blue coat and a red cap wants you to take him home. But if you have to catch a train at King’s Cross, in Camden, do not forget trying to cross the Platform 93⁄4, located between platforms 9 and 10. This is where each year the british magicians, including Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe), catch the train to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Who knows if you will succeed and can go across it to live really magical adventures.

Written by Cumberchicken on 5 June 2015. No comments »
Category: Film & TV, History, Places, Various
Tags: Film locations, London

My Dear Bessie – A Love Story In Letters

Technically the authors are Chris Barker and Bessie Moore (whose letters the book consists of) but these have been edited and turned into this book by Simon Garfield.

It is basically a collection of real letters between two people (Chris and Bessie) during World War II whilst Chris is a soldier in Libya.

It starts off with Chris just having quite a lot of time on his hands and writing to people he knows at home, Bessie he knew from a post office training course or something they both took but they don’t know each other overly well to start with. In fact the first letter addresses Bessie and her thought to be partner who she then explains is no longer with her.

What it blossoms into is a gorgeous love story between these two people, falling in love through their written words. Just two ordinary people who found each other in such a lovely way and seemed to share so much in their interests and personality and love for the other. We get to go through the lead up to their first “proper” meeting (it’s almost a shame they don’t write to each other during this time….for obvious reasons….but after such a build up all goes quiet for a while and we can only speculate!) through Chris’ capture in Greece, through planning their wedding, and putting together arrangements for their new home, new baby and the beginning of their long, happy life together.

“Let me know if you think i’m mad. When my signature dries i am going to kiss it. If you do the same, that will be a complete (unhygienic) circuit!”

The first letter signed “Your grateful husband, Chris” and the one that starts “My Wonderful Expectant Mother” were very special indeed!

It all sounds very soppy and serious so far but it is certainly anything but! It is such a sweet little story and very amusing and funny at times. They seem to me like naturally funny people. Chris is very witty and makes all sorts of funny little comments in his letters along with some anecdotes of his time in the army. There are also some rather passionate descriptions of what they wish to do when they see each other (there’s a comment in the introduction by Simon Garfield that one of the things he ended up editing out quite a lot of was Chris going on about Bessie’s breasts….you would have never guessed this was the edited version..).

“You are my husband to be, my glory, my heaven, my hell, we will ride this life together, if you were here now i’d bust your braces, you tantalising lover…”

Unfortunately (though it’s not all a bad thing) about 80% of the letters throughout the book are from Chris. It is explained in the introduction, and in the letters from Chris himself, that he has to burn many of Bessie’s letters for space in his kit. Sad indeed that we don’t get to see many of her replies, but she is always present. Whether it be through Chris quoting something Bessie has said or replying to a comment she made you always get a sense of what her letters are made of.

I can’t recommend this book enough. There are a few lovely photos throughout to go with the story and it’s finished off by comments from the couple’s eldest son Bernard and their granddaughter Irena. These give a lovely round-up of what they were like for the rest of their lives. Bessie died aged 90 in 2004 and Chris died age 93 in 2007. The last photo in the book shows them smiling together on a bench in 2003 having been married for 58 years!

It’s such an ordinary story but so extraordinary at the same time.

“My dearest, i love you with all my heart and mind. My strength is yours, for all of it derives from you, rests with you.

I love you.

Chris”

(If you wish to purchase the book the amazon.com link is HERE – of course regional amazon sites and other stores are available)

Written by Jess5_11 on 23 May 2015. No comments »
Category: Books
Tags: my dear bessie

Alan Turing: The Enigma – Andrew Hodges

The first thing you’ll no doubt notice is that this book I pretty long. It’s pretty heavy on the detail but this is really fantastic for giving a wider context surrounding the range of events. It may feel a bit “going off on a tangent” at times but it always comes back to Turing, often with his place in or perception of what is being discussed. (It also helps a lot if you find a particular section interesting and want to find out more – lots of detail already there to grab hold of).

The book is so well researched! The ‘Author’s Note’ at the end gives some indication of the process of this but the attention to detail is clear throughout. You get such fine, intimate details that sometimes you wonder how we can know something so exact but the tone of the book makes you fully believe in its truth.

Andrew Hodges is certainly an ideal person to have written this book. As a fellow and tutor in mathematics at Oxford University (you can visit his website HERE) he is clearly very intelligent and has an amazing understanding of the work he is writing about, which I think is certainly needed in order to get it across as accurately and thoughtfully as he does.

This also allows Hodges to give a really useful sort of “outside observation” of what could have been implied by situations or what comments/letters were in reference to.

All of the snippet reviews on the back of this book describe it as “sympathetic” which really is the best word to use. It gives us facts and events with a wholly rounded view from many different perspectives and takes into account possible emotions involved. As someone who has taken on trying to figure out Alan Turing’s character in as much detail as possible, the sort of “observer” comments given about how he could have felt about or perceived something, given by Hodges, seem honest and justified whilst by no means expressing them as fact.

