The Andromeda Strain **** (1971, James Olson, Arthur Hill, David Wayne, Kate Reid, Paula Kelly) – Classic Movie Review 8589

Arthur Hill stars as concerned scientist Dr Stone, who sacrifices himself for humanity in director Robert Wise’s tense, suspenseful, intelligent and just plain excellent 1971 sci-fi adventure The Andromeda Strain, adapted by screen-writer Nelson Gidding from the novel by Michael (Jurassic Park) Crichton.

The serious yarn focuses on a group of scientists battling the clock to tame a killer alien virus that has crash-landed on Arizona after a space mission, and avoid nuclear war.

There are no big stars, though the actors here are top-rate. The Andromeda Strain is just thoroughly exciting and well done. Robert (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) Wise directs conscientiously with a view to establishing constant authenticity and suspense. Douglas Trumbull’s economical special effects impress, and so does Richard H Kline’s cinematography.

Also in the cast are David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid, Paula Kelly, George Mitchell, Ramon Bieri, Kermit Murdock, Eric Christmas, Peter Hobbs, Richard O’Brien, Mark Jenkins, Peter Helm, Joe Di Reda, Carl Rendel, Ken Swofford, Frances Reid, Richard Bull and John Carter.

It is shot in Technicolor by Richard H Kline, cinematographer on Camelot, Body Heat and the 1976 King Kong, who died at 91 on 7 August 2018.

Also in the cast are Lillian Hayman, Roy Poole, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Paul Benedict, Ben Masters, Ray Spruell, Louis Turenne, Duane Allen, Earl Maynard, Beatrice Winde, Debbie Morgan, Irene Tedrow, Reda Wyatt, Simon McQueen, Evelyn Hendrickson, Stanley Reyes, John Barber, Durwyn Robinson, Kerwin Robinson, Deborah Ann Young, Debra Blackwell, Kuumba and Stocker Fontelieu.

The Andromeda Strain runs 131 minutes. It was a hit, costing $6,500,000 and grossing $12,376,563 in the US.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8589

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