- Silent Running feels like a film that was trying to launch a movement. Did first-time director Douglas Trumbull imagine that we would be discussing it today as the origin of the "eco-sci" subgenre? Was the messianic space-conservationist Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) meant to inspire legions of Star Trek fans to sacrifice themselves to save the forests? Were the film's outstanding visual effects to set a new standard in cinematic science fiction? Such lofty goals and ideals seem to lurk just beneath the film's surface. Why then did Silent Running end up as a cult classic on late-night television? Answer: Because it was a very cheesy movie.
- Admittedly, Silent Running has been influential, providing partial inspiration for excellent projects as diverse as Duncan Jones' Moon and Mystery Science Theater 3000. Some of this influence stems from the immensely impressive visual design of the film's ships and robots. This is perhaps not surprising given Trumbull's involvement outside of the director's chair with films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Blade Runner. The film's goofy plot, odd tone, and distracting Joan Baez anthems, however, forever relegate it to the campy side of sci-fi. There, a wild-haired, robe-sporting man can be too busy playing poker with robots to realize that photosynthesis requires sunlight. In this respect, it is far more reminiscent of John Carpenter's first film than any serious work of science fiction. The difference is that Dark Star was intended as a comedy -- this film was not.
- The robots were played by amputees. Best not to think about that during the movie.
- Ron Rifkin was one of the few humans in the film.
