Soylent Green (1973) | Reaction and Review | First Time Watching

[@tofersiefken]

I'm enjoying this series and I highly recommend Silent Running (1972) starring Bruce Dern. It is one of my earlier favorites from childhood and once you've reacted to it, I'll tell you about a connection between Silent Running's director, Douglas Trumbull, and George Lucas.

[@stue2298]

Great movie.

[@RKnights]

Not sure yet if I am doing Silent Running

[@rodentnolastname6612]

​@@RKnightsSolient Green and Silent Running were part of a crop of 70's films examining ecological issues that became part of the American zeitgeist of the period.

[@alexshdvideo]

Silent running holds up well. If you want slapstick, “dark star” staring the writer from Alien before he wrote Alien. ;)

[@ronaldjeffrey8712]

Must watch!!!

[@bobmessier5215]

I'm 65 now, as a kid I first saw this film and the scene where Saul goes to the hospital to die, with beautiful music and visuals always stuck in my mind as the best way to die. In his world, that certainly was true. Perhaps, in ours too.

[@phillymike3181]

Those scenes of the NYC skyline were probably from the early 70s. They used to run incinerators in apartment buildings at night and the smog hung low over the city the next morning. The soot would coat papers, etc, left in the open ---- Since it was often oily soot, it didn't just blow off, so it could ruin things if the weather kept the smog stagnant over the city. Despite what people think, the air and the water were much dirtier back then. There were even reports on the local nightly news that showed leaking barrels of radioactive waste that had been dumped during the 50s off the coast of Long Island.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Edward G Robinsons last film,he died shortly after...CH was 1 of few who new during filming (his tears during EGR's character death scene are real)🎩😢

[@Shadowman4710]

I'm a huge fan of Robinson's work-which spanned 4 decades and this is one of his better performances.

[@RKnights]

Wow thats crazy

[@Shadowman4710]

@@RKnights One of these days you should go back and look at Robinson's work from the 30's and 40's. He was an amazing actor. I'm just getting around to watching "Key Largo" (1948) this week.

[@luminiferous1960]

The leader of The Exchange was played by Celia Lovsky. She also played T'Pau, in the Star Trek TOS episode "Amok Time," who was officiating at Spock's ill-fated wedding. The bodyguard, Tab Fielding, was played by Chuck Connors. He starred in the TV western series "The Rifleman" (1958-1963) as Lucas McCain. Connors acted in several feature films including "Pat and Mike" with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, "Old Yeller," "The Big Country" with Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston, "Move Over Darling" with Doris Day and James Garner, and "Airplane II: The Sequel." He is one of only 13 athletes in the history of American professional sports to have played in both Major League Baseball (Brooklyn Dodgers 1949, Chicago Cubs, 1951) and the National Basketball Association (Boston Celtics 1946-48). Chief Hatcher was played by Brock Peters, best known for playing the villainous "Crown" in the 1959 film version of "Porgy and Bess," and Tom Robinson in the 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird." He played two recurring roles in the Star Trek franchise: Starfleet Admiral Cartwright in two of the original-cast feature films, and Joseph Sisko (father of station commander Benjamin Sisko) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The actor you recognized as having been in several Mel Brooks movies was Dick Van Patten. Van Patten was in "High Anxiety," "Spaceballs," and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." His most famous TV role was as the father, Tom Bradford, in "Eight Is Enough" (1977-1981).

[@micpar2]

Heston was also Taylor the main character US astronaut in the original Planet of the Apes (1968). The Omega Man, he also had small roles in True Lies (1994) with Arnold Schwarzenegger and in the movie Tombstone (1993). The old businessman who got murdered was Joseph Cotten. In the 1940's/50's was a huge character actor like Heston too. Check out Alfred Hitchcock's best movie Shadow of a Doubt (1943).

[@denveradams4909]

There are many actors in this film that also starred in Star Trek films.

[@tofersiefken]

The year 2022 as envisioned in 1973. It's always fun to dive into the retro-futuristic vision of years and landmarks we've already passed. (A great movie to enjoy on my lunch break.)

[@donaldjz]

Well , just look at the current administration

[@dcanmore]

Can't beat a bit of 1970s dystopia. I remember as a kid watch a BBC TV series called Survivors where 90% of the world's population was wiped out by a man-made plague accidentally released by a Chinese scientist (!) and the show concentrated on a few survivors hanging on in the English countryside, it was pretty grim.

[@stuartwald2395]

Starring the incredible Carolyn Seymour.

