Einstein and Eddington (2008) (TV)

Director:

Philip Martin

Writer:

Peter Moffat (written by)

Release Date:

23 November 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

A look at the evolution of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, and Einstein's relationship with British scientist Sir Arthur Eddington, the first physicist to understand his ideas. |

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

David Tennant	...	Arthur Eddington
Richard McCabe	...	Frank Dyson
Patrick Kennedy	...	William Marston
Ben Uttley	...	Tennis Player 1
Gyuri Sarossy	...	Tennis Player 2
Rebecca Hall	...	Winnie Eddington
Jim Broadbent	...	Sir Oliver Lodge
Andy Serkis	...	Albert Einstein
Jacob Theato	...	Eduard Einstein
Callum Williams	...	Hans Einstein
Lucy Cohu	...	Mileva Einstein
Donald Sumpter	...	Max Planck
Lucy Briers	...	Librarian
Anton Lesser	...	Fritz Haber
John Bowe	...	Leopold Koppel

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

Company Television Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: Eddington chases a train on his bicycle when his friend is going off to war. The train leaves Cambridge is in the East of England, yet the engine pulling the train is painted in the colours of GWR as were the fixtures and fittings on the platform.

Quotes:

[Einstein is trying to work out why Newton's Laws of Motion do not correctly explain the orbit of the planet Mercury]
Max Planck: May I ask you a very serious question? What if God were to say you were mistaken? If he said "Stop. Newton is right"?
Albert Einstein: Then I would thank God for his point of view, and we would agree to differ, and I would be left feeling very sorry for God.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Parkinson: (2007-05-05)" (2007)

Easy viewing but lacked substance

Although this was easy and enjoyable to watch, the characters all lacked depth and the script in general was rather superficial, simplistic and ultimately unsatisfying. It could have been so much more, given the fascinating setting and the magnitude of the underlying facts. The science itself was almost completely omitted or dumbed down. It was disappointing that there was a rather cheap and unconvincing attempt at a religious 'miracle' as well as some one-dimensional and unnecessary politics. On the positive side, Cambidge university in the WWI era made for a pleasing backdrop and the actors' performances were decent on the whole.