Summaries

Drama about the development of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, and Einstein's relationship with British scientist Sir Arthur Eddington, the first physicist to experimentally prove his ideas.

Sir Arthur Eddington is a renowned physicist at Cambridge University and an expert in the measurement of the physical world. He along with all of his colleagues are also avowed Newtonians. Sir Oliver Lodge suggests that he read a new thesis put forward by a German-Swiss scientist named Albert Einstein who is suggesting that Sir Isaac Newton may have got it wrong. The expectation is that Einstein's theories will be disproven but Eddington admits that his General Theory of Relativity has merit. These are turbulent times as England and Germany are at war and Eddington's own loyalty is called into question when, as a Quaker, he refuses to fight. In the end, Eddington develops a series of tests to either prove or disprove Einstein's theories. For his part, Einstein has his own struggles during this period: the breakdown of his marriage, his integration into the university in Berlin and his own strident pacifism that led him to oppose German militarism and the First World War. In the end, Eddington proves Einstein's theories as correct causing what many believe to be the launch of modern day physics.—garykmcd

Details

Keywords
  • quaker
  • character names as title
  • surnames as title
  • physicist
  • albert einstein character
Genres
  • Drama
  • History
  • Biography
Release date Nov 22, 2008
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) TV-PG
Countries of origin United States United Kingdom
Language English
Filming locations Fót Studios, Budapest, Hungary
Production companies HBO Films Pioneer Pictures Company Television Productions

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 34m
Color Color
Sound mix Stereo
Aspect ratio 1.78 : 1

Synopsis

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