It truly is a beautiful account of Turing’s life and work. I especially enjoyed the sections about Turing as a young boy, what a lovely little lad. I didn’t feel like I was reading a list of regurgitated facts about any old important historical figure from the bias of today’s knowledge and attitude, I felt I was gaining as close to a true understanding of this man as I could, with context reflecting the world and it’s changes over time.

In the end, Andrew Hodges can only find what the rest of us could if we looked hard enough. Backed up by the solid tone of open-mindedness, respect and empathy throughout, we can only trust that through his thorough research and hearing of personal accounts that his interpretation of character is, at least for now, as accurate and as much as we’ll get.

Anyone who says they know for sure what Alan Turing was like or why he did anything is wrong. Even history and those who knew him personally can only be so accurate. No one could have known him fully, especially considering the mysterious (or perhaps a better word is ‘internal’) way in which he kept some parts of his life – and rightly so. None of us share the entirety of our thoughts and feelings even with those closest to us.

So you may finish this book and wish there were more elements of closure. You may not feel as if you have a complete understanding of this man and his work, or his character or his motives, but you will have to be satisfied that it is possibly the best you’ll get, because let’s face it, the man and his super brain were pretty complicated. Besides, what you do get is pretty darn wonderful.

Alan Turing’s life remains, as this somewhat does, an open book and I think that’s perfect.

Alan Turing was not a fictional character, one whose entire story can be told in a book. He was real. A real person, who managed to be both ordinary and extraordinary and whose life, work and far too early loss have impacted the world deeply.

There is no “The End” here because his story is still going and always will.

(If you wish to own the book the amazon.com link is HERE – of course regional amazon sites and other stores are also available)

Written by Jess5_11 on 23 May 2015. No comments »
Category: Books, History
Tags: Alan Turing, Andrew Hodges, book

It’s an Imitation Game and it’s done beautifully

Graham Moore’s Oscar award win is just over a month ago and with its Blu-Ray/DVD and iTunes releases, it’s about time to look at “The Imitation Game”’s historical accuracy. I won’t tear this important piece of film-making apart, don’t worry. The following won’t be a scientific piece of work including all the details and sources but a rather personal, still (being) researched point of view if you don’t mind. A more detailed analytic paper will be available some time later this year on my own blog. I firmly believe a story as rich as Bletchley Park’s is almost impossible to bring to the big screen if at all. When you begin to read between the lines, you will find inaccuracies. While the film imitates fragments of historical, you can’t but have to differ between facts and creative fiction. Based on its few characters on screen “The Imitation Game” represents the life and work at Bletchley during the Second World War.

Alan Turing, for example, represents not only himself as the centre-piece of the film but all the other brilliant, eccentric people at Bletchley Park. Alan might have read his books walking backwards, others are said to have thrown their mugs in the lake for no reason or did their work in the bathtub. Moore and the film’s production team looked, of course, at Turing’s life in retrospective with his tragedy etc. in mind. That’s why the mathematician’s on-screen version, though it’s rightfully so the film’s most accurate character portrayal possible, appears to be a loner who is disliked by his team. Inaccurate! Alan might have had trouble with authorities. However his numerous co-workers were impressed by his work, very fond of him and have/had the loveliest recollections of his extraordinary being. Unfortunately there was only room for one important equal, Joan Clarke. I’m just saying “Keith” and “Charles” could have been replaced by Gordon Welchman and Peter Twinn to balance out Alan outsider status.

Speaking of Joan Clarke, she represents every single woman who didn’t make it into this film. There were many at Bletchley fighting for their place, most of them operated the Bombe machines under challenging circumstances. Her coming into the film also shows how people became involved with “Station X” in the first place but in her case she was recruited by no other than Gordon Welchman. Right. Welchman, important man actually, helped to create the Bombe machine, died in 1985, no appearance or mention in the film – why? At this point it should also be said the team of Hut 8 as we watch it didn’t come together at the same time during the war. Anyway, back to Mrs. Murray. Yes, she did indeed marry a man surnamed Murray in 1952, odd coincidence between her and Turing. It is true Joan briefly got engaged to Alan, they didn’t end it at Bletchley though. Why her on-screen version said Alan was a “monster” is still beyond me. Murray seemed to have been very fond of him into her late life. A lot has been discussed about the lack of sex or the romance, at least, between these two characters. As director Tyldum said, Bletchley was a “sexual dessert” to Turing. Andrew Hodges, writer of the biography the film is based on, quotes the codebreaker with “I didn’t miss anything” and I believe this statement. The time spent at Bletchley must have been an exciting time of intellectual equality, pressure and discovery for many and they weren’t allowed to share it with their friends and families for decades. Some later stated Bletchley was one of the happiest times of their lives, it didn’t matter who you were or what your background was. All that mattered was the work you did.

Hugh Alexander represents not only an opposite to on-screen Turing – confident, heterosexual, an accepted lead -, but also sees the future. I wonder if he saw the end of the war and their huge involvement coming as well. He was a chess champion, three times during his lifetime. One word, “Twice”, before the war is sadly inaccurate. Alexander, married at the time and not such an on-screen flirt, was quite a figure at Bletchley who led several Huts. I imagine his behavior towards Turing wasn’t as violent as portrayed. As far as I’ve read he supported Turing in trial in March 1952.

