Soylent Green by Richard Fleischer - Movie Review Example

Visual arts and film studies Introduction Evidently, the soylent green is an American fictional film which was first released in the year 1973. In addition to that, the film was directed by Richard Fleischer and the lead actor was Charlton Heston among other actors for instance Leigh Taylor –Young. Notably, in the final version of the film the presence of Edward G Robinson also graced the film. Apparently, the movie combines the aspects of police action and science fiction in the solution and investigation of murder case pertaining to a rich business man in a dystopian suffering from pollution that has resulted from the overpopulation1. Moreover, the film also attributes the murder to the depletion of resources such as social facilities, poverty among other effect of global warming. On the contrary, the film was clearly inspired by the scientific fictional novel of 1966 entitled the Make room! Make room!, by Harry Harrison. 2Incidentally, the novel won the best dramatic presentation and the Saturn award for the best science fiction in the year 1973. It is worth noting that the film championed the theme of overpopulation and the depletion of the resources which has resulted to the rise in the poverty rates in the country. Furthermore, the film also highlights the effects of overpopulation which are the insufficient food supply to cater for the population and also social disorders foe instance increased theft and burglary.3 However, in a bid to ensure the uniqueness of the movie form the novel, the director of the movie chose the soylent green as the title of the film as opposed to the soylent steaks which has been discussed into detail in the novel. In addition to that, the film also champions the theme of soylent green which is the processed food rations being highlighted in the movie. Evidently, this uniqueness of the movie title was aimed at clearing the air relating to the similarity novel and the film. On that note, the film was also not to be taken as an extension or the film version of the novel. Synopsis It is clear that with industrial revolution being experienced in the 20th century, the global population has increased tremendously over the years. Consequently, this has led to the overcrowding of the world and therefore the depletion of the resources available. Moreover, another effect of the industrial revolution is the increased pollution of the environment. 4Evidently, research has shown that by the year 2022, the population of the New York city will have risen to 40 million people. The research goes ahead to postulate that the housing facilities will be minimal and therefore will not cater for the needs of this huge population. On that note, this will lead to the overcrowding of this city. As a result, a fraction of the population will be rendered homeless and leaving in the streets. Furthermore, the research goes ahead to predict that with the rise in this population an approximated 20 million people will be unemployed and therefore increased in the poverty rates in the city. In summation the film strives to highlight some of these social issues that were present at the time of the setting of this film. 5On the contrary, the film revolves around a New York City department detective, Charlton Heston who in the film is Robert Thorn. Essentially, the detective lives with his friend who is old in age, Solomon Roth who is Edward G Robinson. Apparently, as a result of his aging Solomon reflects on his previous life before the unfortunate turning of his life to the worst. Initially, the film depicts his youthful age was characterized by the routinely waxes and nostalgic and good weather as compared to the current which is filthy as a result of the pollution of the environment. Moreover, the film also clearly shows that Solomon was a well-educated individual and he is in ownership of a small library in the city. It is important to note that, Solomon uses library with the help of Dr. Thorn to solve variety crimes. Similarly, this is the reason as to why the film refers to the library as the police reference. On that note, while investigating the murder of a rich business man, William R Simonson the role taken by Joseph Cotton.6 The detective interrogates Shirl, the role taken by Leigh Taylor-Young. Apparently, Shirl was a mistress and in the film she is referred to as the furniture. Furthermore, the detective, Thorn also interrogated the body guard of William, Tab Fielding the role taken by Chuck Connors. On that note, it is worth noting that at the time of the Tab was escorting Shirl to a butchery store to purchase some meat. After this, thorn searches through the residence of Simpson which was apparently, the murder scene for evidence that have been left around by the perpetrator of the act. The film clearly highlight that as thorn was conducting his search, he treated himself to some of the luxuries which include the air conditioned room and the meat that was purchased by Shirl before the aftermath of the incident. 7Consequently, the detective gives Solomon some restricted Soylent oceanographic survey report of 2015 to 2019 found in the murder scene. Evidently, the research yields that William and the current state governor of New York, Joseph Satini the role played by Whit Bissell were business partners in a renowned law firm. In addition to that, the research also yielded that Simpson was a member of the Board of the Soylent. Notably, at the police station, Thorn reveals to the lieutenant, Hatcher which is the role taken by Brock Peters that the murder was no longer a random attack but in fact an assassination. In fact, he goes ahead to support this claim by stating that no burglary was done since everything in the apartment was intact and nothing was missing.8 Moreover, he goes ahead to state that the alarm system in the apartment was not working at the time of the murder which was not just a coincidence but a planned effort. Furthermore, the bodyguard was also absent at the time of the murder. Evidently, consequent investigations into Fielding’s concubine, Martha the role played by Paula Kelly revealed that she is way too extravagant to be a concubine of the bodyguard raising suspicion. On that note, the investigation also reveals that Simpson was disturbed days before his murder and sort the confession of the priest who was later murdered by Tab and the investigation was closed following the orders of the governor seeing that the circumstantial evidence was pointing at him. Against the orders of the Governor and the Soylent Corporation, Thorn sort to get to the bottom of the case which left him a potential target by the murderer of William. Notably, the killer follows Thorn to a ration- distribution where the police were, but in a twisted turn of events, he is taken by the crowd dispersion vehicle before he commits the act.9 Following this, Thorn threatens both Fielding and Martha in a bid to scare them out of their comfort zone. In addition to this, he also hints that most cites are similar in the action of protection of the wealthy at the expense of the majority of the people. Evidently, a decisive investigation of the oceanographic reports by a group of researchers who were consulted by the Roth yielded that the ocean was no longer in production of the plankton’s form which the soylent green is reputably founded upon. In addition to that, it also postulates that the infer needs to be made from the remains of the human waste which is clearly the only source of proteins that matches the production. Clearly, unable to live with this discovery, Roth seeks to kill himself in a government clinic. Consequently, he manages to do this, but before he dies he reveals his discovery to thorn and urges him to disclose this disturbing truth to the people. However, on his way, he is ambushed by Fielding and others. Notably, in this heated battle, Thorn manages to kill Fielding but is severely injured.10 On that note, upon arrival of the police, Thorn urges Hatcher to spread the truth and also the vibrant message that soylent green is the people. In summation, the film clearly is based on the occurrence at the particular time in history. Evidently, the film has historical significance since it champions the theme of overpopulation and crime in the city. It is important to note that, these themes are relevant to the current world. Evidently, it is clear that over the years, crime has been on the rise.11 Notably, the wealthy and the people in authority have used illegal activities to triumph over the needs of the people who are the majority in the world. Essentially, through the study of films and there settings we can be able to understand and preserve the history of a society. Evidently, it is clear that the above film has been used to highlight the historical injustices committed in New York and therefore can be used as a reference point. In conclusion, it is important to study the setting and relate them to the themes being championed in a film in order to get a glimpse of what the director was trying to say. To this end it is clear that the Soylent green has a lot of teachings and thus should be studied further. Reference  Geraghty, Lincoln. American science fiction film and television. New York: Berg, 2009.  Greenberg, Stanley R., Richard Fleischer, and Harry Harrison. Soylent green. S.l.: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972.  Harrison, Harry, and Verena Hacker. Soylent Green. 1. Aufl. ed. Frankfurt am Main: Mantikore-Verlag, 2013.  Soylent Green. DVD. Directed by Charlton Heston. Ljubljana: Art vidis, 20041973. Read More