Douglas Trumbull's Silent Running, for which he supplied the special effects and directed, has gone the big-time, Blu-ray special-edition route, thanks to Arrow Video.
The 1972 feature, which details the preservation of forestry aboard the Saturn-relegated space station, the Valley Forge, gave Bruce Dern the chance to play a good guy for a change (or at least an empathetic antihero) in the determined guise of Freeman Lowell; and its three drones, Louie, Huey and Dewy became the endearing forerunners to R2-D2, giving the somber story a brush of memorable quaintness.
Though the fable holds a stark, environmental theme, it's often overlooked by the present advocates of such ballyhooed quests, being more a favorite of old-time, science-fiction buffs, who've ensured that the story's allegorical thrust not be forgotten.
The steelbook disc-case, box set contains the following features: a 4K restoration of the movie; Trumbull featurettes; audio commentary by Trumbull and Dern; a chat with Dern; a chat with composer, Jeff Bond; an archival, making-of documentary; a behind-the-scenes gallery; production artwork; original concept drawings; writer John Spira's take on the screenplay by Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino and Steven Bocho; a collector's overview insert penned by Barry Forshaw and Peter Tonguette; plus much more.
I loved Silent Running from the time I caught it on television in the 1970s and have watched it blossom into a cult phenomenon. I'm grateful that Arrow Video has bestowed this wondrous tale the best possible treatment.
Purchase the Silent Running special edition at
https://www.arrowvideo.com/4k/silent-running-limited-edition-deluxe-steelbook/13996716.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=USD&shippingcountry=US&gclid=CjwKCAiAwc-dBhA7EiwAxPRylGKLM7nRtz6kZi-V8Gzuovl3-7e-pHueN97TklBrNMLq1AgoNitI0RoCdeIQAvD_BwE
