The Imitation Game (Original title)
Dates: 1980 (Copyright), 24 April 1980 (Television)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Richard Eyre
Synopsis: About a young middle-class woman who joins the ATS during the Second World War.
Genre: Drama
Subject: Auxiliary Territorial Service
Series title:
TV Transmissions
Date: 24 April 1980Broadcast channel: BBC1Country: United KingdomTransmission time: 21:35-23:10Slot duration: 95 minsNetwork - Language: English - Colour - Sound
Date: 12 May 1993not specified
Date: 12 May 1993Broadcast channel: BBC2Country: United KingdomTransmission time: 21:00-22:30Slot duration: 90 minsNetwork
Title: War and peace: Play for Today's home front quintetAuthor: WYVER, John Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Discusses five plays set during or immediately after the Second World War which were broadcast in the BBC's 'Play for Today' series (1970-1984): 'Licking Hitler' (1978), 'Blue Remembered Hills' (1979), 'The Imitation Game' (1980), 'Country' (1980) and 'Rainy Day Women' (1984). Considers the dramas' revisionist portrayal of the English home front, their political context, and their engagement with issues of landscape, heritage, game-playing and simulation. Part of the special issue 'Play for Today at 50'.
In: Journal of British cinema and television v19 n3 2022 Pages: 325-359
Title: ‘Treading on sacred turf’: history, femininity and the secret war in the Plays for Today Licking Hitler, The Imitation Game and Rainy Day WomenAuthor: BURTON, Alan Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Explores three dramas dealing with the Second World War which were shown in the BBC's 'Play for Today' strand: 'Licking Hitler' (1978) written by David Hare, 'The Imitation Game' (1980) by Ian McEwan, and 'Rainy Day Women' (1984) by David Pirie, noting how the writers drew on material revealing aspects of the 'secret war' to challenge dominant narratives of British wartime experience. Discusses the plays' focus on female characters, and examines aspects of their contemporary reception.
In: British National Film Catalogue v21 1983
Title: [British National Film Catalogue - v21 1983: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v50 n593 June 1983 Pages: 160-161
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v50 n593 June 1983: no known title]Language: English
In: Television Today 1 May 1980 Page: 26
Title: [Stage - 1 May 1980: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review by Jennifer Lovelace.
In: Radio Times v227 n2949 17 May 1980 Page: 71
Title: [Radio Times - v227 n2949 17 May 1980: no known title]Language: English
Description: Readers letters on the play and Ian McEwan's reply.
In: Radio Times v227 n2950 24 May 1980 Page: 75
Title: [Radio Times - v227 n2950 24 May 1980: no known title]Language: English
Description: Readers letters.
In: The Listener v103 n2660 1 May 1980 Page: 586
Title: [The Listener - v103 n2660 1 May 1980: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review by Mervyn Jones.
In: Time Out n522 18 Apr 1980 Page: 15
Title: [Time Out - n522 18 Apr 1980: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Preview by John Wyver.
Author: D'ELIA, Gaetano Pages: 355p.
Title: National fictions: World War Two in British film and television
Author: HURD, Geoff Pages: 77p.
Description: These essays originated in the work of the British Film Institute Summer School, Stirling University, 1983.
Title: imitation game: three plays for television
Author: MCEWAN, Ian Pages: 175p
Description: The IMITATION GAME pp. 95-175 JACK FLEA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION pp. 21-50
Title: imitation game
Author: MCEWAN, Ian Pages: Pp.
Description: Quarto, April 1980. The IMITATION GAME pp. 5-11 SOLID GEOMETRY pp. 51-94
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(6)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: Betacam SPDuration: 93.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1396869
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: MP4BFI identifier: N-636246
Status: Viewing - Digital file is accessible to view within BFI
Digital materials(1)
Description: MP4BFI identifier: N-636246
Status: Viewing - Digital file is accessible to view within BFI
Video materials(3)
Description: 1-inch C-FormatDuration: 92.25 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALTX date: 1993-05-12BFI identifier: C-733064
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Description: Betacam SPDuration: 93.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1396869
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 93.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1396868
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(2)
Description: 16mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: SafetySound: SoundLength: 3401 FeetTX date: 1980-04-24Stock date: 1980BFI identifier: C-1150913
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 16mm Reversal InternegativeBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 3401 FeetTX date: 1980-04-24Stock date: 1979BFI identifier: C-83405
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Dates: 1980 (Copyright), 24 April 1980 (Television)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Richard Eyre
Synopsis: About a young middle-class woman who joins the ATS during the Second World War.
