Soylent Green

Starring:Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, Chuck Connors, Joseph Cotten, Brock Peters, Paula Kelly, Edward G. Robinson, Stephen Young, Mike Henry, Lincoln Kilpatrick, Roy Jenson, Leonard Stone, Whit Bissell, Celia Lovsky, Dick Van Patten, Morgan Farley, John Barclay, Belle Mitchell, Cyril Delevanti, Forrest Wood
Director: Richard Fleischer
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Charlton Heston seemed fond of starring in apocalyptic science-fiction films in the late 1960s and early '70s. There was Planet of the Apes, of course, and The Omega Man. But there was also 1973's Soylent Green, a strange detective film (based on Harry Harrison's Make Room! Make Room!) set in 2022 and starring Heston as a Manhattan cop trying to solve a murder in the overpopulated, overheated city. His roommate (a necessity in the overcrowded metropolis), played by Edward G. Robinson, tries telling him about a better time on Earth before there were no more resources or room left; but Heston doesn't care. Directed by Richard Fleischer (The Vikings), the film has a curious but largely successful mix of mystery and bleak futuristic vision, somewhat like Blade Runner but without the extraordinary art direction. This was Robinson's last film and he's easily the best thing about it; his final scene seems terribly appropriate in retrospect. Joseph Cotten makes an appearance as the man whose murder results in the revelation of a shocking secret. --Tom Keogh

Description

The is the year 2022. Overcrowding, pollution, and resource depletion have reduced society's leaders to finding food for the teeming masses. The answer is Soylent Green -- an artificial nourishment whose actual ingredients are not known by the public. Thorn is the tough homicide detective who stumbles onto the secret so terrifying no one would dare believe him.

Customer Reviews:

now I remember.......2007-06-27

Hadn't seen this movie for decades. Hasn't been on TV anywhere so I bought it. Now I know why. Simple plot, little or no SPX and just plain boring all around.
Oh well, they can't all be winners....

Environmental degradation, extreme poverty in 2022. No way right? .......2007-06-11

I saw this in the now defunct Northland theater in Southfield Michigan. The theater had only 1 screen. And it didn't change films every other week like they do now(Funny girl was shown here as the only feature for over a year!). But hey I digress. Released in 1973, Soylent Green's future shows global warming reeking havoc, extreme poverty, corporations running things, extreme food shortages, energy shortages and overpopulation. Pretty prophetic I'd say. As for the food shortages Soylent Corporation comes to the rescue with their Soylent food- tasteless food squares in different colors that look a lot like the low fat snacks that my wife buys.

Charlton Heston is fantastic as NYC Detective Thorn who is investigating the murder of a rich but troubled man (played by Joseph Cotton). He is troubled because he knows the secret of the powerful Soylent Corporation. Because of NYC overcrowding and poverty(40 mil and counting) Detective Thorn is overburdened and underpaid so the police of the future have no qualms about helping themselves to a deadman's belongings, including his live in prostitute (how cool is that). It appears that between 1973 and 2022 they did not seem to make any new cars, firearms or trash trucks which are sometimes used for the secondary purpose of scooping up disorderly citizens. The movie does not have the production values and special effects of a futuristic movie like Bladerunner but these are minor points of contention for an otherwise fine film. This DVD is shown in widescreen and for the true fan it has a commentary track with actress Leigh Taylor-Young and Director Richard Fleisher giving interesting behind the scenes info.

Edward G. Robinson is excellent as Sol, Thorn's assisant or 'book' as he is referred to. This was Robinson's 101st and last film. In a memorable and famous scene with Heston, Sol decides to end his life after finding out the horrible secret of Soylent Greens origin. Unfortunately Robinson passed away shortly after this film was released. This DVD should be in every sci-fi fans library.

A smart, powerful, and still timely cautionary tale.......2007-06-06

Like most people, I knew the shocking secret of the film long before actually watching it. But I was truly surprised to discover what a strong film it remains to this day, presenting a grim but convincing picture of a world in rapid decline, both materially & culturally. Even better, it credits the audience with intelligence & lets us put the pieces together as we watch, rather than hitting us over the head with speeches & statistics.

Are the minimal effects & overall design dated? Of course -- but that's totally beside the point. Ideas are what matter here, not gloss. True science-fiction isn't about prediction, it's about speculation: what if? And it's often commentary on & criticism of the present. This film is a perfect case in point. If the details haven't aged well, the essence remains as searingly potent as ever.

What strikes me is the restrained, casual tone of the picture, presenting a corrupt & apathetic world so matter-of-factly. Our coarsened hero Thorn (an excellent Charlton Heston) is so obviously a product of that world, shaped by its anomie & mounting despair. Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson in a heartfelt final appearance) is the dwindling counterpoint, no more than a living memory of a better, cleaner world that Thorn can't even begin to imagine. And Leigh Taylor-Young's Shirl is a tragic figure, sensitive but wearily accepting of her role in a society that has no place or pity for her humane spirit.

The background is filled with throwaway lines that almost slide by without calling attention to themselves: asking a bodyguard if he can read or write, thus establishing the collapse of literacy; marveling at something as common to us as a glass of ice, indicating its scarcity; succumbing to the temptation of a rare hot shower, rather than sex or money. A sickening yellow-green pall fills the screen in all outdoor scenes; a palpable weariness & desperation covers everyone like a thickening layer of dust. The viewer feels as grimy & sweaty & unwashed as any of the characters. In some ways, it's a brutally realistic version of "Idiocracy" long before that satiric film.

