OK, I’ve been a TV slug this Saturday. Today I’ve watched TCM, Turner Classic Movies, seeing The Journey, Rio Lobo and just now, Soylent Green. For the first time. How could a scifi aficionado like me have missed Soylent Green for 35 years? Well, I did. Having read reviews and seen references, I thought I knew the story pretty well. I actually planned to go biking after Rio Lobo, but Soylent drew me in.
The science fiction was thorough, starting with the very believable meltdown of culture. NYC is supposed to have 40 million inhabitants, then later we are told that 20 million have no jobs. Somehow that doesn’t sound so far-fetched today. When Thorn (Charlton Heston) investigates the murder of Simonson (Joseph Cotten) the apartment super complains that nothing works. That doesn’t sound far-fetched, either. Thorn calls Simonson’s young companion, Shirl (Leigh Taylor-Young), the “Furniture.” I had heard about that somewhere. She comes (hmmm) with the apartment like furnishings, but can be replaced if she gets old or worn out. To get around, Thorn has to step over the bodies of homeless people sleeping on stairs and sidewalks. My stepdaughter tells me that is already the case in Quito, Ecuador.
The reactions of Thorn and Sol (Edward G Robinson) as they ate the real food that Thorn stole from the crime scene hit just the right notes of physical pleasure and surprise (and was not that different than my reactions to the homemade bread, juice and ice cream that my wife has been making for the last year.) And Robinson, who died two weeks after the wrap, struck just the right note as someone who was old enough to remember something of what Earth had lost when he asked, “How did we come to this?”
Once Upon A TPM 
Comments on: "How Did We Come To This?" (4)
Next stop: Omega Man?
I saw it years ago but barely remember it, except for the ending, of course. I think I was more shocked and upset by another Heston flick – the scene in Planet of the Apes when he is walking on the beach and suddenly comes upon the arm and torch of the Statue of Liberty buried under the sand. For some reason that image has always bothered me.
By the way, Donal, I love the cartoon pic you chose for your post. “Now with more girls!”, LOL.
Never seen these films. Not likely to either. Thus I appreciate hearing about this. Well…if you can call hearing about meltdown of culture “appreciation”. But thanks. What concerns me is the selfishness of some versus the very real plight of others. The differences are stark and a threat to the idea of a “social contract” in society.
Thank, Donal. And good to see you here.
i’ve never seen this film, donal, and can’t say i recall ever hearing about it, but i’m definitely going to hunt it out now. thanks for the tip!