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Silent Running Details

1972 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 4604 members

In a grim future, Earth is so overdeveloped plants can no longer survive. Giant greenhouses in orbit carry samples of Earth's dying forests. When the government decides they are too expensive to maintain, one committed crew member will stop at nothing to save them. Screenplay by Steven Bochco and Michael Cimino. Music by Peter '.. Read more

Starring Bruce Dern, Cliff Potts, Jesse Vint, Ron Rifkin
Director Douglas Trumbull
Genres Sci-Fi/Fantasy

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Silent Running

In a grim future, Earth is so overdeveloped plants can no longer survive. Giant greenhouses in orbit carry samples of Earth's dying forests. When the government decides they are too expensive to maintain, one committed crew member will stop at nothing to save them. Screenplay by Steven Bochco and Michael Cimino. Music by Peter 'PDQ Bach' Schickele.

Starring Bruce Dern, Cliff Potts, Jesse Vint, Ron Rifkin, Steve Brown
Director Douglas Trumbull
Studio UNIVERSAL
Run time DVD: 1 hr 26 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 03 Nov 2008
Production year: 1972
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of Silent Running

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    Special-effects ace Douglas Trumbull (of 2001 fame) turned director with this ecologically based science-fiction thriller about the last of Earth's plant life preserved on the Valley Forge spaceship, lovingly cared for by space ranger Bruce Dern and his three cute “drone” robots. Dern mutinies when orders arrive to destroy the precious cargo. Although the film may seem rather hippy-influenced now — those syrupy Joan Baez ballads! — Trumbull's gentle direction highlights a sensitive performance by Dern, and there are some spectacular images of the spacecraft floating between planets, exploding suns and solar storms. Imaginative and much admired.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • A wonderful film. The message of 2001: A Space Odyssey (for which Trumbull did the special effects) was that man needed... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Silent Running

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  • 22 out of 24 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Strangely Moving

    This is a great movie. It echoes in a way the ecological dilemma facing us today. The music by Joan Baez is strangely appropriate. It looks a bit 1960's, but still that goes to show that even then this was an important debate. Bruce Derns' gentle character is harrassed by his crass shipmates, their attitude echoing the uncaring attitiude of some of 'big business', quite prepared to sacrefice the environment in search of the big bucks. Also making an appearence are three mechanical helpers who pre-date C3PO and R2D2, yet possess more 'character'! Even if you don't like sci-fi this story doesn't depend on gadgets for its success! Its moving and beautiful and poetic!

  • Most recent members' review of Silent Running

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Silent running

    Never been a big fan of Bruce Dern apart from this movie. The drones were inspirational precursers to the Star Wars characters. The idea of this planet having depleted its resourses is quite profound (for its time). I loved this film when it first came out and I love it still now. Call me an old hippy but it's still a great movie.

  • News and features

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    • Tom Charity
    • 15 Jul 2009

    His time is nearly up. Sam Bell has been faithfully monitoring the Lunar energy harvesting systems on Selene for three years now, and he’s more than ready to return home to his wife and child on Earth. It’s been a long haul, and the isolation is getting to him. The company’s direct video link has been down for months now, so the only line of communication involves a time-delayed relay via Saturn. There is always GERTY, the space station’s resident robot, who has been... Read more

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Rating breakdown

4,604 Member ratings
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429
  • 90
345
  • 80
918
  • 70
867
  • 60
908
  • 50
415
  • 40
329
  • 30
166
  • 20
154
  • 10
73

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      • In a grim future, Earth is so overdeveloped plants can no longer survive. Giant greenhouses in orbit carry samples of Earth's dying forests. When the government decides they are too expensive to ...