Soylent Green (1973)

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Directed by Richard Fleischer.

Starring Chuck Connors, Joseph Cotten, Brock Peters, Edward G. Robinson, Leigh Taylor-Young, Charlton Heston.

Richard Fleischer directed this nightmarish science fiction vision of an over-populated world, based on the novel by Harry Harrison. In 2022, New York City is a town bursting at the seams with a 40-million-plus population. Food is in short supply, and most of the population's food source comes from synthetics manufactured in local factories -- the dinner selections being a choice between Soylent Blue, Soylent Yellow, or Soylent Green. When William Simonson (Joseph Cotten), an upper-echelon executive in the Soylent Company, is found murdered, police detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) is sent in to investigate the case. Helping him out researching the case is Thorn's old friend Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson, in his final film role). As they investigate the environs of a succession of mad-from-hunger New Yorkers and the luxuriously rich digs of the lucky few, Thorn uncovers the terrible truth about the real ingredients of Soylent Green. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Re:Extraordinary moments, there ...
by Puhnner in extraordinary moments

loved it.

"Soylent Green; maybe it is the Beethoven. Or maybe the almost maudlin character of the scene, or maybe something altogether different. However as Sol Roth ( Edward G. Robinson ) slips into the (his ) Suicide Theater, his theater screen goes live and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, Third Movement begins... hardly a better way to go, I imagine. That movement, perhaps indicates dancing and just having a great time and then concludes In a faster tempo, ends and then begins the Fourth Movement Allegro. This movement portion perhaps is meant to convey a violent thunderstorm which ended the partying in the Third Movement. I would have loved to see the suicide theater scene end with the music continuing straight in to the Fourth Movement and then cutting abruptly to rioting and the last hysterical lines:Det. Thorn: It's people. Soylent Green is made out of people. They're making our food out of people. Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle for food. You've gotta te ... " [More]

Farewell to one of the Greats...
by Dr_Gor in HORROR MOVIES 101

loved it.

"Last night, Saturday, April 5, 2008, Charlton Heston died at his home in Beverly Hills after a lengthy battle with alzheimer's disease. He was 84. Mr. Heston was truly a legendary and iconic actor who will be remembered forever. But more than that, he was truly a great man, as well. His 64 year marriage to wife Lydia, who was at his side when he died, is a testament to what kind of a man he was. In a town where infidelity and divorce and remarriage are the norm, Mr. Heston was the exception who lived by his own rules and standards. No obituary I could write could do justice to this most talented and amazing actor and great human being, so here is what was written in the LA Times... Charlton Heston, 84; actor, Oscar winner, played grand figures - Los Angeles Times I have been watching and enjoying Mr. Heston's films throughout my entire life. Here are some of my favorites... The Ten Commandments ; some pretty amazing special FX were overshadowed by Mr ... " [More]

Re: Top 5 Post-Apocalyptic Films
by josephkuzma in Top 5

hasn't rated it.

"A few of my favorite dystopian flicks have been mentioned (Brazil, Planet of the Apes, 12 Monkeys, Soylent Green, A Clockwork Orange) but I'd also like to mention Jubilee (weird but entertaining) and Metropolis (a f**king classic in every sense of the word). I also kinda liked Reign of Fire in that "It's on the SciFi Channel and it's 2am, why not?" sort of way. Logan's Run is one of my favorite pieces of cheeseball 70s crap also. Also: Dark City, 1984 (both versions), Fahrenheit 451, RoboCop.I remembered liking Equilibrium but when I rewatched it with my wife I realize what a steaming pile it really was. Demolition Man is another example of a steaming pile of dystopian (sorta) crap. Idiocracy had a good premise but was just a bad bad bad movie all around (die Dax Shephard, die). And, of course, two of the biggest piles of crap ever: Fortress & THX 1138. " [More]

Re: Top 5 Post-Apocalyptic Films
by Risselada in Top 5

is neutral about it.

"Yeah I think if we are going to include stuff like Soylent Green, then Brazil should fit too. What about Blade Runner?As I said above, Fallout is the epitome of the post-apocalyptic atmosphere and aesthetic. If they created an MMORPG of that game, it would be the ultimate temptation that I know I would have to force myself to resist. If anything could potentially consume my every waking hour, I can't think of a better description for the candidate. " [More]

Re: Top 5 Post-Apocalyptic Films
by Dr_Gor in Top 5

loved it.

"I have seen "A Boy And His Dog" with a very young Don Johnson, and it does not make my list... not even close... Here are mine : 1. The Omega Man 2. The Road Warrior 3. Soylent Green 4. The Ultimate Warrior 5. The Day The World Ended ... and, with your permission, I would have to add just one more... 6. Wizards " [More]

Re: Top 5 Post-Apocalyptic Films
by AndyLaBryn in Top 5

loved it.

"Brian's got great choices.This is one of my favorite styles of movies, I kind of obsess about the apocalypse.5. 28 Days Later- Love this film, suprised the hell out me because I had heard nothing about it before watching it. I instantly fell in love with idea of the main waking up after civilizations crash. Little weary about this so called 28 weeks later. 4.Cherry 2000- Caught this randomly in my younger days, late night on skinemax or blowtime. Melanie Griffith played the sexy tough tracker with a bad ass car. B movie splendor.3. Children Of Men- This may climb my personal favorite list in time. It's here because I've only seen it once so far. Brilliant one take scene near the end as he walks through chaos, dodging destruction by inches. 2. Road Warrior- The basis for any modern car chase/battle movie. I believe it's unintentional brilliance. Could watch this once a week for the rest of my life. 1.Planet Of The Apes- When I think of post apocalyptica, I think of C ... " [More]

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

is neutral about it.

"Soylent Green is..." no longer much of a surprise since Charlton Heston's climactic line has joined Planet of the Apes' "You maniacs" rant in the oft-quoted annals of Heston overacting. One of a cycle of early-'70s downbeat eco-science fiction films akin to Silent Running (1971) and Heston's The Omega Man (1971), Soylent Green presents Heston as another dystopian savior in a future shock vision that teeters on the fine line between clever and stupid. When not sleeping with dead magnate Joseph Cotten's comely "furniture" Leigh Taylor-Young (apparently feminism went down the drain with the food supply), Heston attempts to solve the mystery of Cotten's murder. The sickly green exterior haze, people sleeping on stairs, and the bulldozers that disturbingly clear riots, however, are enough to tip us off to the insidious secret ingredient in everyone's favorite bio-engineered snack long before Chuck witnesses the "waste" processing plant himself. Still, the opening montage of 20th century decay and Edward G. Robinson's heartfelt performance (in his final film) as a man old enough to know how beautiful and well-fed the earth used to be give moments of emotional heft to Soylent Green's ominous -- and still timely -- message about environmental desecration. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

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