The Questor Tapes (1974) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Richard A. Colla

Writers:

Gene L. Coon (writer)
Gene Roddenberry (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 January 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

Project Questor is brainchild of the genius Dr. Vaslovik: he developed plans to build an android super-human...

Plot Keywords:

Android | Unsold TV Series Pilot | Computer Tape | Airplane Stewardess | Unlikely Friendship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Foxworth	...	Questor
Mike Farrell	...	Jerry Robinson
John Vernon	...	Geoffrey Darro
Lew Ayres	...	Vaslovik
James Shigeta	...	Dr. Chen
Robert Douglas	...	Dr. Michaels
Dana Wynter	...	Lady Helena Trimble
Ellen Weston	...	Allison Sample
Majel Barrett	...	Dr. Bradley
Reuben Singer	...	Dr. Gorlov
Walter Koenig	...	Administrative Assistant
Fred Sadoff	...	Dr. Audret
Gerald Peters	...	Randolph
Eyde Girard	...	Stewardess
Alan Caillou	...	Immigration Offical

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Company:

Jeffrey Hayes Productions

Trivia:

The character of Questor is considered a prototype of Gene Roddenberry's later creation, Mr. Data of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987). In particular, a scene written for this movie in which Questor makes love to a female character was reportedly ordered cut by censors, but Gene Roddenberry later arranged for a similar scene to be included in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) episode, "The Naked Now."

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the scene supposedly in London (obviously a set in Hollywood), a neon sign reads "Jewelers", with the American spelling. A real British sign would read "Jewellers".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Royale (#2.12)" (1989)

Questor Tapes

It was a very well done project for it's time and Robert Foxworth did a splendid job. Any criticism of his performance is totally unwarranted and it was a touching performance. His interpretation of the Android was touching and the humanity and feeling he brought to the character was memorable.

The end of the movie is heartwarming and it has stayed a cult classic for us fans for decades. I remember being mesmerized by the special effects at the time even though they would seem dated by today's standards. The most important thing is the feeling brought to the characters and the relationship between Questor and humans.

It is sad that it has not been made available sooner on DVD so that fans of today can enjoy it with hindsight.

Hopefully the DVD I ordered will arrive soon and bring back all the fond memories. Lew Ayers did a find job also as did Mike Farell.