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Silent Running (1972)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
10 March 1972 (USA) moreTagline:
Amazing companions on an incredible adventure... that journeys beyond imagination! morePlot:
The loner crew member of a spaceship harbouring Earth's last nature reserves goes renegade when he is... more | full synopsisAwards:
1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Interview: To the Stars With ‘Moon’ Director Duncan Jones (From HollywoodChicago.com. 17 June 2009, 5:00 AM, PDT)
Pff 09: Review of Duncan Jones' Moon
(From QuietEarth. 25 April 2009, 3:05 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
SILENT RUNNING (Douglas Trumbull, 1971) *** moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Bruce Dern | ... | Freeman Lowell | |
| Cliff Potts | ... | John Keenan | |
| Ron Rifkin | ... | Marty Barker | |
| Jesse Vint | ... | Andy Wolf | |
| Mark Persons | ... | Drone 2 - Huey | |
| Steven Brown | ... | Drone | |
| Cheryl Sparks | ... | Drone 1 - Dewey | |
| Larry Whisenhunt | ... | Drone |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
89 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreCertification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Norway:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:PGFilming Locations:
Aircraft Hanger, Van Nuys Airport - 6590 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA moreFun Stuff
Trivia:
The decommissioned Essex-class aircraft carrier "Valley Forge," a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, served as the interior of the space freighter "Valley Forge." The flight control area and hangar deck of the carrier were modified and painted to represent the space freighter in the film. The carrier was scrapped after filming was complete. moreGoofs:
Continuity: The gray book that one of the droids hands Freeman changes size. The droid hands Freeman a small book, about 5x7 inches, but in a closer scene we see a much larger book. moreQuotes:
Freeman Lowell: [following other astronauts carrying out orders to destroy the forests] Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute... I don't think you guys understand what this means, please don't blow up the domes.Andy Wolf: [laughing] Which ones going first?
Marty Barker: Lets hit four first.
Freeman Lowell: But they're not disposable!
John Keenan: We don't have any choice Lowell.
Freeman Lowell: [pleading] But they're not replaceable!
more
Soundtrack:
Silent Running moreFAQ
Are there people inside the "Drones?"more
more
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Made in the wake of both 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968; the ultimate space opera) and EASY RIDER (1969; the era's biggest 'sleeper' hit), SILENT RUNNING was given the go-ahead by the executives at Universal in an attempt to recapture the momentum of those two films who even allowed special-effects wizard Douglas Trumbull to make his directorial debut, and this with unprecedented artistic freedom.
The film is a visual treat, featuring marvelous if unassuming special effects, though Trumbull manages to keep the technology firmly under control it is all so simple but still very impressive (even more so in view of the budget). Bruce Dern is appropriately cast as the film's eco-friendly hero. Joan Baez's two songs are very much of the time, and yet add quite a lot of humanity to the 'outer space' events. The film's sets (an unused aircraft carrier conveniently converted into a spaceship!) are also notable. However, the film's most endearing elements are the two almost-human 'drones', Huey and Dewey, which contribute to some amusing and even touching interplay with Dern; they were an obvious influence on C-3P0 and R2-D2 from from the STAR WARS films.
Still, I found the film to be somewhat plodding - especially since Dern is, for most of the time, the only human being on screen. In the end, SILENT RUNNING is a pretty good film, and a deserved cult item, but not a classic in the strict sense of the word. That said, it is a whole lot better than the only other feature film Trumbull directed, the dull and overblown BRAINSTORM (1983).
Universal's SE DVD is so packed with extras, it's almost too much: even so, there's actually little repetition throughout the lengthy documentary, numerous interviews and Trumbull's and Dern's joint commentary - and, all in all, it serves as irrefutable proof of the importance and worth (as in experience-enhancing capabilities) of DVD bonus material. While I was not overwhelmed when watching the film proper, after going through the mass of supplements on offer here I had a new-found admiration for what Trumbull intended - and actually makes me look forward to a more open-minded second viewing!