Science FictionThriller

The Andromeda Strain

- The picture runs 130 minutes... The story covers 96 of the most critical hours in man's history... The suspense will last through your lifetime!

When virtually all of the residents of Piedmont, New Mexico, are found dead after the return to Earth of a space satellite, the head of the US Air Force's Project Scoop declares an emergency. A group of eminent scientists led by Dr. Jeremy Stone scramble to a secure laboratory and try to first isolate the life form while determining why two people from Piedmont - an old alcoholic and a six-month-old baby - survived. The scientists methodically study the alien life form unaware that it has already mutated and presents a far greater danger in the lab, which is equipped with a nuclear self-destruct device designed to prevent the escape of dangerous biological agents.

Release Date : 1971-03-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Robert Wise Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Dr. Jeremy Stone

Original Name : Arthur Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Charles Dutton

Original Name : David Wayne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Mark Hall

Original Name : James Olson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Ruth Leavitt

Original Name : Kate Reid

Gender : Female

Character Name : Karen Anson

Original Name : Paula Kelly

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jackson

Original Name : George Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Manchek

Original Name : Ramon Bieri

Gender : Male

Character Name : General Sparks

Original Name : Peter Hobbs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Robertson

Original Name : Kermit Murdock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grimes

Original Name : Richard O'Brien

Gender : Male

Character Name : Senator from Vermont

Original Name : Eric Christmas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Shawn (Piedmont team)

Original Name : Mark Jenkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sgt. Crane (Piedmont team)

Original Name : Peter Helm

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wildfire Computer Sgt. Burk

Original Name : Joe Di Reda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Comroe

Original Name : Carl Reindel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toby (technician)

Original Name : Ken Swofford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clara Dutton

Original Name : Frances Reid

Gender : Female

Character Name : Air Force Major

Original Name : Richard Bull

Gender : Male

Character Name : MP Capt. Morton

Original Name : John Carter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cabinet Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Glenn Langan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Sandra de Bruin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Allison Stone (uncredited)

Original Name : Susan Brown

Gender : Female

Character Name : Medic Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Bart La Rue

Gender : Male

Character Name : Assistant to Cabinet Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Brooke

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mother - Piedmont (uncredited)

Original Name : Jan Burrell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Dee Carroll

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bearded Surgeon (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Crichton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sen. McKenzie (uncredited)

Original Name : David McLean

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pete 'Old Doughboy' Arnold (uncredited)

Original Name : Emory Parnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Operator of 'The Hand' (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Pataki

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Morris (uncredited)

Original Name : Quinn K. Redeker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Garry Walberg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Utah Crash Site Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Len Wayland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Benedict (uncredited)

Original Name : Jason Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Murray (uncredited)

Original Name : Ivor Barry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Lance Fuller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alarm (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Don Messick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Decontamination Receptionist (uncredited)

Original Name : Joan Swift

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Frighteningly absorbing piece of fiction that's fused with fact. A satellite from the SCOOP project has crashed into the desert town of Piedmont, the SCOOP project basically entails that the satellite scoops outer space for any alien micro-organisms. After the crash all the residents of Piedmont are killed with the exception of a baby and an old gentleman booze hound. Mankind is on the verge of being destroyed by a leaked alien virus, so a crack team of scientists are gathered in the hope of containing and understanding the virus before the world gets devoid of human life! Taken from the novel by Michael Crichton, this film is a wonderful lesson in tension building as we follow the scientists through a carefully structured sci-fi plot that will eventually become a race against time thriller. What makes The Andromeda Strain stand out against other genre pieces is the astute and believable approach to the subject matter, we are (in the main) in the presence of proper scientists. There's no super hero tricks forthcoming from these people, these are sensible honest intelligent folk using their combined knowledge to hopefully save the planet? A masterstroke from the makers is that they used largely unknown actors for the film, this gives the story an added grounded believable factor, thus a very useful way of drawing the audience into the drama unfolding. The direction from Robert Wise is very clued in for serio narrative drive, the set design for the underground research facility is top notch, and the actors all give stoic and intelligent performances. However, it's not without a niggle, for after the excellence of the films first two thirds, it's disappointing to find that the final act reverts to type, which somehow seems misplaced given what the viewer has just been through. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine sequence of events that fuels the dramatic slant, but it comes off as just a bit too glossy in light of the preceding structure. Still, The Andromeda Strain is an intelligent, smart, mature, and knowing film that is standing the test of time for being a great piece of science fiction cinema. 8/10