The Questor Tapes

Téléfilm
1974
1h 36min

NOTE IMDb

MA NOTE

Mike Farrell and Robert Foxworth in The Questor Tapes (1974)

Ajouter une intrigue dans votre langueProject Questor is the brainchild of the genius Dr. Vaslovik, who developed plans to build an android super-human. Although he has disappeared and half of the programming tape was erased in ... Tout lireProject Questor is the brainchild of the genius Dr. Vaslovik, who developed plans to build an android super-human. Although he has disappeared and half of the programming tape was erased in the attempt to decode it, his former colleagues continue the project and finally succeed i... Tout lireProject Questor is the brainchild of the genius Dr. Vaslovik, who developed plans to build an android super-human. Although he has disappeared and half of the programming tape was erased in the attempt to decode it, his former colleagues continue the project and finally succeed in creating Questor. However, Vaslovik seems to have installed a secret program in Questor'... Tout lire

Réalisation
- Richard A. Colla
Scénario
- Gene Roddenberry
- Gene L. Coon
Casting principal

Voir les informations de production sur IMDbPro

NOTE IMDb

6,8/10

906

MA NOTE

Réalisation
- Richard A. Colla
Scénario
- Gene Roddenberry
- Gene L. Coon
Casting principal

Voir les informations de production sur IMDbPro

Récompenses
- 1 nomination au total

Photos1

Avis des utilisateurs23

6,8906

Avis à la une

10Bernie4444

He is compelled to seek his maker.

This is a great pilot for a TV series that never got made.

Five countries pool resources to build beyond the state-of-the-art android (Project Questor.) The main inventor Dr. Vaslovik (Lew Ayres) is missing. In Dr. Vaslovik's absence, they attempt to decipher the programming tapes to be sure there is nothing insidious and destroyed part of them in the process. Now the android, Questor (Robert Foxworth) has to seek Vaslovik and find out why he was made.

Unable to do this on his own due to partially destroyed memory and his initial problems with understanding humans he forcibly recruits one of his assemblers, Jerry Robinson (Mike Farrell). Soon Questor gets so good at manipulating people that even we get suspicious of his true purpose.

It is not hard to recognize the teleplay writer as Gene Roddenberry of Star Trek fame. Many of the actors are recognizable from other programs of the time. Lady Helena Trimble is played by Dana Wynter of "Lady Godiva Rides Again (Bikini Baby)" fame.

Be sure to read the book by D. C. Fontana. The book works well as a stand-alone story; However, if you saw the pilot the images will still be there as you read.

9renfield54

---MORE DETAIL TO THE PLOT SUMMARY--(and opinion)

Questor was played by Robert Foxworthy (rather starchedly and robotically and well). His abilities are superhuman. But, with his programming incomplete, he doesn't know his mission and needs the help of Mike Farrell to find his creator and his ultimate purpose.

This was definitely presented as a pilot to a proposed series. The incomplete android needing a human to guide him and further his mission, makes the perfect team to explore humanity. A creation of Gene Roddenberry, the exploration of the universe, contrasted through the eyes of humans and non-humans, has been a familiar (and successful) theme for him. The movie was very enjoyable and it ended well. I don't think I could handle their exploits on a weekly basis. It would grow old quickly. Where-as, our days have a great deal of violence, these were days of pacifist excess. It takes too much away from the all too human option of necessary violence. A middle ground would have served it well.

And, not to accuse Roddenberry of nepotism or favoritism, but look for Majel Barrett (Mrs. Roddenberry) and Walter Koenig, both of Star Trek fame, in this TV movie.........

7pro_crustes

Wish There'd Been a Series

A fun, light, probably-would-have-been-inexpensive-to-produce-a-series-from-it movie. The eponymous android was, though, perhaps a bit too superior to make it easy to believe viewers would want him. He's Spock-like in his lack of feelings and in his super-brain, but also in his naivete'. It would probably be fair to guess this was all very deliberate, but that's okay. It works pretty well in this film, except for the moments when it drifts into some of those annoying roboticisms that all movie robots must embrace, it seems. For example, he insists on referring to money as "specie." Why? Apparently because he's a robot and they get stubborn about things like that.

