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Soylent Green
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Soylent Green (1973) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   13,284 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 11% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Richard Fleischer
Writers:
Stanley R. Greenberg (screenplay)
Harry Harrison (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Soylent Green on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 May 1973 (USA) more
Tagline:
It's the year 2022... People are still the same. They'll do anything to get what they need. And they need SOYLENT GREEN.
Plot:
In an overpopulated futuristic Earth, a New York police detective finds himself marked for murder by government agents when he gets too close to a bizarre state secret involving the origins of a revolutionary and needed new foodstuff. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
3 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Before the Oscars, They Belonged to Us, Part 3
 (From Dread Central. 26 February 2009, 2:51 AM, PST)

List: Ten Disturbingly Powerful Fictional Film Corporations
 (From IFC. 13 August 2008, 1:44 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A classic even after 30 years more
US TV Schedule:
Sat. July 256:00 PMTCM   

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Charlton Heston ... Thorn

Leigh Taylor-Young ... Shirl
Chuck Connors ... Tab
Joseph Cotten ... Simonson

Brock Peters ... Hatcher
Paula Kelly ... Martha

Edward G. Robinson ... Sol Roth
Stephen Young ... Gilbert
Mike Henry ... Kulozik

Lincoln Kilpatrick ... The Priest
Roy Jenson ... Donovan
Leonard Stone ... Charles
Whit Bissell ... Santini
Celia Lovsky ... The Exchange Leader

Dick Van Patten ... Usher #1
Morgan Farley ... Book #1
John Barclay ... Book #2
Belle Mitchell ... Book #3
Cyril Delevanti ... Book #4
Forrest Wood ... Attendant
Faith Quabius ... Attendant
Jane Dulo ... Mrs. Santini
Tim Herbert ... Brady
John Dennis ... Wagner
Jan Bradley ... Bandana Woman
Carlos Romero ... New Tenant
Pat Houtchens ... Fat Guard
Joyce Williams ... The Furniture Girls
Erica Hagen ... The Furniture Girls
Beverly Gill ... The Furniture Girls
Suesie Eejima ... The Furniture Girls
Cheri Howell ... The Furniture Girls
Kathy Silva ... The Furniture Girls
Jennifer King ... The Furniture Girls
Marion Charles ... The Furniture Girls
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Ito ... Shoe Seller (uncredited)
Ida Mae McKenzie ... Woman Calling for Revolution (uncredited)
Richard Sterne ... TV Announcer (uncredited)
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Directed by
Richard Fleischer 
 
Writing credits
Stanley R. Greenberg (screenplay)

Harry Harrison (novel "Make Room! Make Room!")

Produced by
Walter Seltzer .... producer
Russell Thacher .... producer
 
Original Music by
Fred Myrow 
 
Cinematography by
Richard H. Kline (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Samuel E. Beetley 
 
Casting by
Jack Baur 
 
Art Direction by
Edward C. Carfagno 
 
Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton  (as Robert Benton)
 
Costume Design by
Pat Barto 
 
Makeup Department
Bud Westmore .... makeup artist
Sherry Wilson .... hair styles
 
Production Management
Lloyd Anderson .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gene Marum .... second assistant director
Daniel McCauley .... assistant director (as Daniel S. McCauley)
 
Art Department
Terry Ballard .... property master
 
Sound Department
Harry W. Tetrick .... sound
Charles M. Wilborn .... sound
Van Allen James .... sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Robert R. Hoag .... special photographic effects
Matthew Yuricich .... special photographic effects
 
Visual Effects by
Augie Lohman .... special visual effects (as A. J. Lohman)
 
Stunts
Denny Arnold .... stunts (uncredited)
May Boss .... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Joe Canutt .... stunt double: Charlton Heston (uncredited)
Larry Duran .... stunts (uncredited)
Gary Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Fritz Ford .... stunts (uncredited)
Ralph Garrett .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron .... stunts (uncredited)
Kim Kahana .... stunts (uncredited)
Frank Orsatti .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Paul .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Warlock .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman A. Burza .... costumer (as Norman Burza)
Betsy Cox .... costumer
 
Music Department
Gerald Fried .... symphony music conductor
 
Other crew
Frank R. Bowerman .... technical consultant: Director of Environmental Engineering Programs, University of Southern California & President, American Academy of Environmental Engineers (as Professor Frank R. Bowerman)
Joe Canutt .... action sequence coordinator
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
97 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | France:U | UK:15 (DVD rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Iceland:16 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Canada:PG | Finland:K-18 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The videogame in Simonson's apartment, "Computer Space", was one of the first coin-operated videogames, manufactured by Nutting Associates in 1971 and designed by Nolan Bushnell, who later founded Atari and designed "Pong". The videogame was painted white for the movie but the original color was either yellow, red or blue. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Thorn is running towards the "going home" building, his head disappears into the matte just before the shot cuts. Later in the same scene, as he sees Sol "going home", part of his arm disappears behind the orange wall seen through the window. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Voice over PA: First stage removal. First stage removal. Streets prohibited to non-permits in one hour. Streets prohibited to non-permits in one hour.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Futurama: Roswell That Ends Well (#4.1)" (2001) more
Soundtrack:
Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op.68: 'Pastoral': I. Allegro ma non Troppo more

FAQ

What is "soylent green"?
Why does Shirl have sex with Thorn when she barely knows him?
How does the movie end?
more
72 out of 84 people found the following comment useful:-
A classic even after 30 years, 15 August 2003
10/10
Author: Loadmaster from Dallas, TX

This was Eddie Robinson's 101st film and his last, and he died of cancer nine days after shooting was complete. All of which makes his key scene in the movie all the more poignant.

Although some of the hair and clothing styles are a bit dated (also note the video game shown in the film), but the subject of the film is pretty much timeless. Heston said he had wanted to make the film for some time because he really believed in the dangers of overpopulation.

Several things make this film a classic. The story is solid.

The acting is top-notch, especially the interplay between Heston and Robinson, with nice performances also by Cotten and Peters.

The music is absolutely perfect. The medley of Beethoven, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky combined with the pastoral visual elements make for some truly moving scenes. This was the icing on the cake for the film.

And the theme (or the "point") of the film is a significant one. Yes, it's a film about overpopulation, but on a more important note it's a cautionary tale about what can go wrong with Man's stewardship of Earth. It's in the subtext that you find the real message of the film. Pay attention to what Sol says about the "old days" of the past (which is our present), and note how Thorn is incapable of comprehending what Sol is saying.

This film is one of my top sci-fi films of all time.

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overpopulation was a fear in 1973 pepegoldie
*SPOILERS* Am I just a product of late 80's feminism? WDformerWB
Oscar for.... JCDenton-5
OK, so when you type in 'Soylent Green' into the search engine... SilverCreedWolf
Calling Quentin Tarantino! kdladyj
my problem with this movie dwightfry_7
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