Most telling is the transformation of human beings into disposable commodities by the corporate masters of the world. From young women called "furniture," to the literal scooping up of hungry rioters, to the secret of Soylent Green itself, the mass of humanity exists to be used, traded, bought & sold to satisfy the greed of a handful of the rich & powerful. Which doesn't seem all that far-fetched these days ...

When we get to the final scenes with Sol, dying before screen images of the green earth he knew as a child, it's as jolting to the viewer as it is to a stunned Thorn, who finally realizes just how much both humanity & the world have lost. And the age of the film is actually a reminder that the greenhouse effect & global warming were well-known over 30 years ago, only to be ignored & disregarded since that time in favor of corporate interests. Dated? Not in this regard!

All in all, it's the sort of film that probably wouldn't get made today, not unless it was packed with CGI effects, massive explosions, a larger body count, and a lot less intelligence. But if you're ready for a thought-provoking story, you won't do much better than this fine science-fiction film. And the commentary by director Richard Fleischer & Leigh Taylor-Young is informative & articulate, adding to the experience. Most highly recommended!

Heston discovers a REALLY inconvenient truth.......2007-06-03

In an overcrowded, overheated world where nature is dying, a cop (Charlton Heston) investigates the assassination of an executive (Joseph Cotton) of the company that manufactures most of the world's food supply, learning a terrible secret in the process. Although the look of this 70s SF movie is dated (please tell me that the scarf Heston wears throughout the film won't come back into style), its story is more relevant than ever. This is a world where global warming has gone unchecked and the most powerful nation in the world has been reduced to third world poverty. One can only imagine how bad it is elsewhere.

I'm usually not a big fan of remakes, but this film would be a good candidate for an update. Not only is the message appropriate for today's audience, but just imagine what they could do now with the food riot scenes and the machines that scoop up the rioters with huge shovels. Heston bellows one of his most memorable lines ever in this one: "Soylent Green is ------!" ranks right up there with "Keep your hands off me, you damn, dirty ape!"

Still waiting for it.......2007-05-15

I will be willing to send you any details that help other customers. But I have not received the movie yet. According to Amazon prediction of approximate delivery, the item should be arriving today, May 15, at the latest. Unless this occurs in the afternoon today, this did not happen. I understand that there may be some delay, due to the international delivery process, so I expect to get it in the next few days. especially because whatever I have bought from Amazon in the past has always arrived to my door without any problem. M. Ferreira.

Average customer rating:

now I remember
Environmental degradation, extreme poverty in 2022. No way right?
A smart, powerful, and still timely cautionary tale
Heston discovers a REALLY inconvenient truth
Still waiting for it

Soylent Green [Region 2]
Starring: Charlton Heston , Leigh Taylor-Young , Chuck Connors , Joseph Cotten , and Brock Peters
Director: Richard Fleischer
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Omega Man
Logan's Run
The Andromeda Strain
Silent Running
Westworld

ASIN: B0000AISK8

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

now I remember.......2007-06-27

Hadn't seen this movie for decades. Hasn't been on TV anywhere so I bought it. Now I know why. Simple plot, little or no SPX and just plain boring all around.
Oh well, they can't all be winners....

Environmental degradation, extreme poverty in 2022. No way right? .......2007-06-11

A smart, powerful, and still timely cautionary tale.......2007-06-06

Heston discovers a REALLY inconvenient truth.......2007-06-03

Still waiting for it.......2007-05-15

Soylent Green / Forbidden Planet (Two-Pack)

Average customer rating:

Who thinks up these combos?

Soylent Green / Forbidden Planet (Two-Pack)
Starring: Warner 2pak
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Customer Reviews:

Who thinks up these combos?.......2004-10-19

Soylent Green

This is one of those bleak future movies where there is a finite amount of resources and an unbalanced distribution of them. The one good point is that food processing as been perfected to the point that we get tasty blocs of colored nutrients. The best one, publicized as being made from plankton Soylent Green.

Detective Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston) is tasked with investigating a homicide in a ritzy section of town. During the investigation he, with the help of his friend Sol Roth, discovers a dirty little secret.

Shocking for the time of the movie release. Nowadays we would take it in our stride. Still worth watching.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Forbidden Planet

In the 23 century a rescue ship is sent to the planet Altar to look for survivors of an earlier expatiation. They find nothing except an ominous voice warning them not to land. What would you do?
Notice that the investigating party is the caption, first officer, and medical doctor. Can your say Star Trek?
The movie was great I watch it over and again. However it made a major deviation from the book by W.J. Stuart (ASIN: 0374424454) also written in 1956. Did you notice in the movie that the animals were all contemporary? However, they were supposed to have been brought there from earth before man existed. The book shows that the Krell were in the process of creating LIFE with their machine, Morbius was doing the same. He created what he remembered the animals looked like. However, when a monkey was accidentally run over by the tractor, its innards were not correct or complete. Yes, the monster was the same but the purpose of the Krell and Morbius were modified for the film.

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