Movies
Soylent Green (MGM 1973, Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson)
In controversial sci-fi future tale Soylent Green, cop Charlton Heston pursues a murder in the murky environment of 21st-century New York City. Overpopulation has forced consumption of wafers presumably processed from vegetable matter by the giant Soylent company. As the clues lead to Soylent executive Joseph Cotten and his bodyguard Chuck Connors, Heston’s roommate Edward G. Robinson, an aging researcher, elects to take the government’s offer to die. As Robinson heads for the conveyor belt, Heston discovers the real composition of Soylent Green. Chosen as the best science-fiction film of the year and Robinson’s last movie.
Prior to Soylent Green, Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson were set to costar in Planet of the Apes (1968), but Robinson, who was to play Dr. Zaius, decided the extensive make-up required was too laborious, and dropped out.
production details
USA / MGM / 100 minutes / 1973
cast
Charlton Heston as Detective Thorn
Leigh Taylor-Young as Shirl
Chuck Connors as Tab Fielding
Joseph Cotten as William R. Simonson
Brock Peters as Chief Hatcher
Paula Kelly as Martha
Edward G. Robinson as Sol Roth
Stephen Young as Gilbert
Mike Henry as Kulozik
Lincoln Kilpatrick as The Priest
Roy Jenson as Donovan
Leonard Stone as Charles
Whit Bissell as Gov. Santini
Celia Lovsky as The Exchange Leader
Dick Van Patten as Usher #1