Whatever Happened to SILENT RUNNING? 

Highly underrated movie. Remember crying my eyes out when the robots died 😢

Saw it as a kid in 1972, it changed my life, worked in agriculture and enclosed production systems for almost 40 years.

Bruce Dern had a great sense of humor and timing in this movie. This is one of my all-time favorites. Long live Huey, Dewey and Lewey.

All these years, I thought I was the only one that this film brought to tears as a man. Glad to know I have plenty of company.

I'm a 55 year old man and I rarely get through this film without crying

Joel Hodgson has said many times that his most direct inspiration for creating MST3K was "Silent Running." He has three robots, is trapped in space, has a riff on Dern's jumpsuit.

I don't mind admitting that this is one of the films that has me crying like a baby at the end. That was true in the 1970s, and it's still true today.

"It's not A New Hope, it's just Star Wars". You're a man after my own heart.

I was a kid around 9 years old in 1972 when watching this at the outdoor theater. I could not imagine people being so cold, selfish and uncaring to just "blow-up" animals and plants. And the fact that the Earth no longer required nature!? NO! This movie made me cry and be angry. I never became a tree hugger. I do my best, however, to protect nature at every stage of my day to day life. All because of this movie!

Silent Running, Soilent Green and Logan's Run were the Masterpieces of Sciences Fiction Movies back in these days.....and still are today.

Coincidentally, Donald Sutherland died today ,I know he wasn't in silent running, but he and Bruce dern have been close to my heart for being in sci Fi movies since I was a kid.❤😂 Great job 👍

Whenever I hear the first notes of "Rejoice in the Sun" sung by Joan Baez, I break down in tears. It's not so much for the robots but the entire story line, that humanity could be so stupid as to put the earth in that dire situation. Sad to see that we are moving right along that same path. A movie that I wish everyone could see.

Saw SILENT RUNNING for the first time in 1983 when TBS aired it and fell in love. It was the first science-fiction movie that truly broke my heart.

I couldn't agree more, it was "Star Wars", not "A New Hope". I guess that means I'm old. I was 17 when Star Wars came out.

Us old hippies still weep at the mention of the title. An amazing performance from Dern. Rejoice In The Sun is iconic Joan.

52 years have passed, I hope that one drone is still looking after the gardens pottering about with its watering can and trowel.

I think it is important to recognize that composer Peter Schickele, Professor of Music Pathology at the University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople, was the brilliant comedic (and musical) mastermind behind the P.D.Q. Bach mythos. Through the 70s, we attended many of his Christmas concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln center. He would make his entrance by swinging on a rope from the balcony or zip lining to his conductor's stand. Silent Running was one of a small handful of films he wrote music for, and certainly the most well known. For those who have never experienced P.D.Q. Bach... it is definitely worth a listen. Dan... you should do a "Music" episode on this guy. He was a genius.

The score of Silent Running was composed by Peter Schickele (pronounced SHIK-uh-lee) who was also famous for his legendary creation, P.D.Q. Bach. He won four consecutive Grammy awards for best comedy album. Professor Schickele died in January of 2024. The man was a legend!

It may not be by name, but WALL-E was definitely a reimagining of Silent Running.

This film has always been on my top ten, and Im 60yrs old, seen the best and the worest, and it is still at the top. Its perfect for awhole lot of reasons, and not a lot of reasons. If I ever wrote and directed a film.... it would look like this. AND YES IT STILL MAKES ME CRY.

I love this film. I haven't seen it for many years though. I remember seeing it as a kid in the 70s and just bawling my eyes out at the end. The loneliness of that little drone at the end watering the plants. I wanted to hug it so bad.

If I could have one prop from any movie I have ever seen, it would be the watering can from this movie. It holds a special place in my heart.

The early 70s were such an inventive time for innovative filmmakers. It's a shame those conditions don't exist anymore.

What was really interesting with the drone costumes is that if you pay attention, you will see that the costumes were made to the actors, and each drone costume is different not only in color, but also size. How cool is that 😊

Silent Running is one of my all-time FAVORITE films. I saw it when it was first released. Two gorgeous Joan Baez songs in the middle of a science fiction film. Who knew?

