Product Details

• Actors: Derek Jacobi, Alun Armstrong, Blake Ritson, William Mannering, Prunella Scales
• Directors: Herbert Wise
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• VHS Release Date: October 16, 1997
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304361092
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,627 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #30 in	Video > Art House & International > United Kingdom > Drama
  #36 in	Video > Drama > Military & War
  #44 in	Video > Military & War > World War II

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars heartbreaking and superbly executed., October 30, 2002

By	Peter H. Burris "Literary Vulture" (washington, dc United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Breaking the Code: Masterpiece Theatre [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There are probably only a handful of actors alive as good as Derek Jacobi; this account of Alan Turing's life and disgrace in the eyes of the British secret service demonstrates why he's so good. The empathy and outrage the viewer feels on behalf of the embattled mathmetician finds its equal in the awe for his intellect that the solution of the enigma ciphers merits. Much like Prick Up Your Ears, this film shows up societal prejudice and how damaging it can be in the face of true creative genius.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Touching and Intelligent Story, February 29, 2000

By A Customer

I have just recently watched this video and found it to be an absolute delight! While several people fuss about the play not covering enough about Turing's theories, one needs to realize that it is a piece about the man, not his theories. The film version is somewhat different from the play version, which I was disappointed by. However, the performances are superb, all around great cast, but it is Derek Jacobi who gives such subtle depth and tremendous passion to this film. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys seeing an intelligent, meaningful piece about humanity.

14 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking The Code Is A Truly Heartbreaking Drama, June 29, 1999

By	Carla M.Golden (Tacoma, Washington) - See all my reviews

Having seen Breaking The Code for myself at the reccommendation of a few close friends, I came away with the conclusion that this is truly a heartbreaking drama, because, as Derek Jacobi's breathtaking portrayal of Alan Turing showed me, this mathematical genius did not receive the laud he so richly deserved for cracking the Enigma code and making a contribution toward the winning of the Second World War, because he was so unfairly exposed as a homosexual and crucified for it in the media, in much the same way our Savior was crucified for doing the work he had been sent here by His Father to do. The worlds of math and science lost a truly great figure when Turing died in 1954.