Derek Jacobi - Breaking the code *Mathematics*

[melongabg]

had to watch this during a class while we were studying Turing, his machine, human-computerized thought, etc. It was cool about 45 seconds into it. then...

[gnamp]

I suppose I understand the choice, but it was still a huge risk- choosing a man of nearly 60 to play chap in his 30s.

[rosapurpurea]

@gnamp I agree...in fact he did it in theatre in 1985, more plausible then...I just let drop the idea and enjoy the acting :)

[gnamp]

@rosapurpurea good idea :)

[bucles2000]

Relativity, quantum theory, Godel Theorem, is bla,bla,bla....

[kylehudson00]

Some interesting remnants of Claudius here :)

[31428571J]

'Inconsistent or incomplete' - Perfect!

[grahamsmith1907]

Who else but Dereck Jacobi could give a lecture on maths, and make it so engrossing?

[TroyOi]

After seeing this clip, and thanks to it, I went ahead and got the full movie. Wouldn't you know they edited this scene down to a nub, starting with the start of Jacobi's monologue and then segueing to the end of it. Ugghhhh! WHY DO THAT??? If it was for consumption by the typical American audience, I can understand that. But the "typical" American doesn't watch Masterpiece Theater, nor biographies of the trials & tribulations of scholarly British homosexuals. I feel cheated! Thank God for YT.

[IPAttorneyFirm]

I saw Sir Derek as Alan Turning in Breaking the Code on Broadway, where they had edited this scene out. Delighted to see it here.

[gup1138]

Fantastic! I love the SINGLE TAKE in the middle of the clip - no cuts, no edits - Jacobi just KEEPS GOING in one shot, like the Energizer bunny! Beautiful acting...

[websnarf]

@gup1138 : For anyone who understands what Jacobi is saying, and a few of us do, its not impossible to do that in one take. :)

[Entertainmentwf]

If I ever taught a computability theory class this would totally be one thing I would have to show :).

[dannykim100]

@Entertainmentwf funny because my prof did, last week

[Entertainmentwf]

@dannykim100 Excellent! It is a great way to sort of introduce the topic. :)

[jerarc]

Hail Derek Jacobi!

[lexo30]

I think Hugh Whitemore has to get a lot of the credit, for writing this speech in the first place.

I can't find this on DVD anywhere, but maybe I need to look harder.

[Fichtenbrenner]

Derek Jacobi is the best!

[InkyEnston]

Breaking the Code: i saw this about 15 years ago on BBC 2. Cant find it any where now. Fantastic

[rosapurpurea]

I think BBC made a DVD few months ago...not sure though, try on Amazon UK

[TheTaskmaster]

this is one of the most amazing scenes i've seen in a long time, and i've seen some amazing movies lately

[rosapurpurea]

I was enchanted the first time I saw this, I knew the movie, but I had the US version, where this masterpiece had been cut and words replaced with music...

[mrssweetypea]

can you get this film on dvd?

[ivycompton]

Not through the usual sources. Maybe there's a DVD-R from some company. But it is available on VHS from Amazon and ebay.

[rosapurpurea]

Yes you should, something like Amazon or IBS...

[ukboomerfl]

@rosapurpurea I'm still looking for the DVD. Amazon has the VHS

[jmm1233]

Alan is the true bred cyberpunk , had a great idea for the ultimate equation solving machine , awesome that he also broke the engima code , a big thanks for the computer Alan :)

[LoveMattersMost]

Wow, if I were to try and find the best 6 minute introduction to the foundations of mathematics, this might be it!

[rosapurpurea]

I'm not much into mathematics, so I'll trust you :)

[improbabletruth]

Ridiculously, amazingly brilliant. Don't know who to love more - Jacobi or the man he played, Turing!

[rosapurpurea]

Eheh...I'll take Jacobi if you don't mind...he's a humanist (got a degree in history), more my kind ^^

[improbabletruth]

Aw. Can't we share? ;)

[rosapurpurea]

Mmmh...all right ;p

[stanleyxev790]

Turing was the 3rd most impressive person to me of the 20th century. I am not gay. He contributed so much in the war and was not a thug or a paedophile or a rapist so by all accounts did not create victims but was dealt with poorly by a society at the time that was more bent.

