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The Andromeda Strain

  • 19711971
  • GG
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,903
176
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
James Olson and Robert Soto in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:00
2 Videos
71 Photos
  • Mystery
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller

A team of top scientists work feverishly in a secret, state-of-the-art laboratory to discover what has killed the citizens of a small town and learn how this deadly contagion can be stopped.A team of top scientists work feverishly in a secret, state-of-the-art laboratory to discover what has killed the citizens of a small town and learn how this deadly contagion can be stopped.A team of top scientists work feverishly in a secret, state-of-the-art laboratory to discover what has killed the citizens of a small town and learn how this deadly contagion can be stopped.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,903
176
  • Director
    • Robert Wise
  • Writers
    • Michael Crichton(novel)
    • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Olson
    • Arthur Hill
    • David Wayne
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Wise
  • Writers
    • Michael Crichton(novel)
    • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Olson
    • Arthur Hill
    • David Wayne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 235User reviews
    • 93Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Official Trailer
    The Andromeda Strain
    Clip 1:49
    The Andromeda Strain

    Photos71

    Michael Crichton, Larry Barbier, and Robert Wise in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Michael Crichton and James Olson in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Larry Barbier and Robert Wise in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Robert Wise in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Arthur Hill, James Olson, and Robert Wise in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Michael Crichton and Robert Wise in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Paula Kelly, George Mitchell, James Olson, and Robert Soto in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Arthur Hill and James Olson in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Kate Reid in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    George Mitchell and James Olson in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Kate Reid, Arthur Hill, James Olson, and David Wayne in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
    Arthur Hill and James Olson in The Andromeda Strain (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Olson
    James Olson
    • Dr. Mark Hallas Dr. Mark Hall
    Arthur Hill
    Arthur Hill
    • Dr. Jeremy Stoneas Dr. Jeremy Stone
    David Wayne
    David Wayne
    • Dr. Charles Duttonas Dr. Charles Dutton
    Kate Reid
    Kate Reid
    • Dr. Ruth Leavittas Dr. Ruth Leavitt
    Paula Kelly
    Paula Kelly
    • Karen Ansonas Karen Anson
    George Mitchell
    George Mitchell
    • Jacksonas Jackson
    Ramon Bieri
    Ramon Bieri
    • Major Manchekas Major Manchek
    Kermit Murdock
    Kermit Murdock
    • Dr. Robertsonas Dr. Robertson
    Richard O'Brien
    • Grimesas Grimes
    Peter Hobbs
    Peter Hobbs
    • General Sparksas General Sparks
    Eric Christmas
    Eric Christmas
    • Senator from Vermontas Senator from Vermont
    Mark Jenkins
    Mark Jenkins
    • Lt. Shawn (Piedmont team)as Lt. Shawn (Piedmont team)
    Peter Helm
    Peter Helm
    • Sgt. Crane (Piedmont team)as Sgt. Crane (Piedmont team)
    Joe Di Reda
    Joe Di Reda
    • Wildfire Computer Sgt. Burkas Wildfire Computer Sgt. Burk
    • (as Joe DiReda)
    Carl Reindel
    Carl Reindel
    • Lt. Comroeas Lt. Comroe
    Ken Swofford
    Ken Swofford
    • Toby (technician)as Toby (technician)
    Frances Reid
    Frances Reid
    • Clara Duttonas Clara Dutton
    Richard Bull
    Richard Bull
    • Air Force Majoras Air Force Major
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • Michael Crichton(novel)
      • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. Many years prior to this incident, a group of eminent scientists led by Dr. Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill) advocated for the construction of a secure laboratory facility that would serve as a base in the event an alien biological life form was returned to Earth from a space mission. Stone and his team - Drs. Dutton, Leavitt and Hall (David Wayne, Kate Reid, and James Olson, respectively)- go to the facility, known as Wildfire, and try to first isolate the life form while determining why two people from Piedmont (an old wino 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 should it manage to escape. —garykmcd
    • scientist
    • alien
    • new mexico
    • based on novel
    • new mexico desert
    • 119 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Rated G...But May Be Too INTENSE For Younger Children
    • Genres
      • Mystery
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Crichton was invited to take a tour of "Universal Studios" during the production of this film. His guide was none other than Steven Spielberg, who went on to adapt Crichton's most successful novel, Jurassic Park (1993).
    • Goofs
      At the beginning of the movie, vultures are shown circling over the town of Piedmont. Later, when the two scientists approach the town in a helicopter, the vultures are on the ground eating the flesh of the dead. The military even brought gas to kill off the vultures so they wouldn't fly off and spread the disease. What's interesting, is that no one gives a second thought as to why the vultures weren't dead. Even after they kill off a rat and monkey in the lab to test the disease no one wonders how it was that the vultures weren't affected.
    • Quotes

      Capt. Morton: [code phrase] There's a fire, sir.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits read: "ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This film concerns the four-day history of a major American scientific crisis. We received the generous help of many people attached to Project Scoop at Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Wildfire Laboratory in Flatrock, Nevada. They encouraged us to tell the story accurately and in detail." "The documents presented here are soon to be made public. They do not in any way jeopardize the national security."
    • Alternate versions
      Italian version is 10 minutes shorter than original version (released at 130 min.) and omits many scenes from a subplot about a fallen fighter plane.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Six Million Dollar Man: Population: Zero (1974)

    User reviews235

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Sci-Fi with a capital "S".
    I have always been attracted by science, since my early childhood. I remember seeing this movie and being fascinated by the science and technology on display in it. Today, as a MSC EE, I can see that the science in "Andromeda Strain" is accurate. In fact, it's the most accurate of all Sci-Fi movies I have ever seen (and I have seen the great majority of Sci-Fi cinema).

    That's one reason I love this movie.

    But there are other, probably subjective reasosn for my adulation of "Andromeda Strain": believable people and believable situations (no "last microsecond decision/action/occurance", no over-the-top behaviour, just human quirkyness, no one-man-does-it-all but teamwork and birth of ideas) and the avoidance of the cliche of only-1-will-survive. So, yes, I liked the script a lot.

    I also thought the actors were good and the setting was brilliant. I am not put off by dated computer technology: the film clearly illustrates the computing capabilities at the beginning of the '70, and I find something educative and strangely reassuring in that.

    I give it 10/10, and am sad that nobody produced a Sci-Fi as scientificly accurate ever since.
    helpful•186
    22
    • haggar
    • May 22, 2004

    FAQ9

    • Is 'The Andromeda Strain' based on a book?
    • What is 'The Andromeda Strain' about?
    • Is this based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 12, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Andromeda - Tödlicher Staub aus dem All
    • Filming locations
      • Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA
    • Production company
      • Robert Wise Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91
    James Olson Dies: ‘Rachel, Rachel’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’ Actor Was 91
    May 10Deadline Film + TV
    James Olson, ‘Andromeda Strain’ and ‘Rachel, Rachel’ Actor, Dies at 91
    James Olson, ‘Andromeda Strain’ and ‘Rachel, Rachel’ Actor, Dies at 91
    May 10The Wrap

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