This could and should have been a series. In some ways, it would have been what the series-version of "Starman" never reached, because the lead character had the same poignancy and innocence, but added more nobility and a loftier sense of mission. Alas, stories that hearken back to the Tin Man's wish for a heart all seem to have been shelved with the era that produced them, along with the ecology movement, the moon race, and the phrase "thinking machine." I miss two out of three of those, and also movies like this one.

mushrom

The best Pilot Gene Roddenberry made that was never used

One thing that Gene Roddenberry was good at was making excellent TV pilots. His only problem was in getting the networks to actually listen to them.

This movie was a pilot for a TV series, and was to far ahead of it's time. Made in the time after Star Trek TV series and the Star Trek motion pictures, it is a classic example of his idea of social commentary hidden as a Sci-Fi movie.

Questor is an android, in search of himself and his past. I remember seeing this when it was first broadcast, and again about 10 years later. But sadly, it is not available on Tape or DVD (NBC - Universal, pay attention).

Two things that are noteable are the connections to Star Trek, both past and future versions. His wife Majel Barrett and Walter Koenig both appear in this movie. But this is not unusual, if you look at most of his projects. Pretty Maids All In A Row, Genesis II, Planet Earth, even all the way back to The Lieutenant. Roddenberry consistantly used a lot of the same actors and actresses over and over again.

One of the things that struck me when I first saw Star Trek: Next Generation was the similarity between Data and Questor. An Android, in search of his mysterious past, a "father" creator that is said to be dead, yet is not dead, the question of who and what he is, man, machine, or both.

So this TV Pilot was just like the "Gary Seven" episode, in that it never took off. But the obvious influence on his later projects is obvious. We can only hope that someday, this will be made available on DVD so more people can discover this movie.

Considering all the "new" Roddenberry TV shows out there, I am actually surprised that this one has not been remade yet.

Rlipt8

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.

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Anecdotes
The character of Questor is considered a prototype of Gene Roddenberry's later creation, Data of Star Trek: La nouvelle génération (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: La nouvelle génération (1987) episode, "The Naked Now."

Gaffes
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".

Citations
Vaslovik: [Questor has arrived at the cave] You have received the Truth?
Questor: I have received it. Since the dawn of this world, since our Masters left the first of us here, we have served this species Man.
Vaslovik: Each of us, at the end of his time, has assembled his own replacement. But man's quantum advance in physics found me unprepared. The new radiations affected the plasma in my braincase. Your design corrects this fault. You will function your full span.
Questor: I thank you, Brother.
Vaslovik: Hear the Laws, my Brother. We protect, but we do not interfere. Man must make his own way. We guide and serve him. But he must never know.
Questor: I hear and obey, Brother.
Vaslovik: Approach me, Jerry Robinson.
Jerry Robinson: Yes, Professor.
Vaslovik: In two hundred millennia, you are the only human creature who has joined us here in the Truth.
Jerry Robinson: I think I understand the responsibility, sir.
Vaslovik: Questor will answer your questions. For three years, I have lain here, only my mind functioning, and I am weary. Let me pass now, Brother.
Questor: [Questor deactivates Vaslovik] Pass on, Brother.
Questor: [Darro has been watching in the shadows and has heard everything] Please come in, Mr. Darro.
Geoffrey Darro: Well, I've spent half my life wondering how we got this far without killing each other off. Now I know. I'm still not sure I like it.
Questor: You heard, but you did not understand. At certain pivotal moments, some so seemingly trivial as to escape notice, we assist men in altering the course of events. We assist, Mister Darro. Perhaps only one word in the right ear. A child protected so he will grow into a man who will be needed, But man always makes his own destiny.
Geoffrey Darro: There is only one empty slab left, Questor.
Questor: There is no need for more. My span is two hundred years. If the race of man outlives me, he will have seen the end of his childhood.
Geoffrey Darro: Except he'll never make it, Questor. They're waiting for you out there. They'll take you apart rather than let you go free. I know I would have. I can't see why these Masters of yours even bothered with us.
Questor: It has never been what man is, but what he has the potential of becoming.