The Andromeda Strain (1971) - 4K Ultra HD Evaluation

      The Andromeda Strain, 1971.

      Directed by Robert Wise.

      Featuring Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, David Wayne, Paula Kelly, and George Mitchell.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The Andromeda Strain is now available on 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video. This disc is the same as the Blu-ray released by Arrow in 2019, but offers even better image quality.

      Arrow Video continues its 4K Ultra HD releases of lesser-known classics with The Andromeda Strain, previously issued on Blu-ray in 2019. It appears that this is the same restoration as the earlier disc, which is not included here. (Additionally, Arrow does not provide codes for digital copies.)

      Released in 1971, the film is a relatively faithful adaptation of Michael Crichton’s 1969 novel of the same title. The story opens with the unexplained deaths of nearly all residents in the small town of Piedmont, New Mexico, following the return of a government satellite to Earth.

      In response, the US government assembles a specialized team of four experts: Dr. Jeremy Stone (Arthur Hill), the team leader; Dr. Mark Hall (James Olson), a surgeon; and researchers Dr. Charles Dutton (David Wayne) and Dr. Ruth Leavitt (Kate Reid).

      After assessing the crash site, Dr. Stone and Dr. Hall conclude that an extraterrestrial pathogen is responsible for the deaths, sparing only an elderly man and an infant. They then join their colleagues in a top-secret underground lab called Wildfire, where the majority of the film unfolds as they attempt to identify the virus and devise a way to stop it.

      Despite the lab's secure environment and the extensive safety procedures in place, the virus remains a significant threat due to its capacity to mutate and rapidly infect anyone who makes even a minor error.

      Increasing the tension is a fail-safe system that would detonate a nuclear bomb at the facility's base, eradicating the virus permanently, but this plan proves to have fatal repercussions.

      Directed by seasoned filmmaker Robert Wise, The Andromeda Strain unfolds with a slow buildup, highlighting rising stakes and inevitable conflict among the team members. While some aspects haven't aged well, the film was groundbreaking in its time, particularly regarding the visual effects managed by Douglas Trumbull. It's definitely worth a revisit.

      This edition includes a 4K Ultra HD disc instead of a Blu-ray, but otherwise mirrors the previous release in terms of bonus features and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Peter Tonguette alongside a reprint of one of Universal's 1971 marketing materials. While it would have been nice to have a few new bonus features, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic since the Blu-ray's release, I understand that companies like Arrow often work with limited budgets.

      The film looks impressive, though a common caveat regarding older movies' special effects looking "too good" in 4K applies here. Given the optical methods used to create effects at that time, those images can appear somewhat soft and deteriorated, and these flaws may become more pronounced at higher resolutions. This doesn't bother me much, but some viewers might find it concerning.

      The bonus features begin with a commentary track from author Bryan Reesman, who contextualizes Crichton’s career and The Andromeda Strain’s significance in film history. "A New Strain of Science Fiction" runs for 28 minutes and features critic Kim Newman enthusiastically discussing what he terms “contamination suit movies.”

      Next is "Making the Film," a 30-minute feature assembled by prolific documentarian Laurent Beauzereau in 2000. Given that nearly everyone associated with the film has since passed away, including Crichton, this extra is particularly valuable. Crichton is also the subject of the 12.5-minute segment "A Portrait of Michael Crichton."

      Additionally, there's a “Cinescript Gallery,” showcasing director Robert Wise’s copy of Nelson Gidding’s screenplay, complete with illustrations and production designs. This kind of extra was more customary in the DVD era, so its presence here is appreciated. If you have a computer that can read 4K Ultra HD discs, you can extract a PDF of the script.

      Finally, the disk includes the theatrical trailer, TV and radio ads, and an image gallery to complete the package.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook