The Six Million Dollar Man (1973) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Richard Irving

Writers:

Terrence McDonnell (written by) and
Martin Caidin (novel)

Release Date:

7 March 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

After an astronaut/test pilot is catastrophically mutilated in a test plane crash, he is rebuilt and equipped with nuclear powered bionic limbs and implants.

Plot Keywords:

Bionics | Agent | Robot | Science | TV Series Pilot

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lee Majors	...	Steve Austin
Barbara Anderson	...	Jean Manners
Martin Balsam	...	Dr. Rudy Wells
Darren McGavin	...	Oliver Spencer
Charles Robinson	...	Prisoner (as Charles Knox Robinson)
Ivor Barry	...	Geraldton
Dorothy Green	...	Mrs. McKay
Anne Whitfield	...	Young Woman
George Wallace	...	General
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Dr. Ashburn
Olan Soule	...	Saltillo (as Alan Soulé)
Norma Storch	...	Woman
Maurice Sherbanee	...	Nudaylah
John Mark Robinson	...	Aide

Also Known As:

Cyborg: The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man: The Moon and the Desert (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:U | Norway:11 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

Based upon the Martin Caidin novel Cyborg, this was the only film adaptation of any of Caidin's original four Cyborg/Six Million Dollar Man novels. The remaining three: Operation Nuke, High Crystal, and Cyborg IV, were never adapted by the TV series.

Goofs:

Continuity: Applies only to the reedited "Moon and the Desert" syndicated version: Austin is shown flying to the moon in a solo mission, but just before being shown leaving the moon, a second astronaut appears without explanation in one shot (culled from stock footage).

Quotes:

Mrs. McKay: [watching Steve Austin run on a monitor] He's not even breathing hard!
Dr. Rudy Wells: Well, you see, his lungs are used to handling oxygen for the blood supply for two arms and two legs. Now they only have to take care of one.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "The Six Million Dollar Man: Burning Bright (#1.11)" (1974)

Has this show been forgotten?

Just flicking through IMDB on a Monday evening, as you do, and have been stirred to write something through what can only be described as the apathy of others.

This show has only got ONE comment. (You're not supposed to comment on the other folk's remarks, but I'm not doing that, I'm writing to complain about the near absence of feedback, and the other writer thought it cool too).

Can anyone reading this please offer their opinion. I attended school in the seventies when this show was originally aired, and have fond memories of it. Later in life I spent many years travelling and working throughout the world and in the classic scene of many different nationalities coming together in the evening over a bottle of wine, few beers etc this show was one of the highlights of conversation. Surely people must remember back with glee the exploits of Steve Austin and his bionic implants. There was a time when a whole peer group (myself included) wanted to train as astronauts just to come a cropper at some point in order to be dragged out of the smouldering wreckage so we may be rebuilt in the new, improved style. That's what seventies youngsters dreamt of; embodying new technology in a personal and pretty literal way. I remember the start:- Steve Austin, a man barely alive. We can rebuild him.

Better.

Stronger.

Faster.

It's a pity other people can't remember a little and perhaps write a bit more. Please get in touch.