In the 1980s Genesis spin off group "Mike and the Mechanics" released a song called, "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)." The video (a copy on youtube) is the subject of a question I've been trying to get answered for nearly as long as it's been in release. (see links 1 and 2 at bottom)
The video for this song features the band layered over a science fiction movie. A child receives a key on his birthday from a mysterious man with an alien voice stating that it will answer his questions as to why his father had to leave. He discovers a hidden room in the house with a cube of FVX in it that eventually has his father explaining some space invasion/war that he had to go fight in.
The simple question is: did the movie suggested/previewed by the video ever exist (even if it got shelved and never released) and of course, if so... what was it?
The song did appear in the soundtrack to "On Dangerous Ground" which released in the US as "Choke Canyon." While a scene from this film seems hastily inserted in the video; "Choke Canyon" has nothing to do with the Science Fiction plot suggested by the bulk of the video.
Some are quick to point out that "Silent Running" was indeed a science fiction film. This is referring to the Bruce Dern space-ecological film of the early 1970s. This film also thematically is completely different from the material of the video.
Finally, is the suggestion of whether the scenes were produced specifically for the video. The lyrics of the song to compliment the theme of the video. The inserts of the band seem layered onto existing footage. The song itself seems like it was written for another movie. And it's hard to believe that the money necessary for some of the effects (for the time) would have been spent strictly for a video. Especially considering that this song was the first release for the band.
- Search from 2002 on 80s exchange
- Search from 2002 on LJ
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