On April 19, 1973 Soylent Green premiered in the United States. This science fiction film became a cult classic, and foresaw the devastating effects of global warming decades before the phrase "climate change" came into popular use. It takes place in the year 2022.
The movie is also a murder mystery. The main character, Robert Thorn (played by Charlton Heston), is a police officer investigating the killing of a powerful man in an overcrowded New York City plagued by scorching temperatures and a lack of fresh food. Most people without wealth are condemned to eat government issued wafers made from questionable ingredients, such as Soylent Red, Soylent Yellow, and the infamous Soylent Green.
Edgar G. Robinson was profoundly deaf at this stage in his career, and had to memorize not only his lines, but the lines of the other actors so that he could perform in front of the camera. This fact only served to demonstrate his skills and professionalism. Sadly, he passed away just a few weeks after production ended and didn't live to hear the praise surrounding his performance.
The film ends with Thorn learning about the motive for the murder he's investigating, and the terrible truth behind Soylent Green. If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. And if you haven't seen it, well...what in hell are you waiting for?
1 comment:
A relative of mine had a small role in Soylent Green. A member of a film crew had approached an employee of my relative's street cleaning company to ask if they could film one of the sweepers apparently scooping a body out of a gutter. My relative was assured that no one would be injured. He agreed, but on the appointed day instead of the employee my relative himself showed up with the street cleaner. He said if there were a mishap and an actor injured or killed he didn't want to put that burden on a employee -- he would take on the responsibility himself. The scene is early in the movie, and the viewer gets only a glimpse of a figure behind the wheel of a large white street cleaner. I don't even know if my relative is listed in the credits or not.
Post a Comment