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Horrorphile - July 2008

Soylent Green

July 28th 2008 05:16

I’ve not read Harry Harrison’s sf novel Make Room! Make Room! but I plan to. It’s an ecological warning tale essentially about greed and morality and was adapted for the big screen as Soylent Green (1973) starring Charlton Heston. It also happened to be the last movie for Hollywood screen legend Edward G. Robinson, his 101st feature (he died of cancer nine days after shooting wrapped).

Soylent Green is set in New York City, 2022. The population is 40 million and detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) trying to solve the murder of the president of the Soylent company, which provides the processed food rations to the poverty-stricken city. There’s soylent red, soylent yellow, and the highly nutritious and much sought after soylent green (soylent being a supposed combination of soy curd and lentils).

Soylent Green Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson

Charlton Heston as Thorn and Edward G. Robinson as Sol

Earth is in crisis, real food such as vegetables and meat are no longer available to the masses, only the super rich can enjoy such luxuries. The greenhouse effect means pretty much everyone is in a perpetual sweat (air-cons are another luxury of the wealthy). Det. Thorn shares his cramped living conditions with elderly Sol Ruth (Edward G. Robinson), who remembers a time when society wasn’t so desperate.

Leigh Taylor-Young as Shirl

Joseph Cotton as Simonson

Whilst investigating the suspicious murder of Simonson (Joseph Cotton), the Soylent president, Thorn makes acquaintances with Shirl (Leigh Taylor-Young), a striking piece of “furniture” (she comes with the swish apartment and is only happy to service Thorn in classic 70s let'sjustjumpintobed style). Thorn turns a few more stones over and eventually stumbles on information which will lead him to a conspiratorial revelation so horrendous in its sociological irony, but government agents are in hot pursuit aiming to stop him from exposing the ghastly truth.

Sotylent Green Chuck Conners and Charlton Heston

Thorn investigates the murder scene and questions Simonson's bodyguard Tab (Chuck Conners)

It’s a great concept, and one I’m sure novelist Harry Harrison wrings pretty dry. The movie however falls into two camps. In one is a swiftly-paced curio piece of sf philosophizing, and in the other is a very dated and rather naïve depiction of a future gone horribly wrong. The biggest problem with the movie is the studio-bound limitations in the realization of such a world. For a movie set in a city of 40 million, it just doesn’t look crowded or filthy enough; this Big Apple just ain’t rotten enough. Realistically, if NYC currently has around 18 million now, chances are in another fifteen odd years there could be close to 40 million, but then maybe not. Certainly a lack of space will be a major issue, and the continuing battle against poverty and pollution will be paramount.

Soylent Green Charlton Heston and Stephen Young

Thorn assesses damage done to the 'furniture' by Gilbert (Stephen Young)

Why is it that the majority, if not virtually all sf movies that have to deal directly with computer hardware end up looking dated. Even one of my favourite sf movies - which is my favourite horror - Alien, now looks dated in the scenes where the Nostromo crew “talk” with Mother (ship’s computer). Soylent Green has many instances where technology looks embarrassingly short-sighted. And on another related topic, why do so many sf B-movies dress the rich in flowing pastel colours??

Riot Control send in the Scoopers

But Soylent Green is more about the subversive concept than achieving realism. The scenes where the Riot Control Scooper trucks come to break up an unruly crowd of soylent green demanding citizens is both outlandish, and yet strangely prophetic. I’m sure in years to come there might be some kind of large-scale vehicular machinery designed to immobilise and incarcerate rioters at the same time. Or maybe I’m just being hopeful.

Thorn attempts to escape the soylent green plant after discovering the truth

Soylent Green is sobering, but not quite as devastatingly suggestive as it probably was when it was first released (although it did when the Nebula Award for best science fiction film of ’73). However, this is a movie ripe for the re-boot. It is crying out to be remade with a big-budget, a visionary director and some slick casting. I can see someone like David Fincher or Ridley Scott doing wonders with the original source material. It’s a dark, cautionary tale about the consequences of the industrial revolution; the cannibalization of society. No doubt Michael Bay will get his dirty hands on it and it will end up risible, vacuous deep trash. Here’s hoping intelligent producers get the rights and turn it into the punchy, symbolic action-nightmare movie that would make Harry Harrison proud.

