The Andromeda Strain

THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (PG)

D: Robert Wise

Universal (Robert Wise)

USA 🇺🇸 1971

131 mins

Science Fiction/Thriller

W: Nelson Gidding [based on the novel by Michael Crichton]

DP: Richard H. Kline

Ed: Stuart Gilmore

Mus: Gil Melle

PD: Boris Leven

Arthur Hill (Dr. Jeremy Stone), David Wayne (Dr. Charles Dutton), James Olson (Dr. Mark Hall), Kate Reid (Dr. Ruth Leavitt), Paula Kelly (Karen Anson)

Based on arguably Michael Crichton's most serious work, a group of scientists are involved in a race against time to stop a virus which has infected a small village and claimed the lives of it's inhabitants.

It's amongst the best movies about potentially unstoppable viruses and is much better than most of the disaster movies lauded around in the 1970's. Still watchable even with modern eyes, and from a filmmaking perspective, it's a lot more elaborate than other science fiction vehicles made around the same period.

7/10

Did You Know:

Michael Crichton was invited to take a tour of Universal Studios during the production of this film. His guide was Steven Spielberg, who went on to adapt Crichton's most successful novel, Jurassic Park (1993).

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 4 (Best Film Editing; Best Production Design; Best Sound; Best Special Visual Effects)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 2 (Best Art Direction; Best Film Editing)

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

none