Soylent Green (1973)

Richard Fleischer directed this nightmarish science fiction vision of an over-populated world, based on the novel by Harry Harrison. In 2022, New York City is a town bursting at the seams with a 40-million-plus population. Food is in short supply, and most of the population's food source comes from synthetics manufactured in local factories -- the dinner selections being a choice between Soylent Blue, Soylent Yellow, or Soylent Green. When William Simonson (Joseph Cotten), an upper-echelon executive in the Soylent Company, is found murdered, police detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) is sent in to investigate the case. Helping him out researching the case is Thorn's old friend Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson, in his final film role). As they investigate the environs of a succession of mad-from-hunger New Yorkers and the luxuriously rich digs of the lucky few, Thorn uncovers the terrible truth about the real ingredients of Soylent Green. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Running Time: 97 mins
Soylent Green (1973)

The additional features were nice including: A Look at the World of Soylent Green. In a way it is so funny the dichotomy of orderly life for the rich and the presumed anarchy of the streets and the poor Father that has no "space" for his wards. People sleeping in hallways and stairs not even space to step between them without stepping on at least someone. The cops live by a different code (above the law) and even the rich are not immune to their blackmail and bribery.

Ultimately, it is a gloom and doom movie based on the idea of global warming. But no matter how barbaric it matters, does it really matter what happens to the dead once they die. Of course when they use dump trucks to scoop up more victims then there is some really bad things going on.

Overall well worth watching the movie.

They do seem to be promoting death with dignity as people get to choose lethal drugs to pass on while getting to see what the world was before the tragedies. But the film never addresses how to solve those problems about destruction of the world and only the cannibalism aspects.