It’s remarkable to me how time passes. I don’t ponder this every single day, but when I am reminded of a movie or other event from my childhood, I can’t help but take a step back and reflect. I don’t know what I was looking for online but I ran across a web page describing the movie Soylent Green. And with perfect timing my daughter walked by, glanced at my screen, and ask what’s “Soylent Green?” Now, you’re either laughing along or shaking your head, no idea what I’m talking about.
It was 40 years ago today that Soylent Green was released. The action takes place in New York City, where I lived but set in 2022, which no longer seems so far off. The population has exploded and NYC grew to an insane 40 million (from the 7 or so million at the time) and food was in short supply. As a 10 year old who was both a fan of science fiction and aware of the issues that faced the world, poverty, hunger, over population, this movie made an impression on me.
1973 also produced Westworld, “Where nothing can go worng,” The Exorcist, which I wish I hadn’t seen at 10, and Ralph Bakshi’s Heavy Metal, an animated movie that got an X rating. I’ve been meaning to see it, still.
Yeah, I saw Soylent Green… not when it came out, too old for me, haha, but I saw it. I’m glad no one gave away the ending either. It was a cool movie with a cool idea.
Joe,
My dad turned me on to old sci-fi entertainment. It started with Twilight Zone marathons on New Year’s Eve that we’d watch all night. Then I furiously watched dozens of movies like this before I was a teenager.
And I think Heavy Metal is on Crackle so you can watch it for free. It’s one of the more bizarre yet entertaining movies I’ve watched.
-Christian L. @ Smart Military Money
I saw Soylent Green. Amazing movie with a very surprising ending. I wonder if it is available to the public at this point.
Heavy Metal is not by Ralph Bakshi. It’s a number of different animators, It’s not exactly genius, but it is sort of good slightly unclean fun, the music’s what the doctor ordered, and you get to hear, “STERN!!!” in your mind the rest of your life for a moment’s humor.
Oops! I meant “Fritz the Cat,” of course. “Heavy Traffic” was a Bakshi film, you are right, cm. My bad.