MovieChat Forums > Soylent Green (1973) Discussion > Sol's death scene

Sol's death scene

posted 12 years ago by esskayess
11 replies | jump to latest

One of the most moving scenes ever filmed, especially when the viewer knows that Robinson knew how close he was to dying and that it was his last scene ever. When seen from his character's perspective (a beautiful world, forever gone) it has brought me near tears more than once. Heston didn't know his old friend "Eddie" was terminally ill as they filmed it, yet its impact made him cry as well.

They worked beautifully together in this film and their improvised dinner scene is also wonderful to watch.

[–] athomed 12 years ago

Edward G. Robinson did confide in Charlton Heston before filming his death scene that he had terminal cancer. Heston by all accounts cried real tears during that particular scene (one thing director William Wyler had said years earlier he could never get Heston to do during the filming of Ben-Hur). Soylent Green is a special film, if only for the Robinson swan song and the chemistry between Thorn and Sol, but of course for much more too.

That’s a very interesting mixture of poetry and meanness.

[–] esskayess 12 years ago

I'm referencing Heston's autobiography, IN THE ARENA: "Eddie knew he was dying when he undertook 'Soylent Green', though none of us did." He made no reference to Robinson later confiding in him, but perhaps you read a more detailed account of it.

Regarding "Ben-Hur", Heston said in the same book that when filming the crucifixion scene, "I made a strong case to Willy that I should play it without emotion. Judah had seen many men die, in the galleys, in the arena. When the camera turned, though, it got away from me; I wept. This can happen more often in film than on the stage. The created surroundings of a place like Golgotha, the cultural weight of an event like the Crucifixion, can move the actor beyond his creative control."

[–] ChuckHestonFan 12 years ago

He more or less cried in Will Penny as well. When 'Button' hugs him good night, Heston's eyes are very glossy and he chokes, same thing in the goodbye speech at the end.

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[–] montrealfilmguy 10 years ago

Heston also mentions he did not know in his other book.
The actor's life Journals 1956-1976.

Nobody knew.

[–] finktypedink 9 years ago

According to Richard Fleischer in the DVD commentary, Heston was crying because he knew it would be Robinson's last film. He also mentions that Robinson's wife, who would frequently meet him for lunch throughout the filming, refused to come on set when the death scene was being shot.

Robinson was also nearly deaf at that point in his life, but he had no trouble following cues and coming in at the right spots.

Upon having read the script he told his wife that it was the picture he wanted to make because it was about something. He passed away just weeks after the shooting had finished.

[–] mimosveta 10 years ago

I've seen this movie only when I was a kid, and now again, years and years later. I don't even know if I figured out what the point of film was, or if I picked a hints up later in life. I do know that only two scenes I do remember was death scene (which I didn't know was in this film, and remembered it as some rich guy getting to die beautiful and painless death of his choice) and obviously, Heston in factory discovering the whole thing.

___
Anyone who has ever read any spoilers,
knows that Winter Is Coming

[–] digitalbookworm5678 9 years ago

I came to the Soylent Green board to say exactly what you said. As I've gotten older (late 50s now) I find that I get more emotional over sad movies or books. I was probably still a teenager when I first saw this film and even then that scene brought a few tears to my eyes.

It's only with the heart that one can see clearly. What's essential is invisible to the eye

[–] esskayess 8 years ago

I was probably still a teenager when I first saw this film and even then that scene brought a few tears to my eyes.

I was almost a teenager when I saw it and it definitely brought them to my eyes. It also made Beethoven's "Pastoral" and Grieg's "Peer Gynt" two of my all-time favorite classical pieces.

My people skills are fine. It's my tolerance of morons that needs work.

[–] stormhappy106 8 years ago

just saw it for the first time--have to admit, it brought a few tears to my eyes also

[–] heelmaster2000 8 years ago

It just shows how good of an actor Edward G. Robinson was.

[–] Morphindel (9) 8 years ago

Yeah i just watched it last night, and it gave me chills. The performances, the weight of the situation, the imagery and that music all marry together so beautifully. You'd have to be pretty cynical to not feel something during that scene.