The Andromeda Strain • The Next Reel

"It should’ve been left up to the scientists! It’s a colossal mistake! Tell the President I said so!"Michael Crichton’s space disease thriller hit the public at the perfect time – when everyone was afraid of the astronauts accidentally bringing back space viruses upon returning to Earth. Crichton wrote the book in a very pseudo-scientific way that made it feel like more of a scientific documentation of a real happening, and it worked gangbusters for his readers. When Robert Wise decided to adapt it, he opted to treat it the same and make it feel like a documentary. For some, it works better than for others. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our disease series with Wise’s 1971 thriller The Andromeda Strain. We discuss Crichton, Wise and the adaptation by Nelson Gidding, looking at what works and what doesn’t for us. We chat about the non-stars Wise cast in the film, talking about each of their careers then wondering why their careers weren’t as strong as Gregory Peck’s. We look at the production design and the special effects, enjoying everything they brought to the table, even if they weren’t used to their full potentials or, in many cases, often overused. And we chat about the non-score score by Gil Mellé, sharing opposing views as to what a score like this brings to the table to a film like this. It’s an interesting film that is burdened by Wise’s penchant for including too much of the processes these scientists have to go through, but still one worth talking about. Check the movie out then tune in!Film SundriesWatch this film: iTunes • AmazonOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkArt of the TitleThe Andromeda Strain by Michael CrichtonFlickchartLetterboxdAndy Gump — Monument ValleyFirst and Final Frames by Jacob T. Swinney Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: Inferno — "Okay, it’s Tom Hanks so it’s really a no-brainer for me, and I really enjoyed The Da Vinci Code. I think the character of Langdon is an interesting one and love seeing Hanks portray him."Pete's Trailer: Edge of Winter — "I’m mostly into this for Tom Holland. I’m deeply curious about his portrayal of the upcoming Spider-man, and seeing him in something darker and less… you know… _heroey_before that hits is probably just what we need to feel his establishment on screen."Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible