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Silent Running (1972)

GP  -  Drama | Sci-Fi  -  10 March 1972 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 13,284 users  
Reviews: 178 user | 72 critic

In a future where all flora is extinct on Earth, an astronaut is given orders to destroy the last of Earth's plant life being kept in a greenhouse on board a spacecraft.

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Title: Silent Running (1972)

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Stars: Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, David Janssen
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
John Keenan
...
Marty Barker
...
Andy Wolf
Mark Persons ...
Drone 2 - Huey
Steven Brown ...
Drone
Cheryl Sparks ...
Drone 1 - Dewey
Larry Whisenhunt ...
Drone
Edit

Storyline

In a future Earth barren of all flora and fauna, the planet's ecosystems exist only in large pods attached to spacecraft. When word comes in that the pods are to be jettisoned into space and destroyed, most of the crew of the Valley Forge rejoice at the prospect of going home. Not so for botanist Freeman Lowell who loves the forest and its creatures. He kills his colleagues taking the ship deep into space. Alone on the craft with his only companions being three small robots, Lowell revels in joys of nature. When colleagues appear to "rescue" him, he realizes he has only one option available to him. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Amazing companions on an incredible adventure... that journeys beyond imagination! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

GP | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 March 1972 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Running Silent  »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,100,000 (estimated)

Gross:

ESP 21,077,972 (Spain)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints)| (35 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Although only three "space freighters" are visible ("Valley Forge", "Berkshire", and "Sequoia"), several other freighters are mentioned in radio communications. They are "Yellowstone", "Acadia", "Blue Ridge", "Glacier" and "Mojave" (each freighter is asked to report the final jettisons of their domes). Each freighter's name refers to an American National Park or Preserve. See more »

Goofs

Freeman's damaged leg swaps sides. See more »

Quotes

Freeman Lowell: It calls back a time when there were flowers all over the Earth... and there were valleys. And there were plains of tall green grass that you could lie down in - you could go to sleep in. And there were blue skies, and there was fresh air... and there were things growing all over the place, not just in some domed enclosures blasted some millions of miles out in to space.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in On the Edge of 'Blade Runner' (2000) See more »

Soundtracks

"Silent Running"
Lyrics by Diane Lampert
Music by Peter Schickele
Sung by Joan Baez
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Delightful
10 November 2004 | by See all my reviews

This film is by no means flawless. Its various problems have been well documented, but I have to say this is a film that stays with you over the years.

The ambiance is unique, there is nothing else like it - although everyone else pinched bits of it! The film has a charm way beyond that which it is technically entitled to.

If the environmentalism seems laid on with a trowel, remember this film would have been one of the first, if not *the* first, to put such things on the big screen. Subtlety would only work I think, when the audience is already familiar with the basic premise - that concreting over the entire planet is not such a good idea.

It has a message beyond the fairly obvious environmental one though - the sheer contentment earned by those who do what is necessary, regardless of the thanks they won't get for it! The hero is not especially smart, but hes still smarter than everyone else. We are used to our heroes being mostly perfect, but where is that written in stone? This is just one bad tempered hippy, who for his crimes, gets followed around the place by a screaming Joan Baez.

Notable also for one of the saddest scenes in the history of film - the two droids staring with complete incomprehension at the remains of their friend.


55 of 78 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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