CRM 114 (device)
Encyclopedia
The C.R.M. 114 Discriminator is a fictional piece of critical radio equipment in Stanley Kubrick
's film Dr. Strangelove (1964), the destruction of which prevents the crew of a B-52 from hearing the recall code that would stop them from dropping their atomic bombs on the U.S.S.R.
personnel were invited to view the B-52 cockpit reconstructed for the film from a single photograph, they said that "it was absolutely correct, even to the little black box which was the CRM." In Peter George's's novel, Red Alert (1958), which was the basis for the film, the device is called the CRM 114.. Peter George was well-informed - under the US military Joint Electronics Type Designation System
(The "AN" System), CRM is the designator for a Cryptological Radio Maintenance item, and 114 is a perfectly feasible series number. If the CRM 114 were an actual US military item, its official number would be designated as AN/CRM-114.
of "CRM 114", "Serum 114", for the name of a drug injected into Alex to help his reformation in A Clockwork Orange
(1971).
Other non-Kubrick works contain references to "CRM 114", in apparent homage to Kubrick:
"CRM114" is also the name of a 2005 computer program which uses a statistical approach for classifying data and is especially utilized for filtering email spam. It was named after the fictional device.
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's film Dr. Strangelove (1964), the destruction of which prevents the crew of a B-52 from hearing the recall code that would stop them from dropping their atomic bombs on the U.S.S.R.
Real-life parallels
When some United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
personnel were invited to view the B-52 cockpit reconstructed for the film from a single photograph, they said that "it was absolutely correct, even to the little black box which was the CRM." In Peter George's's novel, Red Alert (1958), which was the basis for the film, the device is called the CRM 114.. Peter George was well-informed - under the US military Joint Electronics Type Designation System
Joint Electronics Type Designation System
The Joint Electronics Type Designation System , which was previously known as the Joint Army-Navy Nomenclature System and the Joint Communications-Electronics Nomenclature System, is a method developed by the U.S. War Department during World War II for assigning an unclassified designator to...
(The "AN" System), CRM is the designator for a Cryptological Radio Maintenance item, and 114 is a perfectly feasible series number. If the CRM 114 were an actual US military item, its official number would be designated as AN/CRM-114.
To ensure the enemy cannot plant false transmissions and fake orders, once the attack orders have been passed and acknowledged, the CRM 114 is to be switched into the receiver circuit. 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.
Other uses
Kubrick also used a near homophoneHomophone
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning. The words may be spelled the same, such as rose and rose , or differently, such as carat, caret, and carrot, or to, two, and too. Homophones that are spelled the same are also both homographs and homonyms...
of "CRM 114", "Serum 114", for the name of a drug injected into Alex to help his reformation in A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange (film)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
(1971).
Other non-Kubrick works contain references to "CRM 114", in apparent homage to Kubrick:
- An amplifier in Dr. Emmett Brown's laboratory in Back to the FutureBack to the FutureBack to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
(1985) is labeled "CRM-114." - In the Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode Business as UsualBusiness as Usual (DS9 episode)"Business as Usual" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the eighteenth episode of the fifth season. It has an average fan rating of 4/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September, 2009.-Plot:...
(1997), "CRM-114" is a power hand weapon produced by the Breen, one that is "effective against moving vehicles and surface emplacements", and featuring a "quick recharge time." - The 2005 remake of Fun with Dick and JaneFun with Dick and Jane (2005 film)Fun with Dick and Jane is a 2005 remake of the 1977 American comedy film of the same name, directed by Dean Parisot and written by Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller. It stars Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni as Dick and Jane Harper, an upper-middle-class couple who resort to robbery after the company for...
includes a financial transaction form number "CRM-114". - In the film SeveranceSeverance (film)Severance is a British comedy horror film, written by James Moran, directed by Christopher Smith, and starring Danny Dyer and Laura Harris. In 2009, media interest in the film was revived following the alleged copycat murder of a UK teenager.-Plot:...
(2006), a black comedy involving a weapons manufacturer team-building trip to Eastern Europe, a reference is made to their CRM-114 anti-personnel land-mine that is apparently doing quite well. - In the game HorrorClixHorrorClixHorrorClix is a collectible miniatures game. Released on August 30, 2006, it uses WizKids' Clix system. The game's tagline is "wicked fun." The product was discontinued in November of 2008 when WizKids' new owner Topps shut down the company...
(2006), the unit called "Carnage Bot" is also known by the code "CRM114", confirmed by game designer Seth Johnson to be a Kubrick reference. - On the TV show HeroesHeroes (TV series)Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
, "CRM 114" is the catalog code assigned to the KenseiKenseiIn ancient Japan, a was an honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship. The literal translation of "kensei" is "sword saint"...
sword that HiroHiro Nakamurais a fictional character on the NBC fantasy drama Heroes who possesses the ability of space-time manipulation. This means that Hiro is able to alter the flow of time. Previously, his ability allowed him to teleport, stop time, or travel through time, but recent events in the series have prevented...
is searching for in the episode "ParasiteParasite (Heroes)"Parasite" is the eighteenth episode of the first season of the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes. It was unique in that, in some markets, the introductory phrase "Previously on Heroes" was written in Japanese and spoken by Hiro, unlike the English that had always preceded it...
" (2007). (In the Heroes 360 experience during the episode, it was confirmed that the reference was intentional.) Malcolm McDowellMalcolm McDowellMalcolm McDowell is an English actor with a career spanning over forty years.McDowell is principally known for his roles in the controversial films If...., O Lucky Man!, A Clockwork Orange and Caligula...
, the star of A Clockwork Orange, also guest starred in this episode, as the current owner of the sword.
"CRM114" is also the name of a 2005 computer program which uses a statistical approach for classifying data and is especially utilized for filtering email spam. It was named after the fictional device.