Silent Running (1972) Part 3

After creating many of the innovative special effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey, Douglas Trumbull tried his hand at directing, and 1972's Silent Running marked an impressive debut. (In addition to creating the visual effects for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and directing 1983's Brainstorm, Trumbull later turned to the creation of high-tech cinematic amusement park rides.) One of the best science fiction films of the 1970s, Silent Running stars Bruce Dern as Freeman Lowell, a nature-loving astrobotanist aboard the Valley Forge, a gigantic spaceship in a small fleet that carries the last surviving forests of the Earth, which has fallen victim to overpopulation and ecological neglect.

Freeman's name reflects his nonconformist philosophy, which runs counter to the prevailing recklessness of his three ill-fated crewmates, who are eager to jettison their precious payload and return to the bleakness of Earth. Before they can sabotage the forests, Freeman does what he must, and spends the remainder of his mission with three robotic "drones" as his only companions, struggling to maintain his sanity in the vastness of space. Dern is superb in this memorable role, representing the lost soul of humankind as well as the back-to-nature youth movement of the 1960s and the pre-Watergate era. (Appropriately, Joan Baez sings the film's theme song.) A rare science fiction film that combines bold adventure with passionate social conscience, Silent Running will remain relevant as long as the Earth is threatened by the ravages of human carelessness.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Silent
• Running
• Bruce
• Dern

[Pulsar205]

The destruction was in built in the whole scheme right from the start.

Someone might want to go and fetch them and start replanting on earth-and that would be inconvenient to progress.

Someone at the top always wants to do the complete opposite of what's wise.

[deane1968]

Boy that is awesome~he blasts those turds right into space!!!

[unclefixer]

They blew up the domes to further illustrate the innate stupidity of destroying the last of nature. This was back when people were starting to understand our earth is fragile and we have to protect it. This may mean stopping the greedy and power mad of the world. It might mean stop putting money and power into the hands of short sighted and selfish idiots. Firing government officials who promote such stupidity.

[RavnDream]

So he kills three (douchy) human lives to save the last forest...Heroic Sociopathy at its finest! <3

[dahanks1]

I could never understand why they didn't just jettison the biospheres and leave them alone. There was no need to destroy them.

[Domzdream]

@Pulsar205

I know. It sucks. Makes sense though, regarding the lack of care within the rich people. The richer a person is, probably the less good, caring individuals they are. They make money off peoples' desperation. All they care about is power. And money is power. Imagine being in charge of 10 000 salaries. You are like a mini-god, dictating who comes or goes. Who gets an increase and who potentially might kill themselves due to depression. These people do not care at all for the planet

[TrekToons]

@deane1968 Yeah... but he destroyed one of the forests to kill them. Wasn't that just a bit counter-productive to his cause?

[AkamuSlayer]

@bshieldsbb01 i lol'd

[manfromregina]

FN Cool!



[bshieldsbb01]

I can't help expecting the Cylons to attack in the exterior shots.

[RibuTuesuti]

@SilentRunningMovie

Too bad there's no way out for the GOM.

[whiskeyify]

@charlesvan13 remember what Anderson said ? we are returning our ships back to commercial service, because the company was no longer going to get funds to maintain the domes.