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IMDbPro

The Andromeda Strain

  • 19711971
  • GG
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,094
354
James Olson and Robert Soto in The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:00
2 Videos
71 Photos
MysterySci-FiThriller
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
6,094
354
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • 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
    • 241User reviews
    • 94Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
    • 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 Hall
    Arthur Hill
    Arthur Hill
    • Dr. Jeremy Stone
    David Wayne
    David Wayne
    • Dr. Charles Dutton
    Kate Reid
    Kate Reid
    • Dr. Ruth Leavitt
    Paula Kelly
    Paula Kelly
    • Karen Anson
    George Mitchell
    George Mitchell
    • Jackson
    Ramon Bieri
    Ramon Bieri
    • Major Manchek
    Kermit Murdock
    Kermit Murdock
    • Dr. Robertson
    Richard O'Brien
    • Grimes
    Peter Hobbs
    Peter Hobbs
    • General Sparks
    Eric Christmas
    Eric Christmas
    • Senator from Vermont
    Mark Jenkins
    Mark Jenkins
    • Lt. Shawn (Piedmont team)
    Peter Helm
    Peter Helm
    • Sgt. Crane (Piedmont team)
    Joe Di Reda
    Joe Di Reda
    • Wildfire Computer Sgt. Burk
    • (as Joe DiReda)
    Carl Reindel
    Carl Reindel
    • Lt. Comroe
    Ken Swofford
    Ken Swofford
    • Toby (technician)
    Frances Reid
    Frances Reid
    • Clara Dutton
    Richard Bull
    Richard Bull
    • Air Force Major
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • Michael Crichton(novel)
      • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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

      Dr. Jeremy Stone: According to this, there'll be a super-colony of Andromeda over the entire southwest in...

      Dr. Charles Dutton: [interrupting] Jeremy! These are biological warfare maps!

      Dr. Jeremy Stone: Why, yes... so they are... uh... but... simulations, Charlie. Defensive... it's just a scenario.

      Dr. Ruth Leavitt: That's not the point, for God's sake! Wildfire was built for germ warfare! Wildfire AND Scoop! And you knew, Stone! YOU KNEW IT!

      Dr. Jeremy Stone: That's not true, Ruth! I learned about Scoop the same time you did!

      Dr. Charles Dutton: They already have Andromeda programmed! The purpose of Scoop was to find new biological weapons in outer space, and then use Wildfire to develop them!

      Dr. Ruth Leavitt: It stinks, Stone!

      Dr. Jeremy Stone: You're blowing your tops! We have no proof...

      Dr. Charles Dutton: The map!

      Dr. Jeremy Stone: Don't be an ass! That map only shows what Andromeda could do in the hands of an enemy!

      Dr. Charles Dutton: Enemy? We did it to ourselves!

      Dr. Jeremy Stone: Perhaps! But this is hardly the time to organize a protest!

      Dr. Ruth Leavitt: [sarcastic] Another giant leap for mankind!

    • 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 reviews241

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Very good....but probably not a film for the average viewer.
    I like this film and have seen it several times. However, I also realize that it's not the sort of film that many, if not most, would not particularly enjoy. Why? Well, the film is very slow-paced, crammed with scientific jargon and has nothing but supporting actors--no big stars. It's obvious that this Michael Crichton story is not marketed to the same mass audience as his "Jurassic Park".

    The film begins in a tiny desert town. A space probe launched by the US has crashed there and inexplicably the townspeople all appear to be dead. A crack team of scientific experts are then mobilized in a high-tech and super-top secret base to find out what caused these deaths and how to stop it from potentially destroying everyone on Earth.

    "The Andromeda Strain" features actors who are very familiar but whose names you won't readily recognize. This is because the stars are people who usually were supporting actors in movies and mostly TV during this era. Arthur Hill, James Olsen and David Wayne are these very recognizable but generally unheralded actors. This was good because it heightened the realism of the film, however I think the practical reason for this is because Crichton was not yet famous and the studios really didn't want to commit huge money to the film. Plus, a lot was already spent on special effects and equipment for the movie. Regardless, it worked well and the movie was fascinating. Just don't be put off by the occasionally glacial pace and the slightly silly ending involving lasers and nuclear detonations.
    helpful•17
    3
    • planktonrules
    • Jan 1, 2011

    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

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