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For those who have seen the movie and her struggles with sexism to get a job there, it is important to note that in real life the way she got in at Bletchley, w

For those who have seen the movie and her struggles with sexism to get a job there, it is important to note that in real life the way she got in at Bletchley, was they called her immediately because she was known to be one of the best.

jgrahamc 3y ago
That film is such a mess.
- jackmott42 3y ago
  Turing talking all weird was also not real, but him being good at running was, in fact he was maybe olympian potential in that era.
- jackmott42 3y ago
  I don't like how much it alters the real history, but if the movie was fun for anyone, get some good books about the same events and you are in for even more fun! It wasn't just "Break the code, done" in real life, there was back and forth math and engineering battles, it was great stuff.
- solardev 3y ago
  Is there a better documentary (or book)?
  - MrJohz 3y ago
    I remember The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay being very interesting, and that was my first real introduction to Bletchley Park.
  - everly 3y ago
    The Enigma is probably the best biography I've read, though that's specific to Turing
    - jacquesm 3y ago
      Agreed, it's a very good book.
      - Korova 3y ago
        There's an article here on the film and it's various inaccuracies...which was based on the Enigma book, apparently... https://slate.com/culture/2014/12/the-imitation-game-fact-vs-fiction-how-true-the-new-movie-is-to-alan-turings-real-life-story.html#:~:text=Joan%20Clarke%20(Keira%20Knightley)&text=Keira%20Knightley's%20character%20in%20The,conservative%20parents%20off%20her%20back https://slate.com/culture/2014/12/the-imitation-game-fact-vs....
        jacquesm 3y ago
        Based on in the loosest sense apparently, from TFA: " I read the masterful biography that the screenplay is based on, Andrew Hodges’ Alan Turing: The Enigma, to find out. I discovered that The Imitation Game takes major liberties with its source material, injecting conflict where none existed, inventing entirely fictional characters, rearranging the chronology of events, and misrepresenting the very nature of Turing’s work at Bletchley Park. "
        solardev 3y ago
        Good article. Thanks! Convinced me to pick up the book.
  - jgrahamc 3y ago
    Just read Hodges' biography "Alan Turing: The Enigma". It's definitive. If you have not seen "The Imitation Game" I urge you not to see it. It's a awful piece of crap that goes so far astray from the truth that it's a travesty.
    - solardev 3y ago
      Too late, unfortunately. I actually loved that movie (not for itself in particular, I just like that genre of movie, along with Beautiful Mind, Hidden Figures, etc.) But it's sad to know it's so inaccurate, beyond basic dramatic licenses. I'll pick up the book and get the real version instead. Thanks for the recommendation! I learned something today.
- chpatrick 3y ago
  I think it's pretty terrible that Turing was portrayed as Cumberbatch's standard asshole genius when as far as I know he was quite likeable. And there was next to zero depiction of his sexuality when he was a famous gay martyr.
  - auveair 3y ago
    > And there was next to zero depiction of his sexuality when he was a famous gay martyr. I'll say it, but the movie was straight up homophobic, the whole plot about him being blackmailed about being gay and that he yielded to it is just prejudiced, implying he cared more about himself than the war effort (it never happened in real life).
  - marcellus23 3y ago
    I didn't like the movie or Cumberbatch's portrayal, but not sure what you mean here. Turing being gay was definitely a significant part of the plot. It comes up quite a bit and the movie literally ends with him being discovered and being forced to take the "medication".
    - chpatrick 3y ago
      That's about it though. Even the romantic subplot is with a woman.
      - marcellus23 3y ago
        There were running flashbacks to him being in love with his childhood friend. And the "romantic" subplot also heavily features him being gay and therefore not actually able to marry her.
        chpatrick 3y ago
        Right, but the film was structured in a traditional Hollywood way with a love story subplot with a woman which is a bizarre choice when it's about a gay man. The author of the biography the film was based on said their relationship was exaggerated for the film.

jgrahamc 3y ago

That film is such a mess.

jackmott42 3y ago
Turing talking all weird was also not real, but him being good at running was, in fact he was maybe olympian potential in that era.
jackmott42 3y ago
I don't like how much it alters the real history, but if the movie was fun for anyone, get some good books about the same events and you are in for even more fun! It wasn't just "Break the code, done" in real life, there was back and forth math and engineering battles, it was great stuff.
solardev 3y ago
Is there a better documentary (or book)?
- MrJohz 3y ago
  I remember The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay being very interesting, and that was my first real introduction to Bletchley Park.
- everly 3y ago
  The Enigma is probably the best biography I've read, though that's specific to Turing
  - jacquesm 3y ago
    Agreed, it's a very good book.
    - Korova 3y ago
      There's an article here on the film and it's various inaccuracies...which was based on the Enigma book, apparently... https://slate.com/culture/2014/12/the-imitation-game-fact-vs-fiction-how-true-the-new-movie-is-to-alan-turings-real-life-story.html#:~:text=Joan%20Clarke%20(Keira%20Knightley)&text=Keira%20Knightley's%20character%20in%20The,conservative%20parents%20off%20her%20back https://slate.com/culture/2014/12/the-imitation-game-fact-vs....
      - jacquesm 3y ago
        Based on in the loosest sense apparently, from TFA: " I read the masterful biography that the screenplay is based on, Andrew Hodges’ Alan Turing: The Enigma, to find out. I discovered that The Imitation Game takes major liberties with its source material, injecting conflict where none existed, inventing entirely fictional characters, rearranging the chronology of events, and misrepresenting the very nature of Turing’s work at Bletchley Park. "
      - solardev 3y ago
        Good article. Thanks! Convinced me to pick up the book.
- jgrahamc 3y ago
  Just read Hodges' biography "Alan Turing: The Enigma". It's definitive. If you have not seen "The Imitation Game" I urge you not to see it. It's a awful piece of crap that goes so far astray from the truth that it's a travesty.
  - solardev 3y ago
    Too late, unfortunately. I actually loved that movie (not for itself in particular, I just like that genre of movie, along with Beautiful Mind, Hidden Figures, etc.) But it's sad to know it's so inaccurate, beyond basic dramatic licenses. I'll pick up the book and get the real version instead. Thanks for the recommendation! I learned something today.
chpatrick 3y ago
I think it's pretty terrible that Turing was portrayed as Cumberbatch's standard asshole genius when as far as I know he was quite likeable. And there was next to zero depiction of his sexuality when he was a famous gay martyr.
- auveair 3y ago
  > And there was next to zero depiction of his sexuality when he was a famous gay martyr. I'll say it, but the movie was straight up homophobic, the whole plot about him being blackmailed about being gay and that he yielded to it is just prejudiced, implying he cared more about himself than the war effort (it never happened in real life).
- marcellus23 3y ago
  I didn't like the movie or Cumberbatch's portrayal, but not sure what you mean here. Turing being gay was definitely a significant part of the plot. It comes up quite a bit and the movie literally ends with him being discovered and being forced to take the "medication".
  - chpatrick 3y ago
    That's about it though. Even the romantic subplot is with a woman.
    - marcellus23 3y ago
      There were running flashbacks to him being in love with his childhood friend. And the "romantic" subplot also heavily features him being gay and therefore not actually able to marry her.
      - chpatrick 3y ago
        Right, but the film was structured in a traditional Hollywood way with a love story subplot with a woman which is a bizarre choice when it's about a gay man. The author of the biography the film was based on said their relationship was exaggerated for the film.