Synopsis:
In the radically overpopulated future, a New York City detective (Charlton Heston) enlists the help of his roommate (Edward G. Robinson) in unraveling the gruesome mystery behind the assassination of a manufacturing magnate (Joseph Cotten).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Charlton Heston Films
• Detectives and Private Eyes
• Edward G. Robinson Films
• Joseph Cotten Films
• Murder Mystery
• New York City
• Science Fiction

Review:
Soylent Green holds the distinction of being perhaps the most “spoiled” film of all time, given the notoriety of its final “giveaway” line (chosen as #77 on the AFI’s list of top 100 movie quotes, and infamously lampooned by Phil Hartman on “Saturday Night Live”). It’s also notable for containing the last screen performance of Edward G. Robinson, who died nine days after shooting his final touching scene. Therefore, it’s particularly odd that Soylent Green — based loosely on the book “Make Room! Make Room!” by Harry Harrison (who was decidedly unhappy with the changes made to his story) — is not included in Peary’s book, especially given that the film itself remains a surprisingly effective, only slightly dated dystopian drama. (And it should be noted that knowing the “secret ingredient” contained in the titular foodstuff doesn’t take away from one’s repeat viewing pleasure.)

Heston — “an actor who has had better last movie lines than any other star”, according to Stomp Tokyo’s reviewers — is appropriately stalwart as the hard-nosed detective who is determined to uncover the conspiracy behind Cotten’s death:

but is never above taking advantage of the amenities (namely wildly overpriced foodstuff) he encounters during his investigation.

Meanwhile, Robinson is a class-act in his final role as Heston’s roommate, a “Book” (so-named because he actually reads) who remembers long-gone days of bountiful flora and fauna on Earth; his delight at eating a piece of genuine beef is a joy to watch, and his final scene in the film (considered hokey by some) never fails to move me to tears. I’m also impressed by the simple yet effective way in which New York City is portrayed as drastically overpopulated, with Heston literally crawling over live bodies sprawled up and down stairwells, and crowd members serving as gruesomely effective “body armor” during assassination attempts.

The film’s main flaw is its decidedly anti-feminist portrayal of women, who are (for the most part) either kerchief-clad personae non gratae, or beautiful and sexually compliant “furniture” (ouch!) for wealthy men — yet this gender-biased vision of the future is, sadly, perhaps not all that unrealistic, making Soylent Green all the more effective as a disturbing cautionary tale.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Edward G. Robinson (in his final role) as Sol
  
• Charlton Heston as Detective Thorn
  
• A surprisingly effective portrayal of a devastated future
  
• Sol’s touching final scene
  

Must See?
Yes, for its historical notoriety.

Categories

• Historically Relevant

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• Stomp Tokyo Review
• Moria Review
• TCM Article
• Time Out Capsule Review