Continuity mistake: In the scene where Dutton and Hall are viewing the monitor showing where the two patients are, Dutton's symbol (initial "D" on the monitor) is shown leaving the room on the monitor. When the monitor is shown again, Dutton's and Hall's symbols are both in the room. The characters had not left the room as of yet. (00:59:15)
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
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Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid
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The Andromeda Strain is the grandfather of epidemic outbreak movies. A space probe brings back a highly contagious microbial life-form that infects and kills humans and animals, consumes plastics and thrives off nuclear energy! An isolated team of top scientists try to contain and stop the germ from spreading, but it seems to keep thwarting them in this slow, tense thriller. Somewhat dated, sexist and plodding, The Andromeda Strain does hold merit for early CGI use, adapting Michael Crichton's book of the same name remarkably faithfully, lying the foundation for later outbreak-themed films, and meticulously portraying what a response to such an outbreak might be. Will humanity survive this alien plague? Watch one day and see.
More mistakes in The Andromeda Strain
Dr. Jeremy Stone: Stick to established procedures.
Dr. Ruth Leavitt: Establishment gonna fall down and go boom.
Trivia: Unknown at the time, two future Star Trek references are made in this film. The director, Robert Wise, would go on to direct Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and at the end of the film when discussing the cloud seeding, a caption on the video monitor reads out "Nimbus 3". This was the name of the planet on which Sybok takes prisoners in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
Question: Why wasn't Andromeda spread by the wind, killing birds, wildlife, and individuals in the area around Piedmont?
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Answer: The satellite containing the Andromeda strain was recovered quickly, helping contain the contagion. Also, Piedmont was an isolated town, further limiting the spread. Dead birds and other animals were shown, but most would be happening off-camera. The scientists also learned later that Andromeda quickly mutated into a non-lethal form but one that caused certain synthetic materials to dissolve, creating further havoc. To eradicate the strain, clouds were seeded to produce rain, which swept Andromeda out to sea where the alkaline ocean water rendered it inert. Would add that movies at this time and before had stricter standard codes and did not show excessive blood and gore like they do today.
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