When a higher up is eliminated (Joseph Cotten), Police Officer Thorn (Charlton Heston) tries to find out who did it while he loots the wealthy deceased things and sleeps with the man's live "furniture" girlfriend. His "book", played wonderfully by Edward J. Robinson, finds out what soylent green is really made from - but I can't tell you that here. That would spoil the surprise!
This was Edward J. Robinson's last movie, but he plays his role as Charlton Heston's knowledge base as well as any other role he ever played with emotion and perfect timing. It really was a pleasure to watch him here. His character, Sol, reminds Thorn over and over how life was once greener and food abundant and he longs to return to those days. Legendary Joseph Cotten only has a small part, but an important one, so be sure to look out for his performance. Charlton Heston? Well, it was Charlton Heston who usually turns out campy and dramatic in anything I've ever seen him in (though I loved him in Touch of Evil).
Based on the novel Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison and directed by Richard Fleisher, this movie really is a warning about our future if we don't take care of the Earth. If we do not learn to live sustainably, we too could be fighting over soylent green wafers for our dinners.
Why do all portrayals of Earth's future always include overpopulation and shortages - and usually food and fuel? Are we that pessimistic about our own futures that we image future generations will only suffer looking to higher ranked officials to tell us how to live and eat and breathe? This story, as well as many other of the stories that show our future in this dismal light, should be taken as warnings that we need to change things now. Maybe by showing that we can change, movies about our future will become more hopeful and optimistic and remind us that our future and our children's future can be something to look forward to, instead of something to dread.
Nausea rating: 2.5 out of 5 for sad vision of future.
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