Silent Running Reviews

1972

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Bruce Dern stars as the caretaker of a greenhouse located on a group of space stations that are sent into orbit. The Earth has been stripped clean of foliage, and the greenhouse contains the last remaining greenery from the planet. Dern's staff includes three human beings and a trio of endearing robots named Huey, Dewey, and .. Read more

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

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Critics' reviews (3) of Silent Running
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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
Sombre futuristic fantasy, well made but slow and muddled in development.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Silent Running
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24 out of 26 people found this review helpful

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, ... more

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- - TheHoodedMan from Nottingham
  - Posted 08 Jul 2006 06:01
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful

Influenced a generation of directors.

This film will not be to everyones tastes. The acting isn't bad, but it isn't subtle either and the pace is slow. That said, for one man to command the ... more

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- - Simon Roberts from England
  - Posted 21 Sep 2005 10:29
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful

5 years before Star Wars

You need to watch this film bearing in mind it came 5 years before Star Wars and 8 years before Close Encounters. Dern is at career best as Freeman Lowell, the... more

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- - Simmy from West Yorkshire
  - Posted 08 Mar 2004 15:16
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Silent Running
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Cult hippy space movie

This is an enjoyable movie. If you are seeing for the first time the initial jerky camera motion, 1970's spaceship models and hearing the warbly female ... more

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- - wildthing72 from Wiltshire
  - Posted 18 Mar 2005 22:56
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful

5 years before Star Wars

You need to watch this film bearing in mind it came 5 years before Star Wars and 8 years before Close Encounters. Dern is at career best as Freeman Lowell, the... more

Report this review
- - Simmy from West Yorkshire
  - Posted 08 Mar 2004 15:16

24 out of 26 people found this review helpful

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, ... more

Report this review
- - TheHoodedMan from Nottingham
  - Posted 08 Jul 2006 06:01
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful

Influenced a generation of directors.

This film will not be to everyones tastes. The acting isn't bad, but it isn't subtle either and the pace is slow. That said, for one man to command the ... more

Report this review
- - Simon Roberts from England
  - Posted 21 Sep 2005 10:29
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful

5 years before Star Wars

You need to watch this film bearing in mind it came 5 years before Star Wars and 8 years before Close Encounters. Dern is at career best as Freeman Lowell, the... more

Report this review
- - Simmy from West Yorkshire
  - Posted 08 Mar 2004 15:16
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful

Silent Running: Wholly Hoary Homily

I watched Silent Running on Mark Kermode’s recommendation. But I’m afraid the good doctor has got it wrong here. The lead (Bruce Dern) looks, ... more

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- - Captain Magpie from Belfast, Northern Ireland
  - Posted 08 Dec 2008 12:33
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Probably too late already!

This thought provoking and very relevant sci-fi may be showing it's age in terms of special effects and creaky dialogue, but it's bang up to date with ... more

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- - SolarvanMan from Thirsk
  - Posted 02 Feb 2005 16:27
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

A bit dated now

Movie is just too dated. I bit like watching an episode of Space 1999.

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- - David from Newcastle, England
  - Posted 03 Nov 2007 09:18
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Influenced a generation of directors.

This film will not be to everyones tastes. The acting isn't bad, but it isn't subtle either and the pace is slow. That said, for one man to command the ... more

Report this review
- - Simon Roberts from England
  - Posted 21 Sep 2005 10:36
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Good One

I remember watching this film as a child and beleive it or not it made me cry!

This time though it didn't but the heart strings still got tugged... more

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- - john69 from Lancs
  - Posted 16 Oct 2004 02:38
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

Admirable message poorly executed

sn't it amazing how some things don't stand the test of time while others you question why it's ever been suggested that they do. I hadn't seen ... more

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- - McClennan from St Helens
  - Posted 13 May 2006 10:54
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Stands up well for a 30 year old sci-fi film

I haven't seen this film for at least 10 years. It was as good as I remembered and doesn't look too dated for a 30 year old sci-fi film. One of Beruce ... more

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- - DANNY MCGONAGLE from hIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
  - Posted 28 Feb 2004 20:47

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Critics' reviews (3)
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
Sombre futuristic fantasy, well made but slow and muddled in development.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006

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