Wing Commander Movie Night: Silent Running

The Wing Commander movie club has visited space and attempted to scream; results pending! This week, we're going to be taking another space voyage with the 1972 science fiction film Silent Running. You can join us this Friday via Discord to watch along.

Silent Running is an environmental-themed science fiction film that tells the story of a convoy of spaceships carrying a destroyed Earth's last plant life. It was directed by the man responsible for 2001: A Space Odyssey's spectacular special effects, Douglas Trumbull, on a shoestring budget. Silent Running won critics' hearts but didn't perform at the box office; it has become a cult classic today.

Wing Commander's connection to Silent Running is… pretty much nothing. Here's an excerpt from Chris Roberts' original treatment of the Wing Commander movie where he is trying to explain how he intends for the film to feel:

Space combat in this universe follows the tradition of naval warfare in the Pacific during WW II. The two opposing sides maneuver around strategic planets and jump points, playing a deadly game of Silent Running-esque cat and mouse, with certain doom to whoever's located first.

Now, here's the thing: he almost certainly means Run Silent, Run Deep, a classic submarine movie that has been inspiring science fiction stories since (at least) the original Star Trek's Balance of Terror. As far as we can tell, nothing about the description given here actually ties in to Silent Running. That said, Silent Running is a cult classic with a great message that's well worth our time... so we're going to check it out anyway! (Spoiler warning: we'll check out Run Silent, Run Deep next week.)

There is one small connection to the greater Robertsverse, though: Silent Running's Valley Forge would serve as a significant inspiration for Star Citizen's Endeavour-class science ship. But that's another universe altogether…

Where can I find a copy of the movie for the watch party?

Silent Running is currently available for rent or purchase on all the standard services. If you would like a physical copy, the movie was released on UHD in 2022 and remains in print around the world. If you are not able to locate a copy please stop by the Discord and ping a CIC staff member before Friday's showing.

How do we watch the movie together?

It's pretty low tech! Simply join the Wing Commander CIC Discord on Friday and we will be chatting (in text) along with the film in the main channel. Everyone who wants to join in should bring their own copy and we will count down to play them together at 10 PM EST. Everyone is welcome and we encourage you to join in the conversation; sharing your thoughts helps make the experience better for everyone!