The Six Million Dollar Man (TV 1973)

After an astronaut/test pilot is catastrophically mutilated in a test plane crash, he is rebuilt and equipped with nuclear powered bionic limbs and implants.

Director:

Richard Irving

Writers:

Terrence McDonnell, Martin Caidin (novel),

Stars:

Lee Majors, Barbara Anderson, Martin Balsam

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lee Majors	...	Steve Austin
Barbara Anderson	...	Jean Manners
Martin Balsam	...	Dr. Rudy Wells
Darren McGavin	...	Oliver Spencer
Charles Robinson	...	Prisoner (as Charles Knox Robinson)
Ivor Barry	...	Geraldton
Dorothy Green	...	Mrs. McKay
Anne Whitfield	...	Young Woman
George Wallace	...	General
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Dr. Ashburn
Olan Soule	...	Saltillo (as Olan Soulé)
Norma Storch	...	Woman
Maurice Sherbanee	...	Nudaylah
John Mark Robinson	...	Aide
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
M.J. Kane

Storyline

Colonel Steve Austin, astronaut and test pilot, is badly injured when he crashes while testing an experimental aircraft. A covert government agency (OSI) is willing to pay for special prosthetics to replace the eye, arm and both legs he lost in the crash. Highly advanced technology (Bionics) built into them will make him faster, stronger and better than normal. In return they want him to become a covert agent for the OSI. It will cost $6,000,000 to rebuild Steve Austin.

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Plot Keywords:

bionics | agent | robot | science | tv series pilot | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Moon and the Desert

Filming Locations:

Federal Building - 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based upon the Martin Caidin novel Cyborg, this was the only film adaptation of any of Caidin's original four Cyborg/Six Million Dollar Man novels. The remaining three: Operation Nuke, High Crystal, and Cyborg IV, were never adapted by the TV series.

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Goofs

In the sequences of stock footage showing preparation for Steve Austin's launch to the moon, images alternate between shots of the Saturn V Skylab rocket, the Saturn V (moon launch) rocket, and the Saturn 1B on the pad.

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Quotes

Dr. Rudy Wells: I want to show you something, Steve. This is your arm.
Steve Austin: That's it, huh?
Dr. Rudy Wells: Um-hmn. We're rather proud of it. There's a manual that goes with it that has eight hundred and forty pages. I'll give you a copy.

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Connections

Edited into The Six Million Dollar Man: Stranger in Broken Folk (1974)

User Reviews

Super cool show, so many fans

Great show. Fans from the airing of the original show never forget it! Re-airing of the show in countries around the globe garner each time a new flush of fans. There are SO MANY web sites dedicated not only to the show, its lead actors,but the concept of bionics, too. Most discussions about the series occurs at these sites.

'Everyone' is waiting (with baited breath) for a theatrical movie to be made of the original show concept conceived by Martin Caidin, explored in the TV movie / first episode pilot Cy'borg / Moon and the Desert.

Fabulously original sci-fi idea, which is believable and outlandish both at the same time. Part of the show's appeal was the exploration of the human side of 'the machine', and individual identity. It is this element that spans the years, remains current and absorbing to fans, as well as aspects of where science could take us in the future. The show covered so many bases from flying and space, to scientific discoveries, communication technology, paranormal elements, and the action,spy and political thriller genre were also well mined for story ideas. The show appealed to adults and children alike. (Of course another huge appeal factor it has to be acknowledged was the lead actor, Lee Majors!)