I loved that movie, Bruce Dern was excellent

Thanks Dan, “Silent Running” is one of my favourite moves ever. Even today it is hard to imagine this movie being made for only $1 million. A few things though - there WERE only three ships. And a lot of people get this wrong due to some of the dialogue. But what sound like other ships, are actually the names of the individual domes - as seen on Valley Forge that displays what forest types are on her. And I can prove this. When Anderson makes the announcement to recall the ships for commercial service and destroy the domes, he calls out only THREE ships - Berkshire, Sequoia, Valley Forge. Berkshire Sequoia, Valley Forge. If there were other ships, I am certain this important announcement would have called all of the ships. You mentioned lawsuits, and there was one other. When Universal used the footage of the Valley Forge in “Battlestar Galactica”, Douglas Trumball tried to sue Universal, as he didn’t want his work being used without permission in another film (TV Show). However, he was informed that, as they paid the money for the movie, they owned the footage. Just one in a long series of kicks that Hollywood gave to Douglas Trumball (see “Brainstorm”). Oh and the excellent Special Effects were ground-breaking, and for those of us in the know, there were NO travelling and/or bluescreen matts in the movie. They were all done in-camera. And, you mentioned Peter Schickele, but what you didn’t mention is PDQ Bach.

Footage of the Valley Forge was also used in the Battlestar Galactica remake mini-series where the president is talking to a little girl just prior the cylons showing up.

I remember watching this in the theater when I was a kid and thinking, why would anyone want to get rid of trees? We need them to breathe. No I’m not a tree hugger.

I saw the the Groundstar conspiracy and SILENT RUNNING together at the Drive In when they came out in 1972. I was just 9 years old but these films stuck with me. Not really about SILENT RUNNING but when i hear Tuesday Afternoon by The Moody Blues, it all comes back to me. Funny how that is with some things.

I first watched this on TV when a was a too young to properly understand it. I do remember crying at the end when the droid was left alone at the end 😔

Such a sad story...always made me tear up.

I own a DVD copy of this film. Special features are great. Especially an entire documentary made about the filming. Fascinating.

Saw it on network TV in the 70s. It blew my teenage mind. I became aware of the actor Bruce Dern through that movie.

Tearjerker of a film. Sci-fi movies usually don't do that.

I will always see these 3 robots watering plant on their long journey to somewhere. It’s a wonderful film. Thank you for this episode.

Even as a kid, I never understood the point of loading flora and fauna into domes and launching them into space to wait and see if Earth's environment could be "fixed."

And Laura Dern's mother is Academy-nominated and Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning actress Diane Ladd. Known for multiple films and TV shows including Chinatown, Rambling Rose, and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

This film actually made me cry as a child....I am pretty sure it still would.

I am so glad that there are SO many fans here AND positive comments. I have tried to give my knowledge of this movies where I can to all of you.

Let's hope they never attempt a remake.

Bruce Dern said this was his most favourite movie he worked on. He also said he was a big science fiction fan and would have loved to have appeared in Star Wars, which was another movie he liked.

The telescope was an original orange Celestron C8

This has always been on of my very favorite movies. A few years earlier my dad, who worked in the film department at the university, took me to see 2001: A Space Odyssey. This greatly increased my interest in science fiction but also in special effects. I got to see Silent Running after a couple of years researching everything II could about 2001. That's where I recognized Douglas Trumbull from and I got to know John Dykstra from this movie. I think the first copy of Cinefex I got gave me a ton of detail about the production of Silent Running. I also became a huge Bruce Dern fan after this. OF COURSE we all knew about Laura Dern. She's pretty great too. I think the process of cannibalizing bits of styrene model kits started with the models used in 2001. It's a great way to give more detail to supposedly large surfaces in close-up. I was also familiar with the brand names showing up everywhere from 2001. This just gave Silent Running street cred. I saw this as at least the emotional followup to 2001. This time with a '70s environmental angle. It's clear in the movie that they were having trouble with the hydraulic arms of the droids, I mean drones. They were an entirely new charming kind of screen robot. For the very first time, not threatening at all. The props I was most interested in at the time were the polyhedral shipping containers with all the different logos on them. But a lot of them didn't even survive those go-carts during shooting. I guess it would be like looking for specific set rock props on Star Trek. Star Wars made such an impression by giving a a science fiction world that looked "lived in," but compared to 2001, Silent Running did it first. I really appreciated the aircraft carrier setting for this movie since these ships were supposed to be the far future version of much the same thing. I really had no idea it was a low budget production. They clearly put every penny right out there on the screen where we could see it. The drones working outside the ship looked just great. Those forest domes looked just great, even their personal quarters, the hangar bay/freight warehouse, and the control room all looked really great. This is my holy trinity of EXCELLENT special effects: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Silent Running, and Star Wars. Few other movies from the time even compare, though the original Battelstar Galactica really tried. The look of the models is relatively consistent and their use is superb each time. Of course, George Lucas was doing something completely new that kept me going back to watch that movie twenty two times that summer the way we all were then.

