Soylent Green (DVD)

...murdered the president of the Soylent company?, and the right to die when you want and how you want, are all covered in this film. The cinematography is excellent as is the suicide scene in the middle of the film. Directed by Richard Fleischer (Barabbas & 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)

The story.....

It's 2022 and the Earth is starving, with World's fruit and meat and natural produce nearly extinct in a World where the ...
...the mysterious solid food called Soylent Green is distributed.
The film is centred around Police Detective Thorn (Charlton Heston)and his side kick 'Sol Roth' (Edward G Robinson) known as his 'book' (a term referring to a researcher as computers are not used due to the Earth's resources), and the death of the president of the Soylent Green Company.
Thorn is assigned the case and goes to the lavish side of New York where the flat that ... more

This has to be the best well thought out film I have seen in years. The plot and the storyline keep you gripped to your seat. With three main themes running through the film, save the Planet now before it comes to this, who murdered the president of the Soylent company?, and the right to die when you want and how you want, are all covered in this film. The cinematography is excellent as is the suicide scene in the middle of the film. Directed by Richard Fleischer (Barabbas & 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)

The story.....

It's 2022 and the Earth is starving, with World's fruit and meat and natural produce nearly extinct in a World where the heat is rising, electrical power is at a premium and a jar of Strawberries costs $150.
With over 40 million starving people in New York alone, the situation is getting worse and Police are used to control rioters at the food stations, when the mysterious solid food called Soylent Green is distributed.
The film is centred around Police Detective Thorn (Charlton Heston)and his side kick 'Sol Roth' (Edward G Robinson) known as his 'book' (a term referring to a researcher as computers are not used due to the Earth's resources), and the death of the president of the Soylent Green Company.
Thorn is assigned the case and goes to the lavish side of New York where the flat that the president is killed in - has air conditioning and running water and power and lives forgotten luxuries, soap, alcohol, paper.
He becomes friendly with the dead mans 'furniture' Shirl (Leigh Taylor-Young) (term for live in prostitute) and the plot behind the death of the president starts to unfold.
The 'book' discovers the horrific horror of the truth behind the secret of the Soylent Green biscuits and coming from a different era who can remember life's luxuries, nature and everything that was taken for granted, when he was younger. Knowing this he decides that the world is not as it was and he wants no part in this 'new world'. He goes to a centre for euthanasia, and is 'processed', Thorn finding a note runs to the centre, but is too late to stop the treatment and watches Sol die. Thorn then begins to understand the reason why Sol killed himself.

In conclusion

The story is excellent and describes pretty well what will happen if we don't halt the green house emissions now. The scene of Sols death is excellently done and is worth high praise. It is touching, warming and makes you grateful for what you have, and what we take for granted now.
Excellent acting by Charlton Heston and Edward G Robinson and Leigh Taylor-Young. In my opinion although a little dated, it is well worth buying. It has suspense mystery and a who dunnit theme as well.

Stars:-
Charlton Heston ; Leigh Taylor-Young ; Chuck Connors ; Joseph Cotten ; Brock Peters ; Edward G. Robinson

Disc Features , excellent features:-

Commentary by director Richard Fleischer and Leigh Taylor-Young
'A Look At The World Of Soylent Green' (10 minutes)
MGM's tribute to Edward G. Robinson's 101st film
Charlton Heston: Science Fiction Legend
Theatrical trailer
Interactive menus
Scene selection

Format:-

Colour
Cert 15
Running Time 93mins
10 different languages

Price £5 - £10 

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