Was Solaris even released to US cinemas in 1972? I can only find information that it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in the year of its release. And even if Carpenter and O'Brannon knew about the movie it might very well be that they didn't see it as influental as it is seen today in the western world. Apparently Lem didn't like the movie either, so it might very well have been overlooked at the time because it didn't fit the "Zeitgeist".
It was very slow-moving. First time I saw it, I fell asleep. The 2002 remake is more pacy, but I'm afraid I can't take Clooney seriously as an actor. I think it was 20 years before I watched the original again, and enjoyed it.