[@dcanmore]

@@stuartwald2395 that's right, and the lovely Lucy Fleming

[@long-timesci-fienthusiast9626]

Hi Ray, great to see you react to this unusual film. I did not see it until the early-mid `80`s, the local video rental store would let you rent 3 films for less. So, when I could I would find 3 "new to me" films, mainly at the weekend & watch them. When I saw this I was impressed, yet perturbed by it. I had not seen any film with a similar outlook & it sent a shiver down my spine. It especially worries me when we now hear them pushing forward changing our food, to frankenstein food made from things other than natural food. It certainly made me think at such a young age & yet, I ultimately just considered it a far-fetched Sci-Fi plot that could never really happen.

[@thegwolf]

I remember seeing this in the early 90's. It has hit me and keeps staying in the back of my mind. In a way it looks like a crazy plot, but then you look at the cheap meal makers cutting corners and include weird components in foods that slowly poison people and go unpunished, and then the shadow of this movie creep up in the back of your mind. Good reaction. Keep up the good work!

[@toddkes5890]

Like the melamine scandal from China in 2008?

[@tofersiefken]

Shout out for actor Brock Peters, who many remember for his multiple roles in the Star Trek franchise.

[@micpar2]

The old man was 1930's-50's huge star Edgar G.Robinson. He played gangsters alot.

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

An all-time favorite. Saw this on a huge screen designed for Super Panavison and other types of widescreen presentations. Scared the heck out of me. This one has great world building, the production design is superb and the acting top notch. I was in the third grade when this came out. I understood, somewhat, what a police state was supposed to be. Vietnam was still going on, so the new was filled with continuous imagery. This is great science fiction and great film making. Surprised pop culture did not spoil the end for you.

[@MatthewStephensAU]

I remember my dad watching this when I was too young to understand it. The final line was chilling enough that it stayed in my memory. So when I grew up enough to understand the film on a rewatch, I already knew the twist.

[@garychambers6848]

Soylent green....Taste may vary from person to person.....

[@innercircle341]

enjoyed all these sci fi classics with you, seen them all

[@tofersiefken]

The actor playing the euthanization tech was Dick Van Patten who you may have recalled from Mel Brooks' Spaceballs and many Gen-X watched as the father on Eight is Enough (ABC 1977-1981).

[@RKnights]

I did recognize him

[@montag4516]

He also played as one of the paying guests in the original Westworld movie.

[@SGlitz]

Soylent Green is People!

[@kenpaden]

Great reaction Ray, I figured you would love it. I saw this when I was a kid on tv, the bulldozers scooping people up and Sol's death scene were most memorable for me also. Edward G Robinson was also in The 10 Commandments with Charlton Heston, he played a conniving con-artist, which he was very good at doing. The actor you asked about being in Mel Brooks movies was Dick Van Patten who was indeed in several Mel Brooks movies, he is best known as the father in the tv series Eight is Enough. A great syfy 80 tv mini series that I loved you might want to check out is called "V" , its about aliens who come to earth posing as friendly harmless visitors.

[@denveradams4909]

The bodyguard is Chuck Conners of "The Rifleman" fame.

[@gallendugall8913]

Good people make good food!

[@phillipsuttles1926]

Edward G. Robinson played Sol the book. Taylor's research assistant. At this time Edward was totally deaf. But such was of the level of his talent. He learned his lines and did this performance without hearing any of the others, actors or director.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

Loving this series & always looking forward to the Patreon watch alongs. Any Idea what is next yet. Also loving the Farscape reactions, shame they didn't get traction here on YT.

[@RKnights]

I am happy you are joining me on this ride. These movies are great

[@Damiana_Dimock]

(1) We’re not “overpopulated,” our resources are mismanaged-Overpopulation arguments are typically Malthusian nonsense, (which lead to racism and various other intersections of bigotry.) (2) I saw this film about 20-ish years ago, (in middle school I started going through a bunch of these classics of this era,) and the one scene I vividly remembered Sol’s farewell, (from when he walked into the building to when he is taken away.) (3) I highly recommend checking out Rollerball (1975;) THX 1138 (1971;) Class Of 1999 (1990;) The Omega Man (1971;) Threads (1984.) (4) You might really like the book Day Of The Triffids by John Wyndham, (which inspired 28 Days Later far more than the actual adaptation of Wyndham’s book,) anyway, it’s only about 280pgs-a pretty quick read. 🙏🏼☺️

[@cpmf2112]

Exactly, there are more than enough resources for everyone, but distribution is intentionally mismanaged.