Genre: Drama
Subject: Auxiliary Territorial Service
Series title:
TV Transmissions
Date: 24 April 1980Broadcast channel: BBC1Country: United KingdomTransmission time: 21:35-23:10Slot duration: 95 minsNetwork - Language: English - Colour - Sound
Date: 12 May 1993not specified
Date: 12 May 1993Broadcast channel: BBC2Country: United KingdomTransmission time: 21:00-22:30Slot duration: 90 minsNetwork
Credits
(27)
Produced by: Richard Eyre, ©: BBC, Producer: Tim Ironside-Wood, Production Unit Manager: Geoffrey Paget, Assistant Floor Manager: Jacmel Dent, Production Assistant: Christopher Cameron, Graphic Designer: Joanna Ball, Director's Assistant: Irene East, Assistant Director: Janet Tharby, [Written] By: Ian McEwan, Film Recordist: Dennis Panchen, Military adviser: Brian Bridges, Lighting Cameraman: Peter Bartlett, Camera Crew: Denny Rogers, Camera Crew: John Adderley, Ian Punter, Thanks to: Fisher Dilke, Film Editor: David Martin, Designer: Geoff Powell, Make-up: Pauline Cox, Dubbing Mixer: Alan Dykes, Thanks to: Peter Calvocoress, Thanks to: Angus Calder, Thanks to: Helen Rance, Thanks to: Dorothy Patton, Kathy Sykes
Cast
(26)
Harriet Walter (Cathy Raine), Lorna Charles (Anna Raine), Bernard Gallagher (Mr Raine), Gillian Martell (Mrs Raine), Simon Chandler (Tony), Nicholas Le Prevost (Turner), Brenda Blethyn (Mary), Patricia Routledge (ATS officer), Geoffrey Chater (colonel in cell), Kristine Howarth (Tony's mother), Keith Marsh (factory clerk), Carol MacReady (ATS sergeant), Annie Hayes (1st recruit), Jean Leppard (2nd recruit), Sue Greenwood (ATS lance corporal), Penny Smith (ATS girl), Belinda Lang (girl in bath), Daniel Webb (despatch rider), Peter Schofield (publican), Tim Seely (major), Rhys McConnochie (technical officer), Matthew Scurfield (Matthews), Kevin Elyot (Clark), John Grillo (Smith), Alister Cameron, Andrew Seear (officer in mess)
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(9)
In: Journal of British cinema and television v19 n2 2022 Pages: 241-260Title: War and peace: Play for Today's home front quintetAuthor: WYVER, John Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Discusses five plays set during or immediately after the Second World War which were broadcast in the BBC's 'Play for Today' series (1970-1984): 'Licking Hitler' (1978), 'Blue Remembered Hills' (1979), 'The Imitation Game' (1980), 'Country' (1980) and 'Rainy Day Women' (1984). Considers the dramas' revisionist portrayal of the English home front, their political context, and their engagement with issues of landscape, heritage, game-playing and simulation. Part of the special issue 'Play for Today at 50'.
In: Journal of British cinema and television v19 n3 2022 Pages: 325-359
Title: ‘Treading on sacred turf’: history, femininity and the secret war in the Plays for Today Licking Hitler, The Imitation Game and Rainy Day WomenAuthor: BURTON, Alan Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Explores three dramas dealing with the Second World War which were shown in the BBC's 'Play for Today' strand: 'Licking Hitler' (1978) written by David Hare, 'The Imitation Game' (1980) by Ian McEwan, and 'Rainy Day Women' (1984) by David Pirie, noting how the writers drew on material revealing aspects of the 'secret war' to challenge dominant narratives of British wartime experience. Discusses the plays' focus on female characters, and examines aspects of their contemporary reception.
In: British National Film Catalogue v21 1983
Title: [British National Film Catalogue - v21 1983: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v50 n593 June 1983 Pages: 160-161
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v50 n593 June 1983: no known title]Language: English
In: Television Today 1 May 1980 Page: 26
Title: [Stage - 1 May 1980: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review by Jennifer Lovelace.
In: Radio Times v227 n2949 17 May 1980 Page: 71
Title: [Radio Times - v227 n2949 17 May 1980: no known title]Language: English
Description: Readers letters on the play and Ian McEwan's reply.
In: Radio Times v227 n2950 24 May 1980 Page: 75
Title: [Radio Times - v227 n2950 24 May 1980: no known title]Language: English
Description: Readers letters.
In: The Listener v103 n2660 1 May 1980 Page: 586
Title: [The Listener - v103 n2660 1 May 1980: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review by Mervyn Jones.
In: Time Out n522 18 Apr 1980 Page: 15
Title: [Time Out - n522 18 Apr 1980: no known title]Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Preview by John Wyver.
Books held in BFI Reuben Library
(4)
Title: La nuova letteratura inglese: Ian McEwanAuthor: D'ELIA, Gaetano Pages: 355p.
Title: National fictions: World War Two in British film and television
Author: HURD, Geoff Pages: 77p.
Description: These essays originated in the work of the British Film Institute Summer School, Stirling University, 1983.
Title: imitation game: three plays for television
Author: MCEWAN, Ian Pages: 175p
Description: The IMITATION GAME pp. 95-175 JACK FLEA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION pp. 21-50
Title: imitation game
Author: MCEWAN, Ian Pages: Pp.
Description: Quarto, April 1980. The IMITATION GAME pp. 5-11 SOLID GEOMETRY pp. 51-94
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(6)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: Betacam SPDuration: 93.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1396869
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: MP4BFI identifier: N-636246
Status: Viewing - Digital file is accessible to view within BFI
Digital materials(1)
Description: MP4BFI identifier: N-636246
Status: Viewing - Digital file is accessible to view within BFI
Video materials(3)
Description: 1-inch C-FormatDuration: 92.25 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALTX date: 1993-05-12BFI identifier: C-733064
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Description: Betacam SPDuration: 93.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1396869
Status: Viewing - Videotape can be requested for access
Description: Digital BetacamDuration: 93.3 minutesLine standard: 625Colour standard: PALBFI identifier: C-1396868
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(2)
Description: 16mm Re-recorded NegativeBase: SafetySound: SoundLength: 3401 FeetTX date: 1980-04-24Stock date: 1980BFI identifier: C-1150913
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 16mm Reversal InternegativeBase: SafetySound: MuteLength: 3401 FeetTX date: 1980-04-24Stock date: 1979BFI identifier: C-83405
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film