Soylent Green (1973)
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In a future plagued by overpopulation and resource depletion, a detective uncovers a horrifying truth about the source of a popular food product.
The story
By 2022, the cumulative effects of overpopulation, global warming, and pollution have caused ecocide, leading to severe worldwide shortages of food, water, and housing. In a crowded New York City, the majority of the population lives in squalor and consumes processed food wafers produced by the Soylent Corporation. When a member of the corporation's board is murdered, NYPD Detective Robert Thorn is called to investigate. With the help of his colleague, a former professor, Thorn begins to uncover the truth behind the corporation's latest product, Soylent Green, which is marketed as a nutritious and flavorful new food source for the masses.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a dystopian 2022 New York City, the world faces collapse due to overpopulation and environmental decay. Detective Robert Thorn investigates the murder of William R. Simonson, a member of the Soylent Corporation. While the public believes the company's new product, Soylent Green, is made from plankton, Thorn and his colleague, Solomon Roth, discover through secret reports that the oceans are dying and the product is actually made from human bodies. After Roth commits suicide upon learning the truth, Thorn uncovers evidence of crimes against humanity. He witnesses the processing of human corpses into food at a waste plant. After a final confrontation with the assassin, Thorn is critically wounded and, in his final moments, reveals the horrifying truth to the public: 'Soylent Green is people!'
- First release year
- 1973
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Fleischer
- Writers
- Stanley R. Greenberg · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Charlton Heston · Robert Thorn; Leigh Taylor-Young · Shirl; Chuck Connors · Tab Fielding; Brock Peters · Chief Hatcher; Paula Kelly · Martha Fielding; Edward G. Robinson · Solomon Roth; Stephen Young · Gilbert; Joseph Cotten · William R. Simonson
- Genres
- dystopian; thriller; science fiction; police procedural
- Themes
- overpopulation; environmental collapse; corporate greed; cannibalism
- Tone and mood
- dystopian; melodramatic
- Setting
- New York City in the year 2022.
- Premise and plot tags
- dystopia; police procedural; science fiction; environmental issues
- Source material / true-story basis
- Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison
- Content notes
- cannibalism
- Reception
- The film received mixed reactions from critics, though it was praised for its portrayal of the environment and the performance of Edward G. Robinson.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 73% · scale: percentage · review count: 44
- Awards and nominations
- Saturn Award · Best Science Fiction Film · 1973 · Winner; Nebula Award · Best Dramatic Presentation · 1973 · Winner; Avoriaz International Fantastic Film Festival · Grand Prize · Winner
- Production trivia
- It was the final film role for actor Edward G. Robinson.; It features the first appearance of a video game in a film (the game Computer Space).; The film's title was changed from the book's title to avoid confusion with 'Make Room for Daddy'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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