The Andromeda Strain
1970
When a small space probe falls to earth in a remote village of New Mexico, all but two of the town's inhabitants--an infant and an old alcoholic--meet death as their blood turns to powder. After two reconnaissance pilots have also perished, a national state of emergency is declared. The two survivors and the recovered space .. Read more
| Starring | Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Wise |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
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The Andromeda Strain
When a small space probe falls to earth in a remote village of New Mexico, all but two of the town's inhabitants--an infant and an old alcoholic--meet death as their blood turns to powder. After two reconnaissance pilots have also perished, a national state of emergency is declared. The two survivors and the recovered space probe are transported to a mammoth five-story underground laboratory, and a team of scientists--biologist Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill), microbiologist Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid), blood chemistry authority Mark Hall (James Olson), and pathologist Charles Dutton (David Wayne)--is swiftly brought to the lab to discover the nature of the deadly organism brought by the space probe. The team is subjected to gruelling hours of precautionary decontamination measures--which are filmed with extraordinary art direction in stunning monochromatic sequences--and informed that the laboratory complex is equipped with an automatic self-destruct device that will be triggered should infection spread. Through exhaustive tests, the team learns that the minute organism, dubbed the ANDROMEDA STRAIN, is alien in nature, and the scientists must quickly find a cure before all of humanity is wiped out. Quietly thrilling, with superb pacing from director Robert Wise, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, based on the novel by Michael Crichton, is one of the most stylistically beautiful science fiction films ever made.
| Starring | Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Wise |
| Studio | 4 FRONT VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 5 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 14 Mar 2005 Production year: 1970 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Over 20 years before Jurassic Park, this super combination of hi-tech thrills and against-the-clock suspense was the first Michael Crichton novel to be adapted for the big screen. Robert Wise's near-documentary direction keeps tension mounting as desperate scientists race to isolate a fatal alien virus from a fallen satellite. More science fact than fiction, and still powerfully relevant, it's a remarkably faithful account of Crichton's biological invasion bestseller, layered with sophisticated special effects by Douglas Trumbull, who had helped Stanley Kubrick towards a special effects Oscar two years earlier for 2001: a Space Odyssey.
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Soon after this fair-to-middling adaptation of his sci-fi novel, Michael Crichton took to directing his own scripts. No... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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I'd have to say that this is probably one of Crichtons best films albeit not as entertaining as say Jurassic Park.
IF you like Science and Sci-Fi films this is definately worth a watch as it is probably one of the most scientific films made. The premise of a bit of space rock hitting earth and spreading a disease is not outwith the realms of plausible reality.
The art direction is well done. It creates a claustrophobic world by a minimalist set design either deliberately or due to budget constraints ;)
Well worth a watch.... -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Horses for Courses
I'd have to say that this is probably one of Crichtons best films albeit not as entertaining as say Jurassic Park.
IF you like Science and Sci-Fi films this is definately worth a watch as it is probably one of the most scientific films made. The premise of a bit of space rock hitting earth and spreading a disease is not outwith the realms of plausible reality.
The art direction is well done. It creates a claustrophobic world by a minimalist set design either deliberately or due to budget constraints ;)
Well worth a watch.... -
News and features
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The Sound Of Music director dies
- 15 Sep 2005
Robert Wise, director of The Sound of Music, has died at the age of 91. Wise had a Hollywood career that covered seven decades and included some of the finest works of the film industry over the years. In 1941, he worked as an editor on Orson Welles' famous Citizen Kane, widely regarded as one of the best films of all time. Indeed, Wise had been the last surviving crew member from that film. He went on to win four Oscars, including one for co-directing West Side Story, and one for The Sound Of... Read more
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When a small space probe falls to earth in a remote village of New Mexico, all but two of the town's inhabitants--an infant and an old alcoholic--meet death as their blood turns to powder. After two ... -