Joe Campanella. Master _space freighter voice_

This was a fantastic movie

So glad you covered this movie. I watched it as a pre-teen on TV, always stuck with me. And yes, always just "Star Wars."

A favourite as a kid. Loved Huey, Dewie and Louie... And as I got older, the message behind the movie did make sense... Bruce Dern always made a great quirky character.

Being an LA kid, I knew "adults" growing up that worked on this. Had the plastic toys as a youngling. 🎉🎉🎉

I thought the drones looked like a Polaroid One Step camera

As a kid I saw 'Silent Running' on TV, about mid-to-late '70's. A buddy of mine was the only other one in our group of friends that saw it and knows about the movie at all. I found a copy on DVD in a bargain bin for 2 or 3 dollars and grabbed it. Movies like this, 'Blade Runner', 'THX-1138', and others stand on their own, and are not movies that ever need to be remade. And if they do, I simply won't watch it.

I did get to see one of the surviving domes that was touring the country in the 1970s at a sci-fi convention. You don't really appreciate how much thought, work, and detailing went into them, even though you can only get glimpses of their insides in the movie. Also in the same con exhibition was the Drone 2 Huey prop/outfit, complete with the articulate arm set up so that it was deployed out and holding a winning hand of cards, just like in the movie!

Remember watching in a small theater in my hometown when it came out. Thanks again for going to memory lane 😅

I watched this movie at the grand Yallourn Picture Theater Victoria Australia in mid 1973. With me was my first ever girlfriend and a best mate with his girlfriend. "Silent Running" was the 2nd matinee and the main matinee movie was "The Way We were". Strangely both movies seemed to tell the same story. One in the past of a young activist fighting for a political agenda to bring about a new and better world. The second about a future world where human kind pillages the planet and relocates the last remaining habitats in domes to orbit in space - and the activist who fights to save them but eventually sends them into deep space to seed a future new and better world. Both remarkable movies encapsulated the beauty and the futility of our species, and their message is probably far more relevant today than it has ever been. Thank you Mr Dern, you have a place in eternity along with your habitat domes.

Absolutely one of my favorite SCI FI movies from my childhood. The way they made the robots seem to have human characteristics was spot on. Wow I never noticed the big corporate names unless it was subconscious but I was a kid. Wow how cool to know how the robots were set up that never occurred to me as a kid.

It's weird. Every time I watch Silent Running and it ends, massive pollen and onion fumes suddenly appear in the air.

A great movie. But the ending was the most depressing one I have ever seen in a movie. 😞

Great retrospective on a movie I've loved since I saw it in 1973 (on an airplane, so crying over the robots was weird, but then soon every kid on the plane was crying).

I still remember seeing that movie in the theater back in 1972

Standing ovation! Wonderful movie. I too hope the robot trio are out there tending gardens.

I own it on DVD and watch it every so often!

I have always loved this movie since 1972. It resonates with me. It was groundbreaking in the years before Star Wars. Bruce Dern carries that whole movie by himself. And least we not forget the Joan Baez song. Pure Heaven.

In a way there were things like the cargo boxes that lent themselves to advertising so well. And Dern has always had a knack for being great at the odd balls and slightly strange characters his entire career.

This video arrived just in time to occupy me while I wait to be discharged from the hospital! Thanks, Dan!

Couldn’t agree more, it’s just Star Wars. Great video.

Dan, one problem with your vlogs, they always leave me not wanting more but needing more. Your vlogs are so thorough and complete your answering questions I didn't even think of asking. Thank you for all your research and effort and of course the time that must go into each and every one. YOU ROCK IT BROTHER!!

And YES I did CRY at the ending!

One of my all time favorite movie. I showed it at my Navy base on a reel movie projector. As with many others, the ending made me cry.

I love films like this that fly under the radar, but allow you to say to someone, "You gotta see this"

The films soundtrack was released on a coloured vinyl LP in the 1970s. Green vinyl of course 🙂

One of my favorite Pre Star Wars Sci-Fi movies. I loved it because I had to use my imagination to fill in a lot of the plot gaps which was fine. Fast forward to the 1990s I was on Active Duty in the Navy serving aboard USS Valley Forge CG-50, sadly there were never any references to the film anywhere aboard the ship and she was a target in a live fire Missile Exercise and is now a man made reef laying on the bottom of the ocean floor. The curse of ships bearing the name Valley Forge!

