Soylent Green is a 1973 American ecological dystopian thriller film directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young, and Edward G. Robinson in his final film role. The screenplay by Stanley R. Greenberg is based on the 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison. The story takes place in a dystopian New York City of 2022, where pollution has ravaged the environment and the population has been drastically reduced due to overpopulation and widespread famine. The film follows Thorn, a New York City police detective who is investigating the murder of a wealthy businessman. His investigation leads him to a disturbing discovery about the source of the food rations that are keeping the population alive.
Director: Richard Fleischer: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Fantastic Voyage (1966), Soylent Green (1973), The Boston Strangler (1968)
Writer: Stanley R. Greenberg: The Boys from Brazil (1978), Capricorn One (1978), The China Syndrome (1979)
Release Date: June 19, 1973
Domestic Box Office: $26.4 million
Top 5 Cast:
- Charlton Heston as Thorn
- Leigh Taylor-Young as Shirl
- Edward G. Robinson as Sol Roth
- Chuck Connors as Fielding
- Brock Peters as Hatcher
“Soylent Green is people!” – Thorn
Critic Reviews:
- Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, calling it “a powerful and disturbing film that is both a warning and a call to action.”
- Pauline Kael of The New Yorker called the film “a masterpiece of ecological horror” and praised Heston’s performance as “the best of his career.”
- Vincent Canby of The New York Times called the film “a stylish and atmospheric thriller” but found it “to be ultimately unsatisfying.”
- David Denby of New York magazine called the film “a minor classic” and praised Heston’s performance as “the best of his career.”
Cinematic Importance:Â Soylent Green (1973) is a significant film for several reasons. First, it is a well-made and well-acted film that tells a compelling story. Second, it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of overpopulation and environmental destruction. Third, the film features some of Heston’s best work as an actor. Soylent Green is a classic film that is still relevant today.
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