[@RKnights]

I really want to see Rollerball

[@Damiana_Dimock]

@@RKnights just watched it on Tubi the other night. Was better than I expected.

[@krissiep1317]

Yes! its message is about man vs corporate. Some fun bloody scenes

[@iKvetch558]

This movie made me fall in love with Beethoven for the first time. Even though it is a sad scene, hearing the 6th Symphony "Pastorale" for the first time as Sol is passing away really made an impression on me. My Dad was a HUGE classical music fan, and fed me a regular diet of Beethoven's 5th, 7th and definitely the 9th...but the Pastorale in this movie was the first time I encountered Beethoven "on my own" and it even made me appreciate my Dad's taste in music more. LOL

[@RKnights]

I'm glad this movie brought you closer to Beethoven's music and helped you see your Dad's taste in a new light. It's moments like these that make movies so special.

[@iKvetch558]

@@RKnights I definitely prefer the use of Beethoven in THIS movie to the way Beethoven was used in Clockwork Orange. LOL Even though both movies are pretty distopian in nature, Soylent Green at least gets the win for "Best Beethoven". 😁

[@gaffo7836]

FYI - Soylent Green was based on Harry Harrison's "Make Room Make Room" book, and the movie Rollerball was made from Harry Harrison's short story "Rollerball Murder".

[@micpar2]

I saw this when I was 11 years old it was really shocking. So was the Omega Man with Heston both very dark and grim movies about a very bleak future. This gives you all new meaning to the words EAT ME!!

[@kencooper8835]

I first saw this movie when i was a kid, sometime in the late 70s. I have seen it every 7-10 years at different stages in my life. The older i get, the more dire and hopeless i feel after viewing it again. Even now, the scene with Saul and Thorne... i began crying like a baby.. I'm not an environmental "nut", but my awareness of environmental and over-population issues, keeps me vigilant in knowing some things need to change... we need to not only be wise shepherds of our World, but better shepherds. Maybe if we learn to love our "fellow-Man", we can save the World and save ourselves.

[@SadPeterPan1977]

One of the things I love about 70s sci-fi is that they weren't afraid of being dark if that was necessary for the story. All too often now directors are pressured by studios and/or audiences to make the ending 'happy' or cathartic when shocking would be better.

[@MrTickleTrunk]

It's SO WILD there's so many of these classics you've never seen before :)

[@RKnights]

My folks spent to much time throwing me out the house and we only had 1 tv.

[@MrTickleTrunk]

@@RKnights SAME, I'm also Gen X. latch-Key Kid some days and a free ranged kid the others LOL. I watched all these movies when I got my own place ;) LOL

[@joerenaud8292]

I'd like to suggest a few more older movies that I know you'll find very interesting and entertaining, such as 1975 "Rollerball", 1951 "The Day the Earth Stood Still", 1978 "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", 1979 Apocalypse Now, "War of the Worlds" 1953, "Tron 1982, "Repo Man 1984 and "THX 1138" 1971.

[@Dreamfox-df6bg]

I missed it several times myself, but the books Thorn gets from Simonson's apartment state that the plankton Soylent Green is allegedly made of is dying out or already extinct. Which is why the old people are able to piece together what is going on, but they needed proof. Which is why Sol commits suicide. Thorn might have not followed it up on Sol's words alone. He needed to give Thorn a good reason to do so.

[@ianstopher9111]

Assisted dying became legally available in New Zealand in 2021, after a referendum that I voted for. My brother-in-law used assisted dying in 2022 to end his life on his terms. I always think of the scene with Sol signing the paperwork and choosing the music for his death.

[@innercircle341]

classic!!!!

[@RKnights]

absolutely

[@TairnKA]

I believe this was Edward G. Robinson's last movie before passing away? "It's a Cookbook!" Maybe "Silent Running" (1972) would be a good follow up to this?

[@montag4516]

Yes, he died within a few short days after filming this.

[@Shadowman4710]

One of my favorite 1970's films. While it clearly gets the year wrong (and the fact that nobody past 1975 would EVER wear a Nehru jacket) I think it's a good indication of where American society is going. Yeah and this film is full of great actors from the 50's 70's like Charleton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Brock Peters, Chuck Conners, etc. Hell it even has a cameo by the great Joseph Cotton, who had been a major star in the 40's and 50's. "Tasteless, odorless crud...." Yeah, that sums up our society in a nutshell. And yes, "furniture" is a term applied to what are essentially sex slaves. They don't use the term slave in the film but they are clearly obligated by contract to belong to whoever is renting/owning that apartment.