[improbabletruth]

EXACTLY. It still makes me burn with indignant rage, the injustice this brilliant man had to suffer for no crime at all, and how much we lost when we lost him. If he had been allowed to live in peace for many more years, who knows what new innovations we could've enjoyed? Such a tragic loss!

[stanleyxev790]

agreed.

[YFLOInternational]

ROTF

This is frickin' great!!!!

lol!!!!!!!

[newsboysrok]

Did he do that in one take??? If he did....that's some of the best acting I've ever seen.

[rosapurpurea]

Yes, one take, mind you, no cuts, camera's always on him...

[skipalidon]

This man is smashing! I can never get enough of this man's talent. Thank you!

[rosapurpurea]

My pleasure, I'm glad to find some new "groupies" ;p

(sorry, just answering to some comments below...)

[naly202]

only a great actor like DJ could say the whole boring monologue with such enthusiasm that it almost turned alive and understandable. lol.

[spleenblender]

I find it sad tha this would be called boring :(

Maths are exciting! :D

[naly202]

well... maths may be exciting indeed for one who understands it properly.

as for me... hmmm.... i kinda got lost inside the explanations... lol.

[rosapurpurea]

I actually agree with naly, but I must admit I find quite fascinating what he's saying...even though I can't understand the whole thing.

[JstNEarthling]

I was rude? one more time I write something y'all freak out!! sorry i said anything I won't bother you anymore don't fret.

[rosapurpurea]

Good to know...

[JstNEarthling]

For cryin out loud people!! I didn't mean to ruffle such feathers. Now you understand I hope, Why I called it a groupie situation. I just happen to read the ...oh hell I've allready explained myself and apparently no one gets it. I know this man is a good actor and I respect that but I only thought it a little overboard with some of the comments and ev eryone attacked me...for words!!! Get a life!!

[rosapurpurea]

That was quite rude, don't you think? We were just answering...we got it decades ago, but we just disagree...you know, freedom of thought and stuff like that? Maybe you're the one who needs to get a life since you're wasting time talking to us about something you don't even like that much hey?

[rosapurpurea]

*tirayl said* (5 hours ago)

How true!

I bet Turing himself couldn't have made this situation so interesting. It's riveting.

What's more is he makes me understand it. A bit.

Great comment by the way.

[tirayi]

So what if people like this performance? Whats wrong with that? I don't understand the negative comments here or anywhere else on youtube. If you don't like it don't watch it.

Certainly don't waste your time commenting.

[rosapurpurea]

Since I'm a perfect fool I deleted your first comment, but I managed to copy it again...sorry!!!!

As for this one...I agree, completely...

[tirayi]

Thanks. I saw Sir Derek as Malvolio yesterday on stage in Twelfth Night.

A masterclass in human behavior.

I've never seen this film so thanks.

[rosapurpurea]

Oh, I was in London last friday for the same reason...great play, great cast, wonderful SDJ...he's such talented and humble!

[jaberwocky6669]

Did Turing really do that stammering when he spoke?

[rosapurpurea]

Yes he had a stammer...bad one in youth, got better when he grew up...

[nativesun]

Yeah Sir Jacobi is a great actor. I remember reading an interview and Alice Krige (one of the greatest actresses in her own right) was describing her experience working with him right out of school and how prepared and skilled he was...

[JstNEarthling]

I don't know how this video got on my watch list but I must admit I'm at a loss trying to figure out what the man's talking about, it certainly isn't mathematics. One more thing, what's with the drooling over this actor,he's not that great for cryin out loud. Unless I stumbled onto a fan site.

[rosapurpurea]

I keep wondering why some people need to let the whole world know their opinion about something they dislike...you don't like it, don't bother...

