IMDb > Soylent Green (1973)
Soylent Green
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Soylent Green (1973) More at IMDbPro »

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Soylent Green -- Trailer for this classic sci-fi thriller

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   29,735 votes »
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Director:
Writers:
Stanley R. Greenberg (screenplay)
Harry Harrison (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Soylent Green on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 May 1973 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Tagline:
What is the secret of Soylent Green? See more »
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 »
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 wins & 1 nomination See more »
NewsDesk:
(126 articles)
User Reviews:
A smart sci-fi with an engaging vision of the future See more (210 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
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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)
 
Visual Effects by
Robert R. Hoag .... special photographic effects
Augie Lohman .... special visual effects (as A. J. Lohman)
Matthew Yuricich .... special photographic effects
 
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)
Ted White .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman A. Burza .... costumer (as Norman Burza)
Betsy Cox .... costumer
 
Music Department
Gerald Fried .... conductor: symphony music
 
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
Charlsie Bryant .... script supervisor (uncredited)
Glenn Shahan .... unit publicist (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:PG | Finland:K-18 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | 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)

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The video game in Simonson's apartment, "Computer Space", was one of the first coin-operated video games, manufactured by Nutting Associates in 1971 and designed by Nolan Bushnell, who later founded Atari and designed "Pong". The video game was painted white for the movie but the original color was either yellow, red or blue.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Thorn goes into the bedroom, the drink in his hand switches from a highball glass to a tumbler, then back to a highball glass.See 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.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Zak McKracken Between Time and Space (2008) (VG)See more »
Soundtrack:
Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op.74: 'Pathetique': I. Adagio - Allegro non TroppoSee more »

FAQ

Why does Shirl have sex with Thorn when she barely knows him?
The opening montage was brilliant! Who is responsible for it?
How does the movie end?
See more »
33 out of 37 people found the following review useful.
A smart sci-fi with an engaging vision of the future, 2 April 2006
Author: bob the moo

It is the year 2022 and nothing has changed even if things have gotten worse. New York City has become even more overpopulated and is just yet another city heaving in its own filth with countless "have-nots" fighting over sparse resources. Energy supplies are low, water is strictly controlled, living spaces are small and cramped and "real" food is a luxury reserved for the very rich. The masses do not have such luxuries and eat rationed supplies of high-nutrient processed foods from the Soylent Corporation. Detective Thorn is a "have-not" and just like everyone else is out to get what he can for himself and friend Sol Roth. Called to a burglary that became a murder, Thorn learns that the victim is a director at Soylent and suspects that all the curious thing about the crimes may be coming together to be far more than the work of some random thug.

Famous for its "shock" ending (which everyone must know and most people will guess) this film is actually more than just one scene and is actually an intelligent sci-fi detective story that has an engaging central story and a generally interesting vision of the future that is much more convincing than the one of Hollywood blockbusters and such. The investigation is solid but it is the world it happens within that is most interesting as we see a world where, surprise surprise, the poor people are left to make do while those better off can still enjoy the finer things while they remain. It is not an earth shattering view of the future but it is a convincing one and I enjoyed being in this story and seeing this world played out. Personally I bought it but it may help that I mistrust corporations anyway and believe that the poor will be the first to get shafted when anything bad happens, simply because they have less to work with.

The narrative is not the strongest though and in terms of it being a detective story it could have been better. Some viewers have complained about the lack of action, which I think is a pretty unfair accusation since it wasn't trying to be that type of film. The main characters are interesting. Thorn is a man of authority but he is just like everyone else, out to get what he can and takes advantage of others the first chance he gets. His relationship with Roth is not fully explained but it worked anyway and provided a touch of humanity. It helps that both actors did good jobs of it as well. Heston normally plays the gruff hero but here at least he allows the corruption within man's heart to come out. Robinson has less of a character but his performance is assured and is touching for reasons internal and external to the film. Support is not so good but it is less important in the smaller roles; Cotton is a nice find though.

Overall this is a famous film that is good but not without its faults. The narrative is reasonably interesting and carries the film all the way to a nice (but too well-known) conclusion but it is in the general vision of the future of a world where the people are struggling to get by with resources running low. A smart sci-fi that is well worth seeing.

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In futurama alphaboo
Oscar for.... JCDenton-5
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