This “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD release is currently available from Arrow Video.
If you’re of a certain age, then you likely remember the science-fiction feature Soylent Green for being a bit ahead of its time in terms of its themes of environmentalism and overpopulation. If you’re a little younger, then you know it from a Saturday Night Live sketch in which Phil Hartman, doing an impression of star Chalton Heston, screams out the line that essentially gives away the screenplay’s twist ending.
And if you’re younger still, then you might not know the title at all. But it is worth checking out. Indeed, Soylent Green was quite ahead of its time and still makes an impression to this day, even if you already know the big giveaway. For those who don’t, the ending still works both on an emotional level and delivers on sheer entertainment value.
Arrow Video is now delivering an impressive 4K Ultra HD “Limited Edition” of the film with a significantly upgraded picture and plenty of bonuses that lend more insight into the production.
It’s 2022, and the world is ravaged by global warming, overpopulation, and pollution. A very right-wing government has taken control. One percent live in luxury, while the rest are poor and starving. Authorities also take extreme measures to keep citizens in line with strict curfews. They claim to have things well in hand, offering most of the public a plankton-based food source called Soylent Green (while the wealthy eat bits and pieces of the kinds of sustenance that you and I take for granted).
New York City cop Richard Thorn (Charlton Heston) manages to eke out a living investigating crimes. He’s called in to look at a brutal murder involving Soylent Green board member Wiliam R. Simonson (Joseph Cotton). Admittedly, he’s a bit excited to see the victim’s executive suite and nick a few items that only the wealthy can afford (some meat, vegetables, and a bar of soap among other things). He shares them with his aging roommate and “Book” (one of the few educated civil servants who is allowed to and can read books to help solve crimes) Solomon Roth (Edward G. Robinson). Over the film, he interviews Simonson’s “furniture”, Shirl (Leigh Taylor-Young), a striking woman who came with the apartment and serves the owner’s needs, as well as hulking servant Tab Fielding (Chuck Connors).
Viewers see the environmentally destroyed world that the characters are living in, and it makes an impression. There is scene after scene in dilapidated, crowded streets with a visible haze of pollution. And one bit, involving a modernized dump truck pushing, lifting and removing, and even running over rioting crowds still sends chills down the spine.
Protagonist Thorn is an interesting character in that he hasn’t known anything but these conditions his entire life. It’s a nice contrast to his friend Sol, who laments the loss of so many simple things around him. When the “Book” sees some of the items that Thorn brings home, his eyes light up as he talks about them and gets to experience them one more time with the curious and ultimately amazed protagonist. Their relationship is central to the movie working, and it really does, as the sick Sol ends up considering euthanasia as a means of leaving the downtrodden world. The climax, which manages to incorporate idyllic shots of the natural world, really is moving.
All of the movie’s themes are on display and are well-handled. For a project made in the early 1970s, there’s a lot on display that still looks convincing and believable about the state of the world. And, the film knows that the identity of the killer isn’t as important as clarifying and ultimately displaying the origins and inner workings of the Soylent Green factory. And what’s most chilling isn’t the reveal, but the fact that it all feels believable and like something that could easily occur in the near future.
This is most certainly a science-fiction classic. The upgraded picture looks incredible as well. The original 35mm negative has been given a 4K restoration and is presented in Dolby Vision. It is a much cleaner image revealing more details than ever before and besting every other version available by a mile. Since this world on display is pollution-ridden, a few of the daytime exteriors look a bit grainy, but they’re supposed to. There are some big scenes with extras that look impressive. The interiors all look extremely clear and sharp, and the images used of the old world before the planet was environmentally damaged are incredibly vibrant. The disc looks phenomenal.
The extras are also illuminating. There are two commentary tracks. The first is an archival piece with director Richard Fleischer (20,000 Leagues Under the Seas, Fantastic Voyage. Doctor Dolittle, The Boston Strangler, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Amityville 3-D, Conan the Destroyer) and co-star Leigh Taylor-Young. They talk about the picture and the ideas they were trying to convey.
Taylor-Young notes what the personal impression the movie made on her, while Fleisher explains how unwell Robinson was at the time of filming (he died a few months after production wrapped). The director states that the actor was essentially deaf, but that he still managed to sell his performance with aplomb and is one of the reasons the movie is so fondly remembered.
There is also a film historian commentary. This is an entertaining track, delivering production details and notes that are very interesting. They read quotes from the participants about the experience and how the author of the source material felt about the adaptation (which does include a major change or two from the original story). The pair also have a bit of fun with the film, noting that the only thing it is missing is the use of cell phones and the internet – otherwise, everything in the picture would be completely convincing as a modern story.
There are also two BFI audio interviews. One is with star Charlton Heston and the other director Fleisher. Each is well over one-hour in length, with the pair talking about their body of work and going into detail about Soylent Green and its importance. Fleisher worked on a ton of notable titles and hearing him tell stories about them is fascinating throughout. Another interesting curio that becomes very clear from Heston is that this is one of his favorite movies. He notes that his performance was strong because Robinson was a friend, and that he knew the actor was dying, resulting in more poignancy in their scenes together. The themes also meant something to him, and even though he was an NRA supporter enthusiast, Heston implies that politics veering too far to the right and a dictatorship would ultimately result in a similar kind of scenario.
There are also two entertaining archival featurettes. One involves the shooting of the film, while the other was produced by MGM, looking back at the career of Edward G. Robinson. It also features Heston talking about the famous performer. A theatrical trailer and image galleries are also included on the disc.
You’ll also get a booklet with additional writing on the movie, as well as a reversible sleeve with new and original artwork for the movie.
I won;t be keeping any secrets from Soylent Green fans. This is an excellent title that really should be on the shelf of any science-fiction enthusiast. The 4K Ultra HD presentation is spectacular and the bonuses add some incredible details about the movie that will make it all the more moving to the viewers. Be sure to pick it up if you can.
