The Stranger

The Stranger

Year: 1973

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Lee H. Katzin

TV MovieDramaScience Fiction

The planet he uncovered was a twin to Earth…but so ominously different! An astronaut enters a vortex and crash-lands on a parallel planet where he’s not welcome.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Stranger yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Stranger (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Stranger (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Terra, Earth (Cape Kennedy, Florida)

Terra is a twin planet beyond the Sun where the Perfect Order governs life with pervasive surveillance and reconditioning. Earth is the spacefaring origin of the mission, referenced by Cape Kennedy and Florida in communications. The narrative shifts between a Terran space complex, a Ward E hospital, and a coastal area where a civilian family offers refuge.

🌌 Space setting 🏛️ Dystopian regime 🗺️ Interplanetary travel

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:43

Main Characters – The Stranger (1973)

Meet the key characters of The Stranger (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Neil Stryker (Glenn Corbett)

An Earth-born astronaut who discovers Terra’s oppressive regime. He is resourceful, morally driven, and determined to bring the possibility of freedom back to Earth, even at great personal risk.

🚀 Protagonist 🛰️ Astronaut 🧭 Rebel

George Benedict (Cameron Mitchell)

A government agent who upholds the Perfect Order and relentlessly pursues Stryker to prevent radical ideas from spreading. He is calculating, unsympathetic to personal welfare, and unwavering in duty.

🕶️ Authority ⚔️ Antagonist 🧭 Pursuer

Dr. Bettina Cooke (Sharon Acker)

A physician torn between loyalty to the regime and compassion for Stryker. Her loyalty is tested as she becomes a target and endures coercive measures to reveal Stryker’s whereabouts.

🩺 Scientist 💔 Ambivalence 🛡️ Target

Professor Dylan MacAuley (Lew Ayres)

A Terran scientist who allies with Stryker, providing knowledge and moral support. He serves as a stabilizing force and helps bridge worlds, even as danger closes in.

🧠 Scientist 🕊️ Ally 💡 Mentor

Henry Maitland (Steve Franken)

A loyal lieutenant to Benedict, eager to enforce the Perfect Order. He contributes to the pursuit and presents a formidable obstacle in Stryker’s escape efforts.

⚔️ Enforcer 🧭 Adversary 🗡️ Lieutenant

Tom Nelson (Buck Young)

A friendly Earth family man who offers Stryker hospitality and a temporary refuge. He embodies ordinary humanity resisting the regime’s coercive control.

👪 Ordinary Citizen 🤝 Ally 🗺️ Refuge

Ward E Administrator (Virginia Gregg)

The administrator of Ward E, representing the bureaucratic machinery that isolates and reconditions dissidents. Her presence underscores the systemic cruelty of the regime.

🏛️ Bureaucracy 🧠 Reconditioning 🧪 Facility

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:43

Major Themes – The Stranger (1973)

Explore the central themes of The Stranger (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗽 Freedom

The story centers on the right to think and speak freely in a society that suppresses dissent. Stryker’s presence challenges the Perfect Order, highlighting the value of individual conscience against collective control. The tension moves from medical and political confinement to life-or-death confrontations around space programs and escape attempts.

🧭 Conformity

The Perfect Order enforces uniform behavior through propaganda, monitoring, and reconditioning. Dissenters are removed or lobotomized, illustrating the cost of a society built on enforced harmony. Stryker’s outsider perspective exposes the mechanisms that maintain this rigid social order.

👽 Otherness

Stryker’s extraterrestrial origin and his visions of a freedom-loving culture reveal what it means to be an outsider within a controlled world. The narrative uses his struggle to question what a society values and suppresses, culminating in a longing for home and humanity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:43

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Don't stop at just watching — explore The Stranger in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Stranger is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Stranger Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Stranger, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Stranger Summary

The Stranger Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Stranger with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Stranger Timeline

More About The Stranger

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Explore More About Movie The Stranger

The Stranger (1973) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Stranger (1973) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Stranger (1973) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow