The Questor Tapes

TV Movie
1974
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

871

YOUR RATING

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

Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

Project 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 ... Read allProject 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... Read allProject 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'... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

871

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Photos

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The character of Questor is considered a prototype of Gene Roddenberry's later creation, 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
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".

Quotes
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.

Connections
Featured in The Best TV Shows That Never Were (2004)

User reviews23

Review

Featured review

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.