Peter Hilton, later Professor, represents a lot of people who checked the lists on a daily basis at Bletchley to find out whether or not their family members or friends were killed in battle. I don’t know if Peter actually lost a brother to the war or had one for that matter.

John Cairncross represents the spies. He was reportedly the fifth of the Cambridge Spies who confessed in the 1960s. Therefore he wasn’t discovered during his time at Bletchley, nor by Turing. Actually, he worked in Hut 3 and not in Hut 8. To accuse and make Turing a spy in the film is purely fictional to create additional drama. Alan might have been a security risk to some a bit later in his life but that did not make him a spy entirely.

Helen, Helen is great; she represents the entertainment part of the Park. “Station X” wasn’t work only. When people had some time off of their shifts they were able to enjoy a variety of entertainment to keep them comfortable at their work place and distracted from the war. Outside their were tennis courts, inside places to come together and have a drink or share a dance, a play was organized very three months, the canteen wasn’t the worst either and at Christmas there were Christmas crackers. Basically many people met and fell in love with each other at Bletchley, later to be married for the rest of their lives – unable to tell what they actually did work on.

Jack Good, whose character comes in with Joan Clarke in the film, was interviewed by Hugh Alexander to join Bletchley. His character represents everyone who wasn’t cast for the film. Like, literally. The Bletchley Park Roll of Honour is a very useful tool to read up more about the codebreakers. Hut 8 only occupied nearly 180 people. To get you started, simply type in one of the Huts.

Obviously I cannot quote Moore’s entire script and tell you what’s wrong with it. Still, what surprised me right away at the cinema and haven’t got my head around it since is to come: When you do an historical drama it makes the narrative easier to include dates etc. to make your viewer follow along. “The Imitation Game” has done that but not very thoroughly. At its very beginning: 1951. Turing met Murray in 1951, that’s right, on 17th December to be precise. It’s perfectly fine for a film to have a fictional interrogation scene to unfold a human tragedy but why is this one set in 1951? Turing was arrested in on 7th February 1952.

Feel free to follow my Alan Turing / Bletchley Park research here.

Written by freewomenxgrape on 25 March 2015. No comments »
Category: Books, Education, Film & TV, History
Tags: Alan Turing, Bletchley Park, The Imitation Game

Doctor Strange: Starter Kit (Part 2)

As 2015 begins it will soon unveil; Marvel’s “Avengers 2: Age of Ultron” and “Ant-Man” which will lead into 2016’s “Captain America 3: Civil War” and of course, “Doctor Strange”.

You are probably finding yourself asking these questions:

-But what do all those other films before Doctor Strange have to do with him?

-Does that mean Doctor Strange is an avenger?

-Does this mean that Loki (who is confirmed to be coming back in two marvel films over the course of 2015-2017) and Doctor Strange will have an ultimate face-off?

-Does that mean Iron-Man and Doctor Strange will have a Sherlock-off? Who the hell is Ultron? What is the Civil War?

Before we answer these questions in a later, Starter Kit part 3 post. We must get back to the basics and unveil the man behind the Strange. Doctor Stephen Strange that is.

(more…)

Written by Destiny on 16 January 2015. No comments »
Category: Books, Film & TV, Various
Tags: Ancient One, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Hemsworth, Comics, Doctor Strange, Loki, Marvel, Scott Derrickson, Sorcerer, Tom Hiddleston

Doctor Strange: Starter Kit (Part 1)

Marvel has finally announced Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Now you’re wondering who the hell that is and what does he have to do with the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Pamela and I are here to tell you that he ain’t no Harry Potter.

Let our Doctor Strange Starter Kit (part 1) enlighten you.

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Written by Destiny on 22 December 2014. No comments »
Category: Education, Film & TV, History, Various
Tags: Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange, Scott Derrickson

Desplat scores a perfect ten….

ALEXANDRE Desplat talks of flying when he composes.

And watching him conduct the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican last week, there were around 1,000 other people flying with him.

I’ve never seen an orchestra perform before, shameful really, but true. I was excited to not only see how an orchestra worked in full motion, and hear the incredible sounds I knew it would make. But I also knew, with Desplat at the helm, I’d be hearing something very special.

We had the privilege of sitting in on a free Q&A with the man himself beforehand, where he talked about his influences (John Williams), his experiences (sometimes not even getting a version of the film to watch before composing) and his techniques. Interviewer Gareth Davis, the chief flutist for the orchestra, asked him if it was true the score for The Imitation Game was done in three weeks. “Oh yes, he said. Written and recorded actually. But I loved the film so much it was, without wanting to sound bad, easy to do. I just flew.”

The concert itself was more than two hours long and, sadly for us Imitation Game fans, just the one moment reserved for the Cumberbatch masterpiece. But what a moment it was.

(more…)

Written by clareiow on 18 December 2014. No comments »
Category: Audio, Film & TV, Theatre
Tags: Barbican, desplat, LSO, The Imitation Game