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Soylent Green

  • 19731973
  • AAAA
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
63K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,797
36
Soylent Green (1973)
Trailer for this classic sci-fi thriller
Play trailer3:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeMysterySci-Fi

A nightmarish futuristic fantasy about the controlling power of big corporations and an innocent cop who stumbles on the truth.A nightmarish futuristic fantasy about the controlling power of big corporations and an innocent cop who stumbles on the truth.A nightmarish futuristic fantasy about the controlling power of big corporations and an innocent cop who stumbles on the truth.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
63K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,797
36
  • Director
    • Richard Fleischer
  • Writers
    • Stanley R. Greenberg(screenplay)
    • Harry Harrison(novel "Make Room! Make Room!")
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Leigh Taylor-Young
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Fleischer
  • Writers
    • Stanley R. Greenberg(screenplay)
    • Harry Harrison(novel "Make Room! Make Room!")
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Leigh Taylor-Young
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 331User reviews
    • 168Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Soylent Green
    Trailer 3:27
    Soylent Green

    Photos200

    Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston in Soylent Green (1973)
    Edward G. Robinson in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson in Soylent Green (1973)
    Stephen Young in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston and Brock Peters in Soylent Green (1973)
    Edward G. Robinson in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston and Leigh Taylor-Young in Soylent Green (1973)
    Charlton Heston and Chuck Connors in Soylent Green (1973)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Detective Thornas Detective Thorn
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • Sol Rothas Sol Roth
    Leigh Taylor-Young
    Leigh Taylor-Young
    • Shirlas Shirl
    Chuck Connors
    Chuck Connors
    • Tab Fieldingas Tab Fielding
    Joseph Cotten
    Joseph Cotten
    • William R. Simonsonas William R. Simonson
    Brock Peters
    Brock Peters
    • Chief Hatcheras Chief Hatcher
    Paula Kelly
    Paula Kelly
    • Marthaas Martha
    Stephen Young
    Stephen Young
    • Gilbertas Gilbert
    Mike Henry
    Mike Henry
    • Kulozikas Kulozik
    Lincoln Kilpatrick
    Lincoln Kilpatrick
    • The Priestas The Priest
    Roy Jenson
    Roy Jenson
    • Donovanas Donovan
    Leonard Stone
    Leonard Stone
    • Charlesas Charles
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Gov. Santinias Gov. Santini
    Celia Lovsky
    Celia Lovsky
    • The Exchange Leaderas The Exchange Leader
    Dick Van Patten
    Dick Van Patten
    • Usher #1as Usher #1
    Morgan Farley
    Morgan Farley
    • Book #1as Book #1
    John Barclay
    John Barclay
    • Book #2as Book #2
    Belle Mitchell
    Belle Mitchell
    • Book #3as Book #3
    • Director
      • Richard Fleischer
    • Writers
      • Stanley R. Greenberg(screenplay)
      • Harry Harrison(novel "Make Room! Make Room!")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In 2022, Earth is overpopulated and totally polluted; the natural resources have been exhausted and the nourishment of the population is provided by Soylent Industries, a company that makes a food consisting of plankton from the oceans. In New York City, when Soylent's member of the board William R. Simonson is murdered apparently by a burglar at the Chelsea Towers West where he lives, efficient Detective Thorn is assigned to investigate the case with his partner Solomon "Sol" Roth. Thorn comes to the fancy apartment and meets Simonson's bodyguard Tab Fielding and the "furniture" (woman that is rented together with the flat) Shirl and the detective concludes that the executive was not victim of burglary but executed. Further, he finds that the Governor Santini and other powerful men want to disrupt and end Thorn's investigation. But Thorn continues his work and discovers a bizarre and disturbing secret of the ingredient used to manufacture Soylent Green. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    cannibalismdystopiaoverpopulationconspiracyfood77 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What is the secret of Soylent Green?
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Mystery
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • AA
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene where Thorn and Roth share a meal of fresh food was not originally in the script, but was ad-libbed by Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson at director Richard Fleischer's request.
    • Goofs
      The piece of meat Shirl buys for Simonson is clearly not the same piece Thorn unwraps in front of Sol.
    • Quotes

      Sol: [Thorn is seeing the beautiful images shown in Sol's euthanasia chamber] Can you see it?

      Det. Thorn: [choked up] Yes...

      Sol: Isn't it beautiful?

      Det. Thorn: Oh, yes...

      Sol: I told you.

      Det. Thorn: [humbly] How could I know? How could I... how could I ever imagine?

    • Alternate versions
      Deleted scene: When Tab Fielding (Chuck Connors) goes shopping with Shirl, he is mugged, and wins the fight. This scene was filmed, but deleted.
    • Connections
      Edited from Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op.74: 'Pathetique': I. Adagio - Allegro non Troppo
      Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    User reviews331

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Far deeper and intelligent than what first meets the eye
    This is a brilliant sci-fi movie that is very strange in how men and women both view the same film. I have talked to many people about the film and almost every guy loved it and said it was brilliant--while most women thought it was just disgusting and stupid! This is the only movie I know of that has such polarized views based on gender. Perhaps many women just have a lower tolerance for disgusting or depressing plots--but whatever the cause, I have always found this difference fascinating.

    The film begins with a murder and a subsequent investigation headed by Charlton Heston. This is set in the near future and the head of the huge international Soylent Corporation has been assassinated. As the film unfolds, you quickly realize this is a terrible and highly inequitable future American society. The rich live in gorgeous apartments with security and all the pleasures money can buy(including "furniture"--a euphemism for paid mistresses that come along with the apartment). At the same time, the masses are dirt poor, unemployed and in many cases living in abandoned cars or apartment hallways. Overpopulation and smog have taken a severe toll and the future looks awful indeed!

    Why the rich man died and the awful truth he could not live with I really should NOT discuss--it could ruin the film for you. However, the film has a great plot and acting and is super-exciting to watch. Plus, it features Edward G. Robinson in his final screen performance as the crusty sidekick to Heston. Though not for the easily depressed or squeamish, this is a great sci-fi film that is allegorical and profound.
    helpful•120
    54
    • MartinHafer
    • Jul 19, 2006

    FAQ8

    • Who killed William R. Simonson & why?
    • Why did Martha Get scared when she looked down and saw the spoon when Detective Thorn was at her apartment?
    • Is "Soylent Green" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1973 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • HBOMAX
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Make Room! Make Room!
    • Filming locations
      • Chevron Refinery Power Generating Station, 300 Vista del Mar, El Segundo, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $210
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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