Android **** (1982, Klaus Kinski, Don Keith Opper, Brie Howard) – Classic Movie Review 8591

Director Aaron Lipstadt’s 1982 Android is a sprightly, enjoyable low-budget Roger Corman-produced reworking of themes and ideas that also appear in Blade Runner and numerous other sci-fi films of the late Seventies and early Eighties, made to seem fresh again as a satisfying whole.

Don Keith Opper (who also co-scripts with James Reigle) plays Max 404, faithful android servant to crazy scientist Dr Daniel (Klaus Kinski), who discovers that his useful days are coming to an end and that a pretty female robot is coming to take his place after Dr Daniel and Max get an unwelcome visit from three fugitives from justice.

Android is a witty, sometimes moving film, brightly handed by Lipstadt and perfectly played in a tongue-in-cheek style by the cast, with Kinski on good form in an ideal role for him. If the sets look familiar that is because they were first used in producer Corman’s costly 1980 Star Wars-type epic Battle Beyond the Stars.

Also in the cast are Brie Howard, Norbert Weisser, Crofton Hardester and Kendra Kirchner.

Android is directed by Aaron Lipstadt, runs 80 minutes, is made by SHO Films and New World Pictures, is released by New World Pictures (1982) (US) and Miracle Films (1983) (UK), is written by James Reigle and Don Keith Opper, based on an original idea by Will Reigle, is shot by Tim Suhrstedt, is produced by Mary Ann Fisher and Roger Corman, is scored by Don Preston and is designed by K C Schelbel and Wayne Springfield.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8591

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