The Andromeda Strain (1971)

☆ ☆ ½

The Andromeda Strain (1971) – R. Wise

Perhaps in 1971, soon after the Moon landing, this was astounding.  Just thinking about possible viruses brought back from outer space must have been scary (and author Michael Crichton capitalised on that fear with his book).  But now in 2018, the film just seemed long and drawn out and dull.  Director Robert Wise spends a lot of time on the procedures that need to be undertaken to identify, understand, and counteract the virus – the science of it all – which is normally a good thing but it isn’t gripping cinema here.  (A few rats and monkeys die to help humans, but apparently this was carefully staged – remember this was the age of analog). Still, the film did win awards for its set design and it is very futuristic, if you can buy the green-text computer screens.  The cast of unknowns probably doesn’t help matters although at least they aren’t all men, as was the case in the book, apparently.  Of course, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that we will all be killed by a new and deadly virus and perhaps a president (this president?) would consider nuking an American town to eradicate it.  But let’s hope our science has improved in the past 50 years to offer a better solution.