Silent Running
Silent Running

Silent Running

1972
Movie
89 min
English

After the entire flora goes extinct, ecologist Lowell maintains a greenhouse aboard a space station for the future with his android companions. However, he rebels after being ordered to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with everyone but his mechanical companions.

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Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Metacritic63/100
Google Users86%
Director: Douglas TrumbullGenres: Sci-Fi, Drama

Plot Summary

In the year 2149, Earth's forests have vanished, preserved only in enormous geodesic domes attached to the spaceship Valley Forge. Freeman Lowell, the last surviving crew member, nurtures the domes and their inhabitants, the last samples of Earth's flora and fauna. When his mission is compromised and orders are given to destroy the domes, Lowell chooses to protect them at all costs, embarking on a solitary battle against the corporate future.

Critical Reception

Silent Running was met with a generally positive reception from critics and audiences alike, praised for its environmental themes, philosophical depth, and Bruce Dern's compelling performance. While its special effects were considered groundbreaking for the time, some found the pacing slow, but its message resonated strongly and has cemented its status as a cult classic.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its poignant environmental message and exploration of isolation.
  • Bruce Dern's performance as the tormented botanist is a standout element.
  • Visually striking with innovative special effects for its era.

Google audience: Viewers appreciated the film's timely environmental warning and its thought-provoking narrative about humanity's relationship with nature. Many found the story touching and Bruce Dern's portrayal deeply effective, though some noted the special effects, while good for the time, have aged.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.

Fun Fact

The three robots, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, were operated by hidden performers in suits and also controlled remotely, with their distinct personalities and movements developed by the puppeteering team.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

A botanist (Bruce Dern) on a deep space mission tries to stop the corporate machine from destroying his small "forest" aboard his inter-planetary freighter. When his shipmates decide to implement the order he takes matters into his own hand...
drystyx

drystyx

This was a thoughtful sci-fi story. Bruce Dern appears as a bit of a deranged scientist in what may be his most likable role ever, which says a lot about the roles he has played. He is a caring scientist, except he kills all his companion...
DanDare

DanDare

Silent Running features another unhinged performance from Bruce Dern. He plays Freeman Lowell, a scientists aboard a spaceship looking after the only remaining examples of Earth's plant life as it heads off to Saturn. Lowell has become a...
DanDare

DanDare

Silent Running features another unhinged performance from Bruce Dern. He plays Freeman Lowell, a scientists aboard a spaceship looking after the only remaining examples of Earth's plant life as it heads off to Saturn. Lowell has become a...