IMITATION GAME

If you see one film during the holiday season, Spy Vibe recommends The Imitation Game. The backstory of Alan Turing's time at Bletchley Park during WWII included regular strained meetings with James Bond author Ian Fleming. Fleming's talent was to dream up scenarios, including schemes to steal an Enigma machine and code intelligence during the Dieppe Raid and from a captured naval vessel (Operation Ruthless). Fleming's diary entries referred to Turing's disappointment over these failed missions and new articles in The Guardian and The New Yorker suggest that the two were working under extreme pressure to withhold secrets from their allies (often at heavy expense), and to spread misinformation to outwit their enemies. Turing's vision also played a part in the development of the computer. As interesting as these connections may be to us spy fans, The Imitation Game thankfully does not explore the scope of Turing's history in a broad way. Ian Fleming does not appear. Instead, the heart of this largely intimate film is revealed by the poster tagline- "Behind every code is an enigma"- and that puzzle is Alan Turing's own struggle (outwardly) to crack the Enigma and (inwardly) to reconcile his experience as "other" in society and in social interactions. There are many layers to this, which I don't want to spoil. Although the war provides important context in the movie, the story is ultimately a beautiful character study, masterfully performed by Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Alex Lawther, as the young Turing. I went into the film completely unaware of Turing's experiences and accomplishments, and I found it quite moving. Enjoy! Spy Vibe trivia: Benedict Cumberbatch's mom is Wanda Ventham (Virginia Lake in Gerry Anderson's UFO)! Turing Illustration below by Conceptcion Studios. Learn More: Alan Turning: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, Enigma: The Battle For the Code, Alan Turing: Centenary Edition, The Secret Lives of Codebreakers, the film Enigma, and new articles in New Yorker, The Guardian. 

Selected Spy Vibe posts: New Avengers Books, Road to Hong Kong, Inside Gerry Anderson, Ringo Does Goldfinger, Sixties Beat Wear, SPECTRE Announced, Popular Skullture, New Gerry Anderson Sets, New SECRET AGENT set, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Modesty Monday, Feraud Mod Fashion, Flint Scores!, Bond Danish, Home Movies, New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Designing Bond Books, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

IAN FLEMING COMMANDO DISCOVERED

Journalist Justin Rowlatt has published an interesting story in BBC News Magazine about his grandfather's connection with Ian Fleming's commandos during WWII. Fleming organized the secret 30 Assault Unit to gather intelligence and to work with forward troops. "The family only discovered his involvement a couple of years ago, thanks to a coincidence. My cousin Alexander is an eye doctor at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the only one of the family to carry my mother's maiden name, Ionides. One day a patient asked him a startling question.

"Ionides is an unusual name," he said. "Was your grandfather called Theo?"

"Yes," replied Alexander.

"Did he fight in World War II?"

"Yes," he answered again.

Then came the real eye-opener.

"Did you know he was handpicked to be part of a top secret commando unit set up by Ian Fleming?"

Rowlatt was hurtled into a fascinating mission of research to learn more about Fleming's AU30, his grandfather's role in secret missions and in historic battles, and the reflections of surviving veterans who served with his grandfather. Read the full story here. AU30 photo above and secret memo below from Ian Fleming from BBC News Magazine. More about the 30AU here. 

I have a spy novella coming out soon! Stay tuned for more info. Did you know that Spy Vibe has a Pinterest page? You can see collections of images of Ian Fleming's life, dynamic vintage action, cliffhanger serials, Japanese designs from the 20s, vintage mystery novels, and more! Ian Fleming board here.

Check Spy Vibe for the Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward,Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, and recent posts about PG Tips Brooke Bond, 1960s espionage writers, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, my review of SKYFALL, 007 at the Intnl Spy Museum, Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot, new Beatles bio from Mark Lewisohn, tributes to Donald Richie and Tony Sheridan, the Les Vampires serial on Blu-ray, Lucy Fleming, The Beatles first record session, Ian Fleming's desert island interview, new Ian Fleming book designs, Fantomas, Spy Smasher, Barbarella tv show, British spy comics, Piper Gates retro designs, Cinema Retro, and more. 

Want to support Spy Vibe? Please make a small donation with our secure Paypal tip-jar link at the top left of the main page. Nothing is too small to help cover the increasing bills for the domain, web-forwarding and other costs to maintain the site. Thank you!