<p>a leading one is <a href="http://www.turingfilm.com/">Codebreaker</a> with a list of reviews/publicity <a href="http://www.turingfilm.com/turing-film-media-coverage">here</a> [unfortunately several are behind paywalls]. here is one <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8904124/Britains-Greatest-Codebreaker-the-tragic-story-of-Alan-Turing.html">web review</a> by chris harvey &amp; with quotes by the writer warner.</p>

<p>this documentary originated by <a href="http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-commissions-alan-turing-documentary">channel 4</a> seems balanced and avoids hagiography, looking at all the aspects of his complex life. has award winning writer, actors and acclaimed producer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-24T15:07:05.167Z
2012-06-24T17:10:21.390Z
2012-06-24T17:10:21.390Z
vzn
<p><a href="http://www.dramahouse.co.uk/page11.html" rel="nofollow">Breaking the Code</a> (BBC, 1996) is personally my favourite. It is, however, much more on the side of 'factual drama' than strictly 'documentary' style. It feels well researched and it faithfully sticks to what was known about him, from his academic work to his mannerisms. I don't feel it embellishes or over-dramatizes his life. There is an excellent scene (for what was a fairly mainstream show) where Derek Jacobi (as Turing) explains his work in context to his contemporaries/predecessors, Gödel and Bertrand Russell. The Enigma work features of course, but doesn't dominate the story, which spans from his school-days to his death.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-19T00:47:47.367Z
2014-11-19T00:47:47.367Z
decvalts
<p>this HuffingtonPost <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/alan-turing-part-one_n_1655056.html" rel="nofollow">video documentary/interviews/transcript</a> was produced at the 2012 ACM Turing Award celebration &amp; includes commentary by prior Turing award winners incl Bachman (1973), Allen (2006), Cerf (2004), Pearl (2011), also Papadimitriou author of widely read complexity theory textbook.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-07-10T00:30:56.033Z
2012-07-10T00:30:56.033Z
vzn
<p>closely related is a highly-viewed documentary circulating on a <a href="http://www.legoturingmachine.org/" rel="nofollow">lego turing machine</a> built in honor of the 100th anniversary of Turings birthday, by <a href="http://www.cwi.nl/aboutCWI" rel="nofollow">CWI</a> Phd student &amp; software engr/researcher</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-24T17:39:22.307Z
2012-06-24T17:39:22.307Z
vzn
<p>To celebrate Alan Turing 100th birthday, I want to watch a documentary about his life.  However, there are several documentaries to choose from.</p>
<h3>Which documentary about Alan Turing is your favorite?</h3>
<p>Please include only one documentary per answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-23T18:48:42.760Z
Happy Turing's day!
a06e
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-24T02:52:17.273Z
Maybe this should be CW ?
Suresh Venkat
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-24T03:04:16.120Z
@Suresh Agree, but I didn't see (and still don't see) how to make that happen.
Tyson Williams
<reference-request><soft-question><big-list><ho.history-overview>
Alan Turing Documentaries
Tyson Williams
# Alan Turing Documentaries

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-23)

To celebrate Alan Turing 100th birthday, I want to watch a documentary about his life. However, there are several documentaries to choose from.

### Which documentary about Alan Turing is your favorite?

Please include only one documentary per answer.

**Tags:** reference-request, soft-question, big-list, ho.history-overview

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Happy Turing's day!  
> **username_2**: Maybe this should be CW ?  
> **username_0**: @Suresh Agree, but I didn't see (and still don't see) how to make that happen.  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-06-24. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

a leading one is [Codebreaker](http://www.turingfilm.com/) with a list of reviews/publicity [here](http://www.turingfilm.com/turing-film-media-coverage) [unfortunately several are behind paywalls]. here is one [web review](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8904124/Britains-Greatest-Codebreaker-the-tragic-story-of-Alan-Turing.html) by chris harvey & with quotes by the writer warner.

this documentary originated by [channel 4](http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-commissions-alan-turing-documentary) seems balanced and avoids hagiography, looking at all the aspects of his complex life. has award winning writer, actors and acclaimed producer.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-11-19. Score: 2

[Breaking the Code](http://www.dramahouse.co.uk/page11.html) (BBC, 1996) is personally my favourite. It is, however, much more on the side of 'factual drama' than strictly 'documentary' style. It feels well researched and it faithfully sticks to what was known about him, from his academic work to his mannerisms. I don't feel it embellishes or over-dramatizes his life. There is an excellent scene (for what was a fairly mainstream show) where Derek Jacobi (as Turing) explains his work in context to his contemporaries/predecessors, Gödel and Bertrand Russell. The Enigma work features of course, but doesn't dominate the story, which spans from his school-days to his death.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-07-10. Score: 1

this HuffingtonPost [video documentary/interviews/transcript](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/alan-turing-part-one_n_1655056.html) was produced at the 2012 ACM Turing Award celebration & includes commentary by prior Turing award winners incl Bachman (1973), Allen (2006), Cerf (2004), Pearl (2011), also Papadimitriou author of widely read complexity theory textbook.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-06-24. Score: -5

closely related is a highly-viewed documentary circulating on a [lego turing machine](http://www.legoturingmachine.org/) built in honor of the 100th anniversary of Turings birthday, by [CWI](http://www.cwi.nl/aboutCWI) Phd student & software engr/researcher


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