MovieChat Forums > Silent Running (1972) Discussion > Saw this again after a VERY long time

Saw this again after a VERY long time

posted 11 years ago by badgerking10
7 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS

I remember seeing this as a child - if I remember rightly, on BBC2 immediately after children's programmes had finished on BBC1. Though, that doesn't seem like a particularly appropriate time to show such a film... Anyway, while I didn't remember it in much detail, the hauntingly bleak ending had always stayed with me. So, when I noticed it was on Film4 the other day, I set the recorder and it was interesting to watch it as an adult... People talk about it so reverentially and there's certainly something special about it. But, it's not without flaws... The thing that surprised me most was the fact that they thought Saturn's rings were made of gas... Presumably they didn't discover they were in fact ice and rock 'til the Voyager missions... Unfair to consider that a flaw, I suppose - if people didn't know, they didn't know... The special effects are very of their time, but are good enough and even, on occasions, quite striking - great domes of Earth plantlife off in space... It would have been good to know a bit more about what was going on back on Earth... Why were there no longer any plants left on Earth and what had led to the decision to destroy the precious remnants that were floating out in space..? My biggest problem with it was the fact that, while it has this less than subtle environmental message, Lowell - the champion of plants and animals in the film - really isn't a very sympathetic character... Even as someone who's very concerned about the environment myself, I look at him and see an unstable man, who shouldn't have been allowed anywhere near a space mission and not an eco-hero... Are three human lives less important than a dome full of plantlife - even if it is the last Earth plantlife in existence..? It's not a decision I'd be remotely comfortable making... So, no - it's not perfect. But, as I've said, it is a special film and a film that can haunt your thoughts for thirty-odd years must have a lot going for it.

[–] buggerlugs 11 years ago

I wish I could "like" imdb comments haha.

I had almost the same experience. It was not only my earliest movie memory but the earliest memory I have of anything in my entire life. I had no idea what I had seen but the robot drifting into space alone with his watering can broke my young heart.
I shared this hazy memory with my Dad a while back and he told me straight away- "Silent Running". So I looked it out as an adult 30 years later and my childhood experience was relived! An eerie feeling.

I had a thread on here in 2004 sharing the same thoughts but imdb seemed to have culled all the old stuff, understandably I suppose.

It leaves you with a sadness so few films are capable of these days. Dated? Yes definitely but unforgettable all the same.

[–] Dances_with_Weasels 11 years ago

Your old thread is gone? What a bummer. That was a great discussion. Wasn't it also the one Cheryl Sparks (aka Dewey) introduced herself?

What do stars do? They shine.

[–] grapeape67 11 years ago

I just saw this movie recently. It was originally shown in my elementary school as a lesson on environmentalism.
It made me very sad as a child.
But as an adult, it didn't quite carry such a punch.
Too over the top.
But I give Bruce Dern props for his acting. Always interesting to watch.
Interestingly I saw "Smile" recently as well. Dern is an incredible actor.
He's a perfect blend of clever and slightly insane in just about every role.
Kind of like Harry Dean Stanton or Warren Oates.
Maybe not the best scripts, but they are fascinating actors who steal the show.

[–] cornishartist 11 years ago

That media (especially film and television) can be used effectively in order to create changes in society, and social attitudes and outlooks, has not been lost on the powers that be. Indeed today our media is awash with 'messages' which gradually, or abruptly become part of our collective consciousness. It is an extremely effective method of social engineering society, as it is very subtle.

The reactions that you had as a child to this film did not happen by accident.

Nor was it an accident that the film was, as you said shown 'immediately after children's programmes had finished on BBC1'. And which you also state didn't 'seem like a particularly appropriate time to show such a film'.

Trust me, there was nothing haphazard or foolish about it's timing!

As you also said 'the hauntingly bleak ending had always stayed with me'.

Job done.

[–] pcventures 10 years ago

I would think that his skill with botany would have made him the best fit for that particular mission.
It's a pretty extreme decision - not only to jettison the domes, but to use the nuclear scuttling charges to make absolute sure of their destruction, that brought out his extreme reaction.
I suspect that if there were a different way to preserve the dome(s) without killing his fellow crew members, he would have done it - but the whole situation evolved very quickly.

"...and Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lotta ice, whenever he's away."

[–] jim-85613 7 years ago

I think the forests, plants and animals have more value to me than some people.

[–] thermodyne-01293 7 years ago

If I told you someone was working on a followup project to this classic film, how much interest do you suspect it would bring?