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IMDbPro

Soylent Green

  • 19731973
  • PGPG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,805
159
Soylent Green (1973)
Trailer for this classic sci-fi thriller
Play trailer3:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Mystery
  • Sci-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
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,805
159
  • 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
    • 332User reviews
    • 119Critic 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

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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 reviews332

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    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.
    helpful•240
    48
    • Loadmaster
    • Aug 15, 2003

    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
      • May 9, 1973 (United States)
    • 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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