Soylent Green is … the Museum's First Friday feature, October 5
September 28, 2007
(RALEIGH) – It's the year 2022 … People are still the same. They'll do anything to get what they need. And they need Soylent Green. Good thing they can find it at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh on Friday, October 5 at 7 p.m.
Named Best Science Fiction Film by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films in 1975, "Soylent Green" is set in the not-so-distant future, when Earth's face has completely changed. Overpopulation and global warming have almost eliminated the world's food supply, and widespread government-sponsored euthanasia is encouraged. The starving masses now depend upon government-manufactured food items called Soylent Red, Yellow or Green, "the miracle food of high-energy plankton gathered from the oceans of the world." But in the midst of a murder investigation, a cop named Thorn (Charlton Heston) uncovers the chilling secret ingredient of the Green product.
Heston cut his considerable teeth playing larger-than-life historical figures in big-budget Hollywood films, including Moses in "The Ten Commandments" (1956) and Ben-Hur (for which he won a best actor Oscar in 1959). He followed these roles by starring in sci-fi / post-apocalyptic cult classics "Planet of the Apes" (1968) and "The Omega Man" (1971) before taking on "Soylent Green." Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors, who plays bodyguard and combatant Tab Fielding, later admitted he had a hard time fighting Heston in the movie because he didn't like hitting Moses.
Heston's friend and co-star Edward G. Robinson, the man who set the standard for movie gangsters, plays Thorn's roommate and confidant Sol Roth, who eventually opts for euthanasia and inspires Thorn's hell-bent quest for the truth. During the picture, Robinson let Heston know he was in reality dying from cancer, making the filming of this scene particularly poignant for both actors. Robinson died just nine days after filming.
Wander through exhibits highlighting the natural beauty of North Carolina as the Museum stays open till 9 p.m. Arrive early for live bluegrass, video shorts from the A/V Geek, and snacks and beverages from the Acro Café. Additionally, the Museum Store offers after-hours shopping and a reception for nature photographers Mike Dunn (the Museum's Coordinator of Teacher Education) and Juan Pons, whose Glimpses of Nature exhibit opens October 5 in the Nature Art Gallery. All exhibited art is for sale. More information about Glimpses of Nature.
The Museum of Natural Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh at 11 West Jones Street. Parking is available on the street and in surface lots along Wilmington and Edenton streets. For more information, contact Steve Popson at 919-733-7450, ext. 379.
First Friday is a free, family-friendly, social event held the first Friday of each month at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. Visitors can enjoy exhibits, shopping, food and spirits from 5 until 9pm. The Natural Horror Picture Show (a vintage, sci-fi flick) begins at 7 p.m. Arrive early for live music and a film short from the A/V Geek archives. For information, call 919-733-7350, ext. 379.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 am to 5 pm, and Sun., noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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