Android (1982)

Director:

Aaron Lipstadt

Writers:

Don Keith Opper (writer)
James Reigle (writer)

Release Date:

October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

On a remote space laboratory, Android Model MAX 404 has learnt how to live...and learnt how to kill!

Plot:

Eccentric scientist Dr.Daniel and his shy, clumsy assistant Max, lead a quiet life on their space station...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Fugitive | Human Android Relationship | Innocent | Spaceship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Klaus Kinski	...	Dr. Daniel
Brie Howard	...	Maggie
Don Keith Opper	...	Max 404 (as Don Opper)
Kendra Kirchner	...	Cassandra
Norbert Weisser	...	Keller
Crofton Hardester	...	Mendes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randy Connor	...	Terrapol: Landing Party
Gary Corarito	...	Terrapol: Neptune
Mary Ann Fisher	...	Terrapol: Neptune
Julia Gibson	...	Terrapol: Minos
Roger Kelton	...	Terrapol: Landing Party
Darrell Larson	...	Terrapol: Neptune
Ian Scheibel	...	Terrapol: Neptune
Wayne Springfield	...	Terrapol: Minos
Rachel Talalay	...	Terrapol: Landing Party
Johanne Todd	...	Terrapol: Landing Party

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

The pneumatic air-hiss of the doors opening and closing was created by the sound effects editor, who aimed a can of compressed air into a five-gallon plastic water jug. He would pull the tube of the air nozzle out of the jug while pressing the button, which produced the doors' sound.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Max is listening to Huey Lewis while playing with miniature robots and watching a screen showing the very basics of humans kissing and making love]
Dr. Daniel: [over the intercom] Max.
[Max switches from the video to the scanners]
Dr. Daniel: Max?
Max 404: Yes, Dr. Daniel?
Max 404: Max, what is that noise?
[Max turns off the music]
Max 404: I was doing some research, Sir.
Dr. Daniel: On what?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Heavy Artillery

a vastly underrated classic

Craggy old Klaus Kinski lives with his awkward assistant Max on a space station, developing a female android. Max spends his time playing old arcade games and researching the human condition - (I heard somewhere that the external shots of the space station were done by creating a model station from a display case which used to house watches or jewelry!) Into this scenario comes band of escaped convicts on a space ship badly damaged during their escape ...

There is humour in this film but it is of a very dark shade. The LACK of special effects ADDS to the "reality" of the film.

A couple of really unexpected plot twists along the way - I rate it a "9" which is the highest I have ever given a film on the IMDb