[JstNEarthling]

Well, I suppose you're talking about moi? I commented because after watching and then reading the comments I thought you people sounded like a bunch of groupies for cryin out loud. You seem to fawn over this man as if he were a god and he's done nothing but stammer an inconsistant babble. Remember now, you asked

[rosapurpurea]

Actually I didn't ask anything...ask and wonder are not the same verb, at least in my part of the world...but, since you seem keen on arguing, nobody here declared himself a mathematician, we're just appreciating good acting...some more "groupiey" than others...is that a crime? Come on, take it easy, life's not a battlefield!

[paulrutherf0rd]

Sorry JstNE, but you couldn't be more wrong. The reason he's lauded over is because he can take this INCREDIBLY complex text and make it sound like he is thinking and speaking it in the moment. The stammer (and Turing, the character did stammer) is technical interesting, but it's not the key to Jacobi's performance. It's watching the thought process play across his face as he speaks. He makes the view genuinely believe that he really knows what he's taking about, even if we don't :-)

[JstNEarthling]

See, there you go again with the holier than thou attitude which is what made me think "groupie" in the first place. All I did was see a video I wasn't aware of, in my watch list for some reason, and I just read a few comments and they sounded, well you've already heard. I do know the actor and he is a good actor but to base his ability on acting a interview is a bit overboard., that's all. He's done many more interesting things in his career yet these are not touted. Mmmmm

[rosapurpurea]

I don't fallow you...what do you mean "acting a interview"?? Is that for job interview? If should it be, well, don't know why people are so enthusiastic about this...probably because is one take, loooong speech, difficult contents and he's believeble and natural...makes it almost understandable to a layman(woman ;p) like me... :)

[FMMAROTO]

WONDERFUL!!!! AMAZING ACTOR!!!!!

[McConsumer]

That dude's a good actor.

[metteholm75]

Well, ever since the success of "I, Claudius", Derek Jacobi has been headhunted for stammering characters, so he has had lots of practice.

[ryanm706]

acting is, in fact, noticeably great. his stammer did throw me for a loop. i, too, wondered if he just does this every day, or is it a solid acting performance. i couldn't do that on call nearly as smoothly as he.

[rosapurpurea]

matteholm75's quite right about the stammering characters...though I think Mr.Jacobi has a natural gift for acting, a naturalness and truthfullness while playing wich is, IMO, stunning.

[warrenpeace910]

This piece is simply stunning!! For the most part this was done in a single take and the clarity of the script is supreme! I'm no mathamatician any more than I can speak French - but in listening to this piece I'm quite prepared to believe I can follow the logic just as I might recognise certain characters in 'Le Figaro' and believe I might follow the journalist! I saw this programme when it was broadcast - one of the best programmes I ever watched!!

[rosapurpurea]

Yes, I agree, it's just stunning...that's why BBC chooses most of his actors among theatre ones...less work with editing and directing! ;p

[ryanm706]

dont have a flickr account, but this exchange makes me want to post one, even if only for your curiosity. fine, i'll do it. The only photos i have to post are from my last trip. it was from San Francisco, CA to Atlanta, GA. i saw (and caught) some beautiful topography. the pilot took us over the grand canyon with minimal cloud ceiling, so my camera, (10x optical, but i'm amatuer, so good enough..) actually reeled in some decent shots. plus some really nice cummulous angles.

[rosapurpurea]

Now I'm curious...hope to find your account somehow... :)))

[ryanm706]

I saw your photos on flickr. Marvelous work. I, too, like to take photos from inside an airliner.

[rosapurpurea]

Thank you!

Airliner? Sounds interesting and odd...do you have a flickr account? Like to see your work.

[zetasan]

Wow, this is great! I'm so glad that the film writer got each concept in mathematical logic (almost) right.

Thank you so much for uploading it!

By the way, the film also featured another Turing's conversation with a tall, elegant man from the UK government near the end. Do you happen to have that scene? It's even more breath-taking. I'm sure everyone else would love to see it too :)

[rosapurpurea]

Yes, I have that too, but I'll have to watch it again 'cause I don't remember how breathtaking it was ;)))

[warrenpeace910]

Did you upload this other section? I too remember the Government agent who reminds Turing he is being watched?

