The Andromeda Strain
Dir: Robert Wise
1971
*****
Robert Wise's The Andromeda Strain is one of the most faithful adaptations I can think of, with only a few minor changes being made from Michael Crichton's thrilling 1969 novel. When one hears Michael Crichton's name mentioned with regards to film, Jurassic Park is usually the first film that will pop into their heads. This is understandable, it's a fantastic and successful film but I would argue that 1971's The Andromeda Strain is the best of his stories to be adapted for the big screen. Robert Wise started out as a renowned film editor before becoming director, working on greats such as Citizen Kane and The Devil and Daniel Webster. His big step into directing came when the studio asked him to re-cut Orson Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons. His changes to the original were so different he was credited with a co-director title and he soon became involved with a now infamous argument over lost footage, final cuts and what was essentially the event that lead to Welles' reputation of being a difficult person to work with. Although the two were good friends, Welles took a swipe at Wise by saying that the film had "been edited by a lawnmower". The two men reconciled their friendship 42 years later a year before Welles' death. Wise always stated that the re-edited version was just as good as the original and when you look at the films he edited and directed compared to Welles', I can't help but believe him. The direction in The Andromeda Strain is stunning and a real game-changer. It boasts one of the best examples of split-screen filming ever, with only Norman Jewson (The Thomas Crown Affair) and Richard Fleischer (The Boston Strangler) giving the method any real credit before 1971 but in two very different genres. Wise incorporates the split-screen scenes perfectly in projecting the film's overall clinical style. There is very little action within the film, the crippling suspense comes purely from the clever writing and realistic performances. It was one of the first films to feature advanced computerised photographic visual effects by the now legendary pioneer Douglas Trumbull. These effects are integral to the adaptation, they are both subtle and effective. The direction is wonderfully stark, with great contrasting long shots and scenes of pure claustrophobia, each framed beautifully with bold and rich colour. It's an intriguing and intelligent sci-fi classic and the first of its kind in many respects. The soundtrack is suitably haunting and really adds an extra dimension of the overall production. It's the perfect thriller and one of my absolute favorites of all time.