Soylent Green (1973)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Stanley R. Greenberg (screenplay)
Harry Harrison (novel)

Release Date:

9 May 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

It's the year 2022... People are still the same. They'll do anything to get what they need. And they need SOYLENT GREEN.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Food | New York City | Murder | Police | Police Detective

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Charlton Heston	...	Thorn
Leigh Taylor-Young	...	Shirl
Chuck Connors	...	Tab
Joseph Cotten	...	Simonson
Brock Peters	...	Hatcher
Paula Kelly	...	Martha
Edward G. Robinson	...	Sol Roth
Stephen Young	...	Gilbert
Mike Henry	...	Kulozik
Lincoln Kilpatrick	...	The Priest
Roy Jenson	...	Donovan
Leonard Stone	...	Charles
Whit Bissell	...	Santini
Celia Lovsky	...	The Exchange Leader
Dick Van Patten	...	Usher #1
Morgan Farley	...	Book #1
John Barclay	...	Book #2
Belle Mitchell	...	Book #3
Cyril Delevanti	...	Book #4
Forrest Wood	...	Attendant
Faith Quabius	...	Attendant
Jane Dulo	...	Mrs. Santini
Tim Herbert	...	Brady
John Dennis	...	Wagner
Jan Bradley	...	Bandana Woman
Carlos Romero	...	New Tenant
Pat Houtchens	...	Fat Guard
Joyce Williams	...	The Furniture Girls
Erica Hagen	...	The Furniture Girls
Beverly Gill	...	The Furniture Girls
Suesie Eejima	...	The Furniture Girls
Cheri Howell	...	The Furniture Girls
Kathy Silva	...	The Furniture Girls
Jennifer King	...	The Furniture Girls
Marion Charles	...	The Furniture Girls
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Ito	...	Shoe Seller (uncredited)
Ida Mae McKenzie	...	Woman Calling for Revolution (uncredited)
Richard Sterne	...	TV Announcer (uncredited)

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	....	symphony music conductor

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

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presented by) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM-EMI (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1974) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (????) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM/CBS Home Video (1981) (USA) (video)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (2008) (USA) (TV)
• Vídeo Arte (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Braverman Productions  special photographic sequences
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Magnum  prologue photos

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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) | Canada:PG | Finland:K-18 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Sports Arena - 3939 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

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:

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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Angel: Carpe Noctem (#3.4)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46: I. 'Morning'

WOW

I saw Soylent Green back in 1973 when it was first released and maybe another eight times over the years on T.V. or video. It was always one of my favorite sci-fi and/or Charlton Heston films.

Recently, the Egyptian theater in L.A. had a twelve film Charlton Heston retrospective. I flew in from out of state to see six of the films over a two day period. Soylent Green looked great on the large Egyptian screen with a perfect new print. From its opening montage to the going home scene to the great ending the film was fantastic.

Charlton Heston as a cop who lives in a dog eat dog world with few natural resources left and no understanding as to how the world used to be and Eddie Robinson as a man who remembers the past are both great.

Their chemistry together is wonderful. The film also looks so much better in a great 35mm print. Fleisher really knows how to fill the screen,and the cinematoraphy, writing, music used, and everything about it works. The film is also very powerful in its bleak and very possible view of the future. Just think how the world population grew, the rain forest that disappeared, resources used up, green house effect getting worse since 1973. I just wonder why this film has not played in theaters all these years. Its reputation should be better.

Speaking of reputations, often people speak as if Charlton Heston is not a great actor. Seeing him in El-Cid, Soylent Green, The Warlord, The Omega Man, Will Penny, and Major Dundee back to back I am convinced he is one of our best actors. Of course he made about a dozen other great films and for those that care you know what they are.