The CRM 114 Discriminator is a fictional piece of radio equipment in Stanley Kubrick's film Dr. Strangelove (1964), the destruction of which prevents the crew of a B-52 from receiving the recall code that would stop them from dropping their hydrogen bombs on the Soviet Union. The device is one of several that malfunction in the film, along with Mandrake's telephone call attempts, the bomb doors failing to open and the Doomsday Weapon's misuse, a common theme in Kubrick's work of the failure of human planning.[1]
The CRM 114 on the B-52 in Dr. Strangelove
The code became a running joke, in Kubrick's work and outside.[1] Kubrick used a near homophone of "CRM 114", "Serum 114", for the name of a drug injected into Alex to help his reformation in A Clockwork Orange (1971).[2] In the movie Eyes Wide Shut (1999), the morgue Bill visits is stationed in the hospital's corridor C, Room 114 (CRM 114).
Real-life parallelsedit
In Peter George's novel, Red Alert (1958), which was the basis for the film, the device is called the CRM 114.[3] George was well-informed; under the U.S. military Joint Electronics Type Designation System (The "AN" System), CRM is the designator for an air-transportable cargo (C) radio (R) maintenance or test assembly (M) and 114 is a feasible series number.[4][5] If the CRM 114 were an actual U.S. military item, its official number would be designated as AN/CRM-114.
To ensure the enemy cannot plant false transmissions and fake orders, the CRM 114 is to be switched into the receiver circuit prior to receiving attack or attack cancellation orders. The three code letters of the period are to be set on the alphabet dials of the CRM 114, which will then block any transmissions other than those preceded by the set letters from being fed into the receiver.[6]
Kubrick corresponded with George in 1963, while preparing the film, to make sure that the failure of the CRM 114 device could credibly interfere with the recall of an aircraft. George, who talked with a contact in the military, wrote, "Based on his and another expert's opinions, I am of the opinion that there is in fact no practical way of demonstrating inability to recall the bombers other than by the introduction of a device such as the CRM 114."[7]
Prior to the introduction of addressed digital communications, some real-world analog communications systems performed a function very similar to the fictional CRM 114. Some aircraft radios used SELCAL (selective calling), which muted the receiver unless an assigned tone was received. Ground mobile radios used a similar system called CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System); this continues to be used in non-professional systems such as Family Radio Service (FRS) and PMR446.
^ abWebster, Patrick (2014). Love and Death in Kubrick: A Critical Study of the Films from Lolita Through Eyes Wide Shut. McFarland & Co. pp. 41, 256. ISBN9780786461912.
^Abrams, Nathan (2020). "'Kubrick's Cube': Stanley Kubrick, Judaism, and his Jewish Heirs". In Szaniawski, Jeremi (ed.). After Kubrick: A Filmmaker's Legacy. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN9781501347658.
^"What is the CRM-114 thing?". Visual-memory.co.uk. 2002-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
^"Designations Of U.S. Military Electronic And Communications Equipment". Designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
^"F-16 Armament - US Tri-Service Designation System Electronic Equipment". F-16.net. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
^Broderick, Mick (2017). Reconstructing Strangelove: Inside Stanley Kubrick's "Nightmare Comedy". Columbia University Press. pp. 131–132. ISBN9780231851008.
January 01, 1970
fictional, device, computer, program, crm114, program, discriminator, fictional, piece, radio, equipment, stanley, kubrick, film, strangelove, 1964, destruction, which, prevents, crew, from, receiving, recall, code, that, would, stop, them, from, dropping, the. For the computer program see CRM114 program The CRM 114 Discriminator is a fictional piece of radio equipment in Stanley Kubrick s film Dr Strangelove 1964 the destruction of which prevents the crew of a B 52 from receiving the recall code that would stop them from dropping their hydrogen bombs on the Soviet Union The device is one of several that malfunction in the film along with Mandrake s telephone call attempts the bomb doors failing to open and the Doomsday Weapon s misuse a common theme in Kubrick s work of the failure of human planning 1 The CRM 114 on the B 52 in Dr Strangelove The code became a running joke in Kubrick s work and outside 1 Kubrick used a near homophone of CRM 114 Serum 114 for the name of a drug injected into Alex to help his reformation in A Clockwork Orange 1971 2 In the movie Eyes Wide Shut 1999 the morgue Bill visits is stationed in the hospital s corridor C Room 114 CRM 114 Real life parallels editIn Peter George s novel Red Alert 1958 which was the basis for the film the device is called the CRM 114 3 George was well informed under the U S military Joint Electronics Type Designation System The AN System CRM is the designator for an air transportable cargo C radio R maintenance or test assembly M and 114 is a feasible series number 4 5 If the CRM 114 were an actual U S military item its official number would be designated as AN CRM 114 To ensure the enemy cannot plant false transmissions and fake orders the CRM 114 is to be switched into the receiver circuit prior to receiving attack or attack cancellation orders The three code letters of the period are to be set on the alphabet dials of the CRM 114 which will then block any transmissions other than those preceded by the set letters from being fed into the receiver 6 Kubrick corresponded with George in 1963 while preparing the film to make sure that the failure of the CRM 114 device could credibly interfere with the recall of an aircraft George who talked with a contact in the military wrote Based on his and another expert s opinions I am of the opinion that there is in fact no practical way of demonstrating inability to recall the bombers other than by the introduction of a device such as the CRM 114 7 Prior to the introduction of addressed digital communications some real world analog communications systems performed a function very similar to the fictional CRM 114 Some aircraft radios used SELCAL selective calling which muted the receiver unless an assigned tone was received Ground mobile radios used a similar system called CTCSS Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System this continues to be used in non professional systems such as Family Radio Service FRS and PMR446 See also editTHX 1138 A113 List of filmmaker s signaturesReferences edit a b Webster Patrick 2014 Love and Death in Kubrick A Critical Study of the Films from Lolita Through Eyes Wide Shut McFarland amp Co pp 41 256 ISBN 9780786461912 Abrams Nathan 2020 Kubrick s Cube Stanley Kubrick Judaism and his Jewish Heirs In Szaniawski Jeremi ed After Kubrick A Filmmaker s Legacy Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 9781501347658 What is the CRM 114 thing Visual memory co uk 2002 02 22 Retrieved 2014 02 18 Designations Of U S Military Electronic And Communications Equipment Designation systems net Retrieved 2014 01 05 F 16 Armament US Tri Service Designation System Electronic Equipment F 16 net Retrieved 2014 01 05 The Kubrick FAQ Broderick Mick 2017 Reconstructing Strangelove Inside Stanley Kubrick s Nightmare Comedy Columbia University Press pp 131 132 ISBN 9780231851008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CRM 114 fictional device amp oldid 1223193024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
