Silent Running (1972)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Douglas Trumbull

Writers:

Deric Washburn (written by) &
Michael Cimino (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 March 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Amazing companions on an incredible adventure... that journeys beyond imagination!

Plot:

The loner crew member of a spaceship harbouring Earth's last nature reserves goes renegade when he is...

Plot Keywords:

Forest | Murder | Space | Robot | Futuristic

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bruce Dern	...	Freeman Lowell
Cliff Potts	...	John Keenan
Ron Rifkin	...	Marty Barker
Jesse Vint	...	Andy Wolf
Mark Persons	...	Drone 2 - Huey
Steven Brown	...	Drone
Cheryl Sparks	...	Drone 1 - Dewey
Larry Whisenhunt	...	Drone
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joseph Campanella	...	Neal - Berkshire' Captain (voice) (uncredited)
Roy Engel	...	Anderson (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Trumbull

Writing credits
Deric Washburn		(written by) &
Michael Cimino		(written by) (as Mike Cimino) and
Steven Bochco		(written by) (as Steve Bochco)

Produced by
Michael Gruskoff	....	producer
Marty Hornstein	....	associate producer (as Martin Hornstein)
Douglas Trumbull	....	producer

Original Music by
Peter Schickele

Cinematography by
Charles F. Wheeler

Film Editing by
Aaron Stell

Set Decoration by
Frank Lombardo		(as Francisco Lombardo)

Makeup Department
Dick Dawson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Marty Hornstein	....	production manager (as Martin Hornstein)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brad H. Aronson	....	assistant director (as Brad Aronson)

Sound Department
Charles T. Knight	....	sound (as Charles Knight)
John H. Newman	....	sound editor
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recordist

Special Effects by
Vernon Archer	....	special effects
John Dykstra	....	special photographic effects
Gerald Endler	....	mechanical effects
Richard O. Helmer	....	special effects
R.L. Helmer	....	special effects
Marlin Jones	....	special effects
James Rugg	....	special effects
Douglas Trumbull	....	special photographic effects
Richard Yuricich	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Bohny	....	assistant camera
Jim Hoover	....	assistant camera
Dick Johnson	....	camera operator
Harry Sundby	....	special lighting effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Vidor	....	wardrobe advisor

Music Department
Peter Schickele	....	conductor

Other crew
Richard Alexander	....	special designer
John Baumback	....	special designer (as John Baumbach)
Joseph Byrd	....	special electronic consultant
Winfield Chitister	....	technical advisor (as Chief Winfield Chitister-BMCM USN Ret.)
James Dow	....	creator: drone units
Richard Foy	....	titles consultant
Paul Kraus	....	creator: drone units
George McCart	....	technical advisor
Leland McLemore	....	special designer
Tom Piskura	....	video consultant
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor (as Raymond Quiroz)
Gary Richards	....	special designer
Robert Shepherd	....	special designer (as Bob Shepherd)
William Shourt	....	special designer (as Bill Shourt)
Wayne Smith	....	special designer
Don Trumbull	....	creator: drone units

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Trumbull/Gruskoff Productions (as Douglas Trumbull-Michael Gruskoff Productions)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Films de España (1973) (Spain) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1972) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Video Associates  promotions
• American Airlines  our most sincere thanks to
• AMF  our most sincere thanks to (as AMF Incorporated)
• American Optical Company  our most sincere thanks to
• Concord Communications Systems  our most sincere thanks to
• Dow Chemical Company  our most sincere thanks to
• Duro-Test  our most sincere thanks to
• Fairchild, Republic Division  our most sincere thanks to
• Kasper Instruments  our most sincere thanks to
• Polaroid  our most sincere thanks to
• Rapistan  our most sincere thanks to
• Scientific Products  our most sincere thanks to
• Spacelabs  our most sincere thanks to
• Tektronix  our most sincere thanks to
• Thetford  our most sincere thanks to
• Division Sperry Rand Corporation  our most sincere thanks to (as Univac Division, Sperry Rand Corporation)
• U.S. Forest Service  our most sincere thanks to (as The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service)
• Ritek Digital Studios  DVD authoring and encoding

Also Known As:

Running Silent (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Norway:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Aircraft Hanger, Van Nuys Airport - 6590 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Some of the actual corporate logos visible throughout the movie include (but are not limited to) Dow Chemical, Coca-Cola, AMF, American Airlines, Rockwell International, and Ditch Witch. Most of the logos can be seen on the storage modules in the main cargo deck. The Ditch Witch can be seen digging the hole to bury Keenan.

Goofs:

Continuity: Freeman's damaged leg swaps sides.

Quotes:

Freeman Lowell: You are NOT using those things in my forest.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Stargate SG-1: Unending (#10.20)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Rejoice in the Sun

The Feelgood, Sci-Fi "Save the Planet" film of the '70's.

Originally having seen this film years back, all I could remember were a few squatty little robots, some kind of personal crusade, and alot of tears from Bruce Dern. Now, after a few years of having the film in my collection, I'm relieved to say that I recall (know) alot more about the underlying storyline therein. Silent Running is by no means a great science fiction film; it is instead a simplistic story about one man's refusal to destroy that which is dear to his heart, against all odds. What makes this film stand out from others, however, is a combination of great special effects (Trumbull was, of course, mentored by Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001), a good message and... All of that emotion from Bruce Dern. I must admit that, even after all these years, those tearful moments when Dern breaks down stick in my imagination. Looking for a fabulous, laser blastin', grostesque alien, hyperspace shoot 'em up? Then don't rent Silent Running. However, if you are in the mood for a light, (not too preachy) thoughtful, sci-fi tale of a lonely, one-way journey, check this one out.