The Andromeda Strain (1971)

Page 93 of The Art of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story book is titled “A Tactical Approach to Period Sci-Fi.” Computer graphics supervisor Andrew Booth and his BLIND LTD animated graphics team were responsible for designing all monitors and display screens we see in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). For inspiration, the team looked at “1970s-era real-world print designs and other science fiction films from the period,” including The Andromeda Strain (1971). In Digging Star Wars terms, this was more than enough to start viewing and comparing the two films. And so, off I went to view The Andromeda Strain for the first time.

The graphics in Andromeda Strain really are pretty cool and certainly slick for 1971. And it’s obvious the Rogue One graphics team borrowed a considerable amount of design elements as far as on-screen monitor readouts. What I didn’t expect to find was the number of story similarities between Andromeda and Rogue One. It surprised me. But first, a little history on The Andromeda Strain...

Based on a novel by Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton, The Andromeda Strain was directed by Robert Wise. Wise also directed the original The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951), which many classic movie lovers consider the greatest science fiction film ever made. I rented from my local library the 2003 Universal Studios DVD of The Andromeda Strain, which had the following summary:  “A remote village in New Mexico is contaminated by a crashed satellite. Scientists fight the clock trying to analyze the lethal organism and discover a solution.”  Here’s the YouTube trailer (you can purchase and watch the whole film on YouTube):

While Wise may have directed the best sci-fi film of all-time, Gareth Edwards may have directed the best Disney-era Star Wars film, Rogue One (2016).  At least that’s what older Star Wars fans often tell me, despite the fact that Rotten Tomatoes currently rates The Force Awakens (2015) highest among the franchise's Disney offerings. Like The Andromeda Strain, you can rent and view Rogue One on YouTube. Here’s the trailer…

Seal the blast doors and get ready for SPOILERS, because here we go with our findings!

HOLY RECON

Both films involve a desert recon survey of a town with a holy building at its center. At the very beginning of Andromeda Strain, two U.S. soldiers use night vision binoculars to view the small town of Piedmont, New Mexico. The most visible structure is a large, centrally situated church with a cross atop its steeple. Similarly, in Rogue One, rebel officer Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), renegade JynErso (Felicity Jones), and droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) travel to the the moon of Jedha. Before they go into the Holy City of Jedha (also known as NiJedha, according to starwars.com), the trio climb a mountain top, pull out macrobinoculars, and spy on Imperial cargo vessels filled with kyber crystals stolen from the Holy City’s Temple.

GOVERNMENT > FAMILY

In both Andromeda Strain and Rogue One, government officials visit households with armed guards, forcibly remove paternal figures, andtransport them to a distinct location to work on a top secret project. In fact, both films start this way. With the exception of bachelor surgeon Dr. Mark Hall (James Olson) in Andromeda, all scientists are visited by the U.S. Military and strong-armed into leaving their families and homes. Before they depart, each scientist is bombarded with questions from family members who want to know what’s going on. Some family members beg them not to go. However, government is larger and stronger than family, and so, they must leave. Likewise, in the very beginning of Rogue One, Orson Krennic, Director of Advanced Weapons Research for the Imperial Military, arrives on the Erso family farm with a small band of armed and lethal-looking Imperial Death Troopers. Krennic and his team’s sole purpose is to extract Jyn’s father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) and force him to continue his work on completing the Death Star. This showdown results in the death of Galen’s wife, the narrow escape of his daughter, and Galen’s return to the Death Star project.

DESTRUCTIVE JEWELRY

Once the science team is assembled, they go through a rigorous orientation involving par-boiling, irradiation, xenon-flashing, and a computer-driven tour of the underground lab (complete with a nuclear self-destruct mechanism that will activate if the computer detects a potential leak of the Andromeda strain). Dr. Mark Hall is entrusted with the only key able to arm and disarm the self-destruct mechanism. This key is on a chain necklace and Hall wears that through the rest of the film. He repeatedly touches the necklace – checking to make sure it’s still with him or debating on the right time to use it. Likewise, Jyn is given a necklace early on in Rogue One with a kyber crystal on it. The necklace is referenced several times in the film and she holds it in prayer to The Force as they attempt to enter Scarif airspace. Since kyber crystals fuel weapons ranging from lightsabers to Death Stars, it is, like Hall's key necklace, a destructive piece of jewelry.

LAB ROBOT ARMS

Both The Andromeda Strain and Rogue One employ robotic laboratory arms. In Andromeda Strain, the scientists use them in the lab to expose various animals to the strain. Of course, this comes back to haunt them as the strain eventually attacks Dr. Charles Dutton (David Wayne). In Rogue One, Cassian uses similar robotic arms to retrieve the Death Star plans in the Scarif information vault, which looks an awful lot like Andromeda Strain’s central core.

CENTRAL CORE CLIMAX

Once the Andromeda Strain is loose, the underground lab initiates countdown to self-destruct and locks down all doors. The only key station near Dr. Hall is not fully built. In order to abort the self-destruct, Hall must climb up through the central core, avoid deadly lasers (designed to kill escaped lab animals), and reach a functioning key station to insert and turn his key. This scene is what the whole Andromeda film has been building up to (see shots of this scene in the above trailer). In Rogue One, Scarif’s information bank resembles Strain’s lab central core, especially when Cassian and Jyn must climb up the core to physically retrieve the data disc, all the while avoiding lasers fired by Krennic. Again, this core climb is what the whole film has been setting up: HOW the Rebels stole the Death Star plans. This central core climax begins the exciting final act of Rogue One.

While Rogue One continues the space fantasy genre the original Star Wars made popular, it also has multiple nods to The Andromeda Strain – a science fiction film in every sense, with a story of science fact and practices, failed trust in computers, and the disparity between the science and military communities. I definitely recommend seeing both The Andromeda Strain and Rogue One – in that order.

ONE FINAL NOTE: If you like what I do here on Digging Star Wars, you would LOVE the “Deconstructing Star Wars” panel at this year’s Museum of Science Fiction ESCAPE VELOCITY event featuring yours truly on the microphone along with Charles Hildebrandt, Charles de Lauzirika, and Kylos Brannon. For a taste of ESCAPE VELOCITY check out this video:

I’ve been a volunteer at this event for the past three years and I can vouch for it: it’s a ton of fun and there’s plenty to see, learn, do, and enjoy.

For those of you who follow me on social media, DM me if you're interested in attending. I can send you a code for a 50% discount off your pass!

I hope you can make it. And wave “Hallo!” should you see me!