[rosapurpurea]

No, just this one because was cut from USA version...

[pup28]

What a fantastic scene!

[rosapurpurea]

Yes, it's really a masterpiece of acting! :)

[TheLogicJunkie]

I just checked out your photo gallery on flikr.

WOW.

You are the most amazing photographer I've ever seen. No kidding.

[rosapurpurea]

Goodness that's really flattering!Thank you!!!*blushes*

I see you're a writer(among other things)...that's quite stimulating for my poor brain and my incurable curiosity... :)

[TheLogicJunkie]

You're welcome.

I'm very serious, Rosa. Those photographs, the angle, the sheer radiance and crispness of them; it's like you imbue everything with an electric intelligence and animating spirit.

[rosapurpurea]

Sorry, never answered to this because I was really flattered and embarassed...but reading it again tonight I thought you deserve a huge THANK YOU! :))

[TheLogicJunkie]

Does Jacobi have an actual stammer like this, or is it just coicidence that he stammers as both Claudius and as Alan Turing?

[rosapurpurea]

No, he doesn't have a stammer...but Claudius and Alan Turing did, so it's only coincidence...check his interviews and you'll see that he speaks fluently, and he's really smart. :)

[naly202]

you can check cadfael or any other charater he interpreted in his career and see he speaks fluently. lol.

[TheLogicJunkie]

Okay, thanks a lot.  I'll check it out.

Did you know that he did the voice of Nicodemus in the animated film "The Secret of NIMH"?

[TheLogicJunkie]

You can see his animated appearance if you search YouTube under "The Secret of NIMH part 7"

[rosapurpurea]

Yes I knew that...I'm quite addicted to this man , but I never actually heard it till you mentioned it, thanks!!! ;)

[naly202]

you mean the old wizzard rat? cool! i listened crefully and recognized him . wooow! the movie seems pretty interesting. and it's that wonderful animation style of the 20th c. fox. like in Charlie or Fivel!

[TheLogicJunkie]

Yes! That's him. That movie is, in my judgment, the single best hand-animated film of all time.  Even the voice-acting and the "acting" of the animated characters was awesome.

Except for Sandy Duncan... she's a bit corny.

[naly202]

well, i wouldn't agree with you on the "single best hand animated film of all time" issue. it's wonderfully made, but my favourite film is Disney HOND. lol 4 me, of course. i love Frollo.

[caedoodle]

He is just flawless.

[rosapurpurea]

He is indeed.. :))

[twolionss]

How does he do that??? HOW??? I cannot understand a thing what he says, and yet, he is mesmerising!!! Sir Derek you are a magician. And you Rosa are a goodess, thanx so much for sharing!

[rosapurpurea]

LOL!I know...He's simply wonderful...this scene it's power in acting...electricity...his eyes...fantastic!Oh, BTW...my father Zeus sends you a kiss ;p

[EGarrett01]

Probably because he himself is so passionate about what he's saying. There's also snippets of what he's saying here that are fascinating thinking.

Of course, while the video probably accurately reflects the way Turing or someone like him would speak...gifted people have a habit of overcomplicating things.

[EGarrett01]

(cont.) There's a level above this sort-of jargon-filled babble where the same ideas are communicated quickly and clearly. The absolute god-like thinkers...Socrates, Confucius, Da Vinci, or even people like Richard Feynman, don't have this rambling problem, though they're discussing ideas at the same level.

The MOST intelligent and knowledgeable people won't confuse you. In fact, they'll do the opposite, telling you things that make perfect sense, but that you just hadn't thought of yet.

[rosapurpurea]

I completely agree with all...still some of the things is saying are not so clear to me...but probably it's just because 1-it isn't my mother tongue 2-I'm not into mathematics ;)

[TheLogicJunkie]

A critical point...

Case in point: Have you ever read "Code", by Charles Petzold? He's just that sort of communicator as you're talking about.