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From: jackh@zehntel.UUCP (jack hagerty)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: Silent running - good and bad
Message-ID: <1819@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Apr-85 15:20:24 EST
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1819
Posted: Fri Apr 19 15:20:24 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 06:10:21 EST
References: <8741@microsoft.UUCP>
Organization: Zehntel Automation Systems Inc, Walnut Creek CA
Lines: 40

> 
> Silent Running is a terrible "ecology" film, since as Mark points
> out they simply state, in a short scene, that the purpose of
> the flora and fauna is simply aesthetic and that Earth is getting
> along just fine without them.  
> 
> Further inconsistencys... if these are "greenhouse" domes what are
> they doing out by Saturn where the solar flux is so low?  If the
> domes can be made self sufficient (as they were - it seemed trivial)
> then why bother to tie up the freighters?  Why not just let the
> domes orbit freely?  No need to blow them up, they could remain.
> 
> 	gordon letwin


I agree with these points, but still Silent Running is one of my favorite
SF movies. I think it is a classic example of a movie rising above its
plot through the use of high production values. Premise aside, the writing,
direction, acting, special effects, art direction and music are all first 
rate. (Speaking of that last point, the music is by Peter Shickelee (sp?)
better known as the creator of P.D.Q. Bach)

I personally think the reason the movie was set in Saturn orbit is that
Doug Trumbull wanted to strech himself. In the book "The Making of 2001"
(for which Doug lead the effects team) it was stated that the reason the
destination of the Discovery was changed from Saturn (as in the book) to
Jupiter was that to make a convincing Saturn you had to first make a
convincing Jupiter and then figure out a way to put rings around it. For
Silent Running (which he directed as well as supervising the special effects)
I think Doug wanted to show that he had found a way.

As I said, I agree with you that the premise is silly. If they really wanted
to save the foliage somewhere out of the way, all they had to do is place
the domes in the Earth's orbit. I don't mean in orbit around the Earth,
I mean in orbit around the Sun at the Earth's distance, just offset some.
After all, you have 600M miles to play with.

-- 
                    Jack Hagerty, Zehntel Automation Systems
                          ...!ihnp4!zehntel!jackh