RACE FOR THE DOUBLE HELIX, THE {AKA DOUBLE HELIX} (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie chronicles the research of scientists Jim Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin in their "race" to discover the structure of DNA. The program begins as Watson, studying in Naples in 1951, declares that he wants to become famous by studying DNA and cajoles his sister into cozying up to Wilkins. During a conference, Wilkins states that DNA has a crystalline pattern of some kind, and Watson introduces himself, saying he wants to work alongside him, but Wilkins explains that he has no say in the matter. In Paris, Franklin talks with her colleagues, including Vittorio Luzzati, and prepares to depart for King's College London to work with Wilkins. Once there, she meets with Randall, who explains the college's "informal" work environment. Watson arrives at Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge and is introduced to Crick, and the two become fast friends upon learning of their shared interest in DNA. Franklin works with her assistant Raymond Gosling and seems disinterested in sharing her work even with Wilkins, and he is perplexed at her apparent sense of being "in charge." Watson and Crick meet Sir Lawrence Bragg and declare their interest in finding the structure of DNA by building a model, with Watson refusing to believe that the structure could be "ugly." At King's College, Franklin's colleagues wonder about her romantic life and encourage Wilkins to flirt with her to win her over. Watson and Crick decide that Wilkins was right about DNA having a helix form, but are unsure how many chains it has and how it bonds. They ponder telling him about their work, but Watson is distracted by Cambridge's female population.
Franklin continues her work, growing annoyed when Wilkins asks Gosling for updates. Wilkins too becomes frustrated with her attitude, but Randall encourages him to "be flexible." Watson discovers a boardinghouse for au pairs and attempts to brush up on his French, also attending lunch with Wilkins and discussing Franklin. He asks to attend Wilkins' colloquium on DNA, claiming his work is only "experimental." He then meets Franklin, and though she is cold towards him, he observes her lecture and makes note of her findings. At the same time, another scientist, Linus Pauling, expresses interest in seeing their work, and Watson tells Crick that they can "beat" him to the discovery. He tells Crick about Franklin's presentation and they debate how much water might factor into the bonding of the helix structure, then beginning work on their model. Wilkins tells Franklin about their progress, but when she travels to Cambridge to see it, she immediately notices that they made an error and that their version is far too "dry" and not plausible. Watson and Crick are scolded by their superior and told to get back to their original, non-DNA-focused work. Franklin talks with Luzzati and ponders returning to Paris, having no one to talk to in England, and he advises her to try a Patterson function to learn more about the structure.
In spring 1952, Watson considers mastering X-ray defraction techniques, and Franklin talks with her co-worker Freda Ticehurst about romance and her plans for her life. As Watson's attempts to land a French girlfriend fail, Crick explains how the helix would theoretically look, noting its dimensions and its "X"-shape. At the same time, one of Franklin's photos, known as Photograph 51, seems to show that exact structure. Watson and Crick are relieved to hear that Pauling's arrival at Cavendish will be delayed, and they attend a Halloween party, still debating the nature of the bond. Wilkins, fed up with Franklin's autonomous habits, requests to do his work separately from her, and Randall agrees. Later, he tells Gosling that she may leave and return to Paris. Wondering how DNA replicates itself and how the adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine all fit together, Watson and Crick note that Erwin Chargaff has knowledge about base ratios, and they plan to meet with him. At a dinner, they ask questions about Pauling's work, but are taken aback when Chargaff criticizes their work and lack of knowledge, and Crick makes a note of his suggested A-T, G-C bond. Franklin observes that Wilkins still wants to "share" their work, and she posits that the DNA structure may be asymmetrical after all, but Crick refuses to accept it. Pauling's son Peter arrives to work with Watson and Crick, and they take care to inquire about his father's progress.
Franklin plans to return to Paris, but Luzzati asks how she will feel if Wilkins or someone else completes her work in her absence. Randall hints that she will not be allowed to continue her work elsewhere, given the competitive nature of the field. Watson and Crick panic upon learning that Pauling is building a model, but they soon discover that his version does not makes sense. They are sure that he will get there soon, however, and Watson appeals to Franklin, wanting to combine their efforts to beat Pauling, but she is not interested in the "little boys'" competition and refuses. When Watson goes to Wilkins to urge him on, he spots Franklin's Photograph 51 and is stunned by its significance. He recreates it for Watson and they quickly resume their model-building with the help of her notes, assuring Wilkins that Bragg will not mind. Franklin also reaches the conclusion of a double helix, and Watson and Crick are thrilled when their model makes sense, finally revealing how DNA eternally divides and reforms itself. The scientific community is highly impressed, and Franklin admits that she didn't "see it" in time, but states that only the "beauty" of science matters, not the race or the winner. The film closes by explaining that Watson, Crick and Wilkins won a joint Nobel Prize in 1962, but Franklin, having died from cancer in 1958, was ineligible. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: September 14, 1987 5:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:14470
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Science
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Mick Jackson … Producer, Director
- Jane Callander … Associate Producer
- William Nicholson … Writer
- James Watson … Based on the book by
- Peter Howell … Music by
- Tim Pigott-Smith … Cast, Francis Crick
- Jeff Goldblum … Cast, Jim Watson
- Alan Howard … Cast, Maurice Wilkins
- Juliet Stevenson … Cast, Rosalind Franklin
- Betsy Brantley … Cast, Elizabeth Watson
- John Moreno … Cast, Vittorio Luzzati
- Daniel Andre Pageon … Cast, First Colleague
- Yves Aubert … Cast, Second Colleague
- Anthony Benson … Cast, I.T. Randall
- Clive Panto … Cast, Max Perutz
- Rupert Massey … Cast, John Kendrew
- Geoffrey Chater … Cast, Sir Lawrence Bragg
- Nicholas Fry … Cast, Raymond Gosling
- Tom McCabe … Cast, Bill Seeds
- Petronella Ford … Cast, Odile Crick
- Ian Harvey … Cast, Bruce Fraser
- Vass Anderson … Cast, Alex Stokes
- Jill Johnson … Cast, Freda Ticehurst
- Rachael Weaver … Cast, First French Girl
- Katherine Kath … Cast, Pop Prior
- Gaby Lister … Cast, Second French Girl
- David Allister … Cast, John Griffith
- Anna Skye … Cast, Girl At Party
- Lyndon Brook … Cast, Erwin Chargaff
- Vincent Marzello … Cast, Peter Pauling
- Ray Charleson … Cast, Jerry Donohue