I haven’t seen this movie since I was a kid. From what I remember, it had a sad ending where Bruce Dern’s character dies and one of the robots is left by itself watering the plants.

Saw it when i was a kid when it came out.....i wanted to have one of those robots

Went on a school outing in 1972 to see a showing of 1968's "Romeo and Juliet". They were having an issue with the projector so to keep us for becoming unruly, they fired up "Silent Running" (which was showing at theater). We made it about 15 minutes into the film before they ripped it away to start "Romeo and Juliet" (though an excellent movie). I still bear the scars. Of course I went back to see it.

Kitbashing and Greeblies are time honored traditions in model building.

Loved this movie from my childhood and watch it every so often.

I forgot! STARLOST stole the pods

A brilliant movie

Another of my all-time FAVS!!! Thank you, Sir!

I've been waiting for this episode, nicely done Dan! Thank you for the deep dive.

Clever movie, not made to be a franchise thankfully. Thank you for another fun deep dive.

Please find out what happened to dark star

Yes. Yes. Yes. My all time favorite. I am 63 yr thank you for this wonderful narrative I am one of those little robots caring for the plant life. I am still up there caring for life. 😭

A most excellent episode! The first and last time I saw this movie was on the "ABC Sunday Night Movie" in 1973.

I loved this one as a kid, but I didn't realize it was made in '72. I thought it was from the 80's.

You blew my mind with the Bruce Dern/Laura Dern mention. I'd never put it together either!

I can't imagine this flick without Bruce Dern. Unreal he was the 18th actor considered.

As I mentioned in your promo for this, I know a LOT about this film, more than all but a few, so you had a high bar to impress me. Happy to say, you did a great job and covered most of the important stuff. You could definitely dived deeper into the Odyssey carts and his father making those. Several good details on that could have been added here, like the transmission issues and how they solved them. The best part which you left out though was the giant FREEZING COLD tank of water where Dern had to shoot his bathing scene. That was pretty interesting and hilarious. As I recall that was brought up in the commentary track along with many other fascinating details. Overall, you did a super job with this and even covered a couple of minor things I didn't know about, like what happened with the some of the props. Thanks, Dan.

Sorry, Dan. But I think if there is one movie who’s message needs to be retold to this world and where we are headed, it’s Silent Running. You could even get get Laura Dern to play her father’s character - how cool is that !

Favorite sci-fi movie as a kid!! The robots were awesome. When it is shown that Huey, Dewey and Louie were sentient I got upset!!

I first saw this movie on the road in a La Quinta hotel in the middle of nowhere. It deeply affected me. It sounds like it has deeply affected a lot of people over the years!

The water in the forest scenes was FREEZING and Bruce Dern had to psych himself to enter the pool.

Silent Running is one of my favorite old movies to watch, thank you for doing an episode on it!

I have been looking forward to this episode. Thanks! I remember seeing Silent Running on TV in the early 1970’s when I was around 10 years old. This movie has always been a favorite. It is simultaneously breathtaking and tragic. I cried at the end also. This is one of those science fiction movies like Forbidden Planet and 2001 that was foundational for so much of what came afterwards. Yes, Huey, Dewey and Louie were the original astromech droids.

I was around 27 years old, a single father who had watched Silent Running years before. I had a few things to do around the house and left my five year old son watching Silent Running on the lounge, it was nearing the end of the movie when I noticed tears running down his cheeks. A really touching story for a young youngster. 👨‍👦

Many moons ago our first server farm was run by three iMac G3's rescued from a dumpster. They were instantly dubbed Hewy, Dewy and Lewy for obvious reasons. This however lead to some awkward conversations with authorities on account of us calling them "the kids". When a nosy neighbor heard me say the kids will be fine locked in the garage for a week while we go on holiday all hell broke loose.

you covered all the things I was going to mention. BUT the best is a YOUNG Ron Rifkin.......

Excellent work, Dan. Thx also to your colleagues who provided the additional imagery!

Saw this movie recently, now I know where the idea for R2-D2 came from. Gave me 2001 a Space Odyssey vibes, but overall a good dystopian film from the early 1970s.

Great dive into a 70s classic often overlooked these days.. Best wishes to you Dan, from Bucuresti Romania.