[@RKnights]

I really loved this movie

[@jonilore]

Really appreciate your reaction to this unusual film. Just finished watching it myself today for the first time and it was nice to get your take on it.

[@william_santiago]

Soylent Green. I hear the taste varies from person to person.

[@SadPeterPan1977]

But always chicken.

[@michaelwalsh1035]

Edward G. Robinson as Saul - EGR easily one of the greatest film actors of all time. This film gets more and more relevant as the years pass. The most relevant and realistic is the portrayal of the corporate and governmental elites. This has been fully realized in our time - very accurate portrayal of contemporary elites. They live completely secure and privileged lives and have contempt for the population.

[@drew.168]

The classics are classic for a reason with hestons iconic delivery at the end. However, the world is not over populated. Some areas are. There is so much empty space in the world. Our hubris and recklessness will doom us long before we run out of space.

[@gaffo7836]

not a patreon guy - but if you have not seen Rollerball - offer the name up on a pole - it will probably win, it is a classic and has a social message, like Soylent Green, not the same message - but just a True -for the 70's and today!!!!!!!! Rollerball rocks and James Caan was excellent!!!!!

[@traceyreid4585]

Just found your channel today and subscribed after this great reaction and commentary. The book as you probably know by now is called Make Room, Make Room, published in 1966 (a bit of a dark visionary was Harry Harrison) the author is also the creator of The Stainless Steel Rat, which featured in early editions of comic 2000AD. My brother collected them back in the 80's

[@RKnights]

I am happy you found our channel. Hope you stick around awhile.

[@phillipsuttles1926]

I don"t know if the product is still availible. But a few years ago, there was a product called (wait for IT) SOYLENT GREEN

[@RKnights]

I think that product is still around

[@herbyragan8686]

One of my favorite sci-fi films.

[@04m11]

I saw it as a kid on HBO in the 80s

[@tofersiefken]

To extend your "furniture" metaphor, I think I'd avoid the Ikea branded models. They're complicated, take a lot of work, often have un-explained extra parts or missing pieces, and ultimately don't last.

[@strawman6085]

But the meatballs…the meatballs.

[@jons.105]

Gives new meaning to the insult "Eat me."

[@spacecow149]

i was at the drink aisle at Walmart a while back. They had a soylent drink for sale. At first I thought it was a joke, but no it's real. It even had this weird mint green label. I would have bought one because i thought it was funny, but it was about $5 a bottle.

[@RKnights]

I think that drink is still around. I think you can only buy online now but I might be wrong

[@strawman6085]

I’ve read the book. It has almost no similarities to the movie. It’s one of the few times where the movie is better than the book.

[@davidmarquardt9034]

There was a book that came out in, I believe, 1968 called "The Population Bomb" and it's premise was that we had to lower the birth rate as we were at the limit, and that agriculture could not keep up. This got a lot of people to think about this subject for the first time. And so sci-fi writers started to explore this concept. I think Star Trek TOS did the first episode with the planet, Gideon, where the people were shoulder to shoulder. Then you have what you've just seen (by the way, I read this was Robinson's last role, he died shortly after.) Then Silent Running (good one) from 1972, and I think there was a movie called ZPG (Zero Population Growth).

[@ianstopher9111]

Harrison's Make Room! Make Room! was published in 1966 and Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar first came out in 1967, so they predate The Population Bomb.

[@lonelyboy1977]

Soylent Green is... SPOILER!!! 😄

[@jamesleonard9703]

ARE YOU FUN, RAY. 😂😂😂😂😂 ARE YOU FURNITURE. 😂😂😂. I was 14 when this movie came out. When I saw it. I thought to myself that the world could end up that way. ( TO MANY PEOPLE) Not enough resources.

[@aleinstein3223]

Edward G. Roberson is one of the best actors to grace the stage. Try " the Cincinnati Kid"

[@herrzimm]

Soylent Green is one that just catches you off guard due to the absolute TWISTS that happen you have no hints were about to happen. Also, if you are going to do "Mad Max" in ANY form, I strongly suggest you do the Mel Gibson movies FIRST.... IE doing them in order with Mad Max, Road Warrior, Thunderdome ... BEFORE you move to the more modern ones. Because in all honesty, the Mel Gibson movies are where you ESTABLISH the "character" with the more modern ones being more about the LEGACY of the character on film more than how he is/was/should-be.