Here is the very retro original trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

July 28th 2008 05:43

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Bryn

I have to say just a little about this film.
When I saw it as a kid I thought wow but as time went on I think it did not age like a fine wine. Instead it sagged like the breasts on a post menopausal cleaning lady.

I guess the historical context changed just about everything in the film. It came out in the groovy post baby boom 70's where everyone was talking about the book called The Population Bomb. Time moves on and we have new future temples of doom to worship at.

Yet as a drama it works. Slow beginning, But once those people scoops came with the gun fight it became interesting.

Finally put this on the do not remake pile as the time has passed to scared of such dystopias.

Comment by Cibbuano

July 28th 2008 05:58

20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

I glossed over your review - I've never seen it and really want to watch it!

Comment by Bryn

July 28th 2008 06:35

Horrorphile

Damo, actually I disagree, I think a dirty-slick remake is a great idea. The over-population problem and the pollution problem is still incredibly topical, but perhaps that could be played more as subtext, and instead the assassination-detective story could be fleshed out, as that part of the screenplay was very flimsy. There is so much possibility with production design and special effects that could make the movie really work on a powerful audio-visual and visceral level. Sure, it could end up high concept super-trash, but it could also work as great lurid pulpy fun! I guess I'm thinking Blade Runner meets Logan's Run meets Punishment Park. I agree with you though that the movie hasn't aged very well, but that's exactly why a re-boot could work, in the right hands, of course.

Comment by Damo

July 28th 2008 06:57

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Blade Runner meets Logan's Run meets Punishment Park?

What have you been watching all week?
I like the concept. But I am wondering if we have exhausted the genre for depressing future scholck. Good films are being made but they don't seem to go very well at the box office. Equilibrium was one that comes to mind.

Anyway here is something to think about:
Really Long Link

Ridley Scott Eyes 'Blade Runner' Sequel

Comment by Natalie 2

July 28th 2008 07:56

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

I totally agree with you, Bryn. I loved the concept of Soylent Green, and it is on the top of my list of films that NEED to be remade by a skilled director. Here's hoping!

Comment by Bryn

July 28th 2008 08:13

Horrorphile

Damo, yeah, stay tuned for further B-goodness.

Hey, what's with your new avatar, when I scroll the cursor over it it shows my post instead of your profile page, and when i scroll my cursor over your name it doesn't provide a hyperlink ... weird. But the Blade Runner avatar image is cool though.
Ridley Scott is considering all script submissions to a Blade Runner sequel??? Hot damn, I better dust off that treatment I wrote some years ago!!

Comment by Damo

July 28th 2008 08:38

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Bryn

I have absolutely no idea what happened with my avatar.
I changed it earlier because i got sick of looking at myself.

Yet the link to you page only happens here. Elsewhere it is fine.

Face it Bryn you have been doing horror so long that your page is now haunted.

Dust of that script and send it in.

Comment by Cheryl J

July 28th 2008 11:05

Funny Videos
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability

I loved this movie when I first saw it. A good remake would be awesome but in the wrong hands - ugh.

As to your comment

I’m sure in years to come there might be some kind of large-scale vehicular machinery designed to immobilise and incarcerate rioters at the same time.

I don't know about the incarceration part but the Chinese found large-scale vehicular machinery to quell demonstrators in Tiananmen Square - they were called tanks.

Have you seen the Soylent Green T-shirt? Very cool.

Comment by Bryn

July 29th 2008 05:10

Horrorphile

Damo, very cool avatar, I'm envious you thought of it before me, although I do like looking at my own horrorshow

Cheryl, I like your vaguely insidious tone. IS the Soylent Green tee based on the original poster art?

Comment by Cheryl J

July 29th 2008 10:08

Funny Videos
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability

I LOVE this t-shirt

mmm...yum!

Comment by D. Armenta

July 30th 2008 15:32

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Oh, count me in for a good remake..so much potential here, especially with overpopulation and a youth-and-health-loving culture.

By the way, this has to be in the top 10 list of most quoted movies: "It's people!!!!"

Comment by Bryn

July 31st 2008 00:01

Horrorphile

Armenta, yes it is one of Hollywood's most quoted movie lines apparently ... But I didn't mention it as it's a major spoiler

Comment by Bryn

July 31st 2008 00:01

Horrorphile

Cheryl, where can you buy the t-shirt?

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