Soylent Green (1973)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Stanley R. Greenberg (screenplay)
Harry Harrison (novel)

Release Date:

9 May 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

Food | New York City | Murder | Police | Police Detective

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 25

6:00 PM

TCM

Cast

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)

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

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presented by) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM-EMI (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1974) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (????) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM/CBS Home Video (1981) (USA) (video)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (2008) (USA) (TV)
• Vídeo Arte (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Braverman Productions  special photographic sequences
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Magnum  prologue photos

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

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

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Sports Arena - 3939 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

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.

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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Futurama: Roswell That Ends Well (#4.1)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op.68: 'Pastoral': I. Allegro ma non Troppo

A classic even after 30 years

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.