[@RKnights]

Mad Max Road Warrior 2 is coming soon. Currently on patreon here soon

[@RetroRobotRadio]

At the time there was a panic about population control and environmental disaster. None of it came true, but it made a good movie.

[@sciguyjeff]

Soylent Green or death at 30. Both are grim

[@cyco6991]

Enjoy your facial expressions and your videos!

[@jamesleonard9703]

YEP, SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE.

[@alexanderdgray]

Don't even ask about Selsun Blue.....

[@marcel.s7493]

Maybe you can watch 1984?

[@chrisnielsen9885]

I saw this 30 years ago on VHS and it shocked me. The overpopulation and depredation people were suffering. Scooping rioters up like so much garbage. And women having zero rights and being furniture still haunts me to this day. Sign of a good movie if it makes you think

[@RKnights]

I agree, that is a sign of a good movie when you are haunted by it. Loved this movie

[@emilmlodnicki3835]

What does Soylent Green taste like? It depends on the person.

[@2hcobda2]

31:42 T'Pau of Vulcan & daughter of "The Queen of the Nile" (Twilight Zone)

[@2hcobda2]

30:41

[@2hcobda2]

41:55 "The Rifleman" (tv series)

[@stue2298]

The girls that come with the apartments are priveleged and lucky, they get to live a life of luxury eating nice food, drinking and smoking (a police detetive is not afforded that luxury) or they could life with the rest sleeping on staircases, hungry and dirty. It may be scummy by today's values but what life would you choose if you got the chance, live most of your life in lap luxury or be a normal person. I cant believe you havent watched these movies, what a treat to see these movies for the first time when you can fully understand the ideas behind them.

[@gaffo7836]

Dissagree on your conclusion about "Hatcher" (Brock Peters) killing Thorn. Hatcher was corrupt, but he was also Thorn's friend, and he did not know about Soylent being from people. Sure he wanted to obey his masters and was corrupt, but he is never shown as a mean or evil man in the movie - only "only" (like Thorn was too) corrupt. So disagee here I think the movie ends on hope. Hatcher has Thorns back as a friend and maybe - maybe - the People wake up to The Truth. BTW - not sure if you have seen Rollerball, but it is from the same era and has a similar "social message" (why 70's movies ROCK - and modern ones SUCK). ya Rollerball - as good (maybe even better? than Soylent Green), then we have "Silent Running" (same theme as Soylent Green), and Lathe of Heaven (more philosophical than social theme - about Pride, Humility and playing God) BTW Edgar G. Robinson (Saul) died only 2 weeks after the filming of his movie (ironic he played the ending scene of him ending - and 2 weeks later again in real life) - RIP Edgar - one of the Greats in my personal Hall of Fame list of top actors - "Key Largo" anyone? As for Charlton Heston, he was like Will Shatner - stage presents, but tended to overact, in this movie he gave his best performance - tied with the classic movie "Ben Hur" - vs when he goes off the rails as in the Planet of the Apes movies (great series - but noting Heston's acting in them vs a more restrained version). - and why IMO Paul Newman may be the best actor of all time - always constrained in all movies he's in - and underated because of sadly. if you want to watch Newman (off topic) check out: "The Hustler" "Cool Hand Luke' both top 20 movies of all time - IMO.

[@krissiep1317]

This movie convinced me not to have children

[@gaffo7836]

NO reboot!!!!!!!!!!!! they will only add explosions and effects and not have any social message!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and why the last 20 yrs or so movies have sucked!) NO REBOOTS!!!!!!!! - they will just ruin the original like Star Trek and Star Wars (and Rollerball - ya there was a remake 15-20 yrs ago - of course it sucked!) there was a remake of The Lathe of Heaven 20 yrs ago - with James Caan!!!!!!! - ya, its sucked! the original - 1979 version with Bruce Davison was lightyears better. sssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! remakes/reboots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! p-l-e-a-s-e f-o-r t-h-e- l-o-v-e o-f G-o-d ;-/.

[@atariboy9084]

5:26 FUN FACT that was the very first they they shown a video game 1971 Computer Space made by Nolan Bushnell who also made Atari in 72 with Pong.

[@maschwab63]

About 3 years ago a friend father died. After the funeral, he went to a trail cam at his father's favorite hunting spot. When he viewed the images, one image was of a deer. The next image within the same messages was a roughly cylindrical column of fog, as if a his father's ghost was there and cooled the air (like The Sixth Sense). A similar movie is Pink Floyd - The Wall 1982, based on the 1979 album. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd_%E2%80%93_The_Wall "Teacher, Leave Them Kids Alone!".