Rotten
Robert Wise brings his Academy Award-winning sobriety and meticulousness to a pulp tale that cries out for the slapdash vigor of a Roger Corman.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The Andromeda Strain
The picture runs 130 minutes... The story covers 96 of the most critical hours in man's history... The suspense will last through your lifetime!
1971 · 2h 11m · G
Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller
Directed by
Robert Wise
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The Andromeda Strain
Overview
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. A group of eminent scientists led by Dr. Jeremy Stone scrambles to a secure laboratory and tries first to isolate the life form while determining why two people from Piedmont - an old alcoholic 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 designed to prevent the escape of dangerous biological agents.
Director and cast
- Robert Wise Director
- Arthur Hill as Dr. Jeremy Stone
- David Wayne as Dr. Charles Dutton
- James Olson as Dr. Mark Hall
- Kate Reid as Dr. Ruth Leavitt
- Paula Kelly as Karen Anson
- George Mitchell as Jackson
- Ramon Bieri as Major Manchek
- Peter Hobbs as General Sparks
- Kermit Murdock as Dr. Robertson
- Richard O'Brien as Grimes
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
68%
Tomatometer
Rotten
Nelson Gidding's adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel is too literal and talky.
Variety Staff, Variety
Rotten
Wise does rather plod through the plot.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Rotten
Nothing very exciting goes on.
Roger Greenspun, New York Times
Fresh
Splendid entertainment that will get you worried about whether they'll be able to contain that strange blob of alien green crystal.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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