Einstein: Chapter One

Episode aired Apr 25, 2017
TV-14
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

Johnny Flynn and Shannon Tarbet in Genius (2017)

Biography Drama History

The story of Albert Einstein, seen through glimpses of his twilight years and flashbacks to his time as a student in Munich and Zürich in the 1890s.The story of Albert Einstein, seen through glimpses of his twilight years and flashbacks to his time as a student in Munich and Zürich in the 1890s.The story of Albert Einstein, seen through glimpses of his twilight years and flashbacks to his time as a student in Munich and Zürich in the 1890s.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Johnny Flynn, who plays the young Albert Einstein, was born on Albert Einstein's 104th birthday (March 14, 1983).

Goofs
While discussing "natura naturans" with Marie Winteler's family, a young Einstein concludes that all questions "from the smallest molecule to the largest galaxy" are solvable. But in 1895, the existence of other galaxies, then called 'island universes,' was only hypothesized. The term 'galaxy'--from the Greek for 'milky'--would have properly applied only to our own Milky Way. What are now know as distant galaxies were then commonly identified as nearby nebulae. Although his early thinking is unrecorded, Einstein accepted the consensus for a single galaxy in his 1917 static model of the universe, and this consensus was not broken until after Edwin Hubble proved the existence of other galaxies in 1924.

Quotes
Albert Einstein: This is nonsense! May I remind you, Mr. Geist, your country has invited me, not the other way around.
Raymond Geist: Yes, professor. But you have a history of... how shall I put this... controversy... which calls into question your loyalties.
Albert Einstein: Loyalties?
Raymond Geist: And it is my job to insure that any individual coming to our shores does not pose a threat.
Albert Einstein: If you wish to talk about threats, Mr. Geist, perhaps you should take a look outside your window. Have you noticed the charming fellows in brown shirts who call me Jewish swine and want people like me dead?
Raymond Geist: If you are referring to the National Socialist Party, they are not in power.
Albert Einstein: Oh, no? You want to take a walk with me?
Raymond Geist: Professor, I have not call you here today for a lesson in German politics.
Albert Einstein: I'm not giving you one, because I doubt you'd be smart enough to be in my class.

Connections
Featured in The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards (2017)

User reviews8

Review

Featured review

6/10

Episode 1

Genius is the first scripted drama from National Geographic. It is also from the makers of the Oscar winning A Beautiful Mind.

The first episode is directed by Ron Howard whose opening shot is set in Berlin 1922. A Jewish businessman is shot and his car bombed, we then see a Jewish newspaper article in flames which leads to the next cut of the same Jewish newspaper article with Albert Einstein (Geoffrey Rush) copulating with his assistant Betty (Charity Wakefield.)

A drama about the renowned physicist is split into several time- lines. The older Einstein is played by Rush, celebrated and also reviled for his theories and religion. His more earthier wife, Elsa (Emily Watson) warns him of the rising tide of antisemitism in Germany. His lecture room is filled to brim and Howard uses further visual trickery to demonstrate his embryonic theories of time and relativity.

We also see the younger Albert in Munich 1894 played by Johnny Flynn. A brash know it all when it comes to physics and maths but not so about other subjects. His tutors despair of his insolence and his father about getting into trouble at college. Young Albert is in danger of not getting a degree and ends up studying in Switzerland where his ideas at least do not lead to threats of expulsion and also some flirtatious behaviour.

The film has good production values and lots of British actors doing 'ze German accents.' The script has its share of clunkiness and stereotypical characters. Albert's father is stern and does not quiet understand him. His mother is loving and cares more for him than his father.

A bravura performance from Rush as the older Albert but I am not sure I wish to spend ten episodes (with a second series already announced) learning about the life of Albert Einstein and see Rush being randy all the time.