IMDb > The Day of the Locust (1975)
The Day of the Locust
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Day of the Locust (1975) More at IMDbPro »

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   1,985 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Schlesinger
Writers:
Nathanael West (novel)
Waldo Salt (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Day of the Locust on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 August 1975 (France) more
Genre:
Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
By train. By car. By bus. They came to Hollywood... In search of a dream. more
Plot:
An art director in the 1930's falls in love and attempts to make a young woman an actress despite Hollywood who wants nothing to do with her because of her problems with an estranged man and her acoholic father. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Villains We Love: William Atherton
 (From Cinematical. 28 October 2009, 11:33 AM, PDT)
'Butch Cassidy' Cinematographer Hall Dead at 76
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 6 January 2003)
User Comments:
A truly terrifying look at Hollywood more (51 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Donald Sutherland ... Homer Simpson
Karen Black ... Faye Greener
Burgess Meredith ... Harry Greener

William Atherton ... Tod Hackett

Geraldine Page ... Big Sister
Richard Dysart ... Claude Estee
Bo Hopkins ... Earle Shoop
Pepe Serna ... Miguel
Lelia Goldoni ... Mary Dove

Billy Barty ... Abe Kusich

Jackie Earle Haley ... Adore (as Jackie Haley)
Gloria LeRoy ... Mrs. Loomis (as Gloria Le Roy)
Jane Hoffman ... Mrs. Odlesh

Norman Leavitt ... Mr. Odlesh (as Norm Leavitt)
Madge Kennedy ... Mrs. Johnson
Ina Gould ... Lee Sisters
Florence Lake ... Lee Sisters
Margaret Willey ... The Gingos
John War Eagle ... The Gingos
Natalie Schafer ... Audrey Jennings
Gloria Stroock ... Alice Estee
Nita Talbot ... Joan
Nicholas Cortland ... Projectionist
Alvin Childress ... Butler
Byron Paul ... Guest
Virginia Baker ... Guest
Roger Price ... Guest
Angela Greene ... Guest
Robert O. Ragland ... Guest
Abbey Greshler ... Guest
Ann Coleman ... Girl
Gyl Roland ... Girl
Paul Stewart ... Helverston
John Hillerman ... Ned Grote
William Castle ... Director (as William C. Castle)
Fred Scheiwiller ... 1st Asst. Director
Wally Rose ... 2nd Asst. Director

Grainger Hines ... French Lt.
DeForest Covan ... Shoe Shine Boy (as De Forest Covan)
Michael Quinn ... Major Domo
Robert Pine ... Apprentice
Jerry Fogel ... Apprentice

Dennis Dugan ... Apprentice
David Ladd ... Apprentice

Bob Holt ... Tour Guide
Paul Jabara ... Nightclub Entertainer
Queenie Smith ... Palsied Lady
Margaret Jenkins ... Choral Director
Jonathan Kidd ... Undertaker
Kenny Solms ... Boy in Chapel
Wally K. Berns ... Theatre Manager (as Wally Berns)
Bill Baldwin ... Announcer at Premiere
Dick Powell Jr. ... Dick Powell
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Robert Jon Carlson ... Actor (uncredited)
Brent Dunsford ... Fan (uncredited)
Vince Trankina ... Looter (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
John Schlesinger 
 
Writing credits
Nathanael West (novel)

Waldo Salt (screenplay)

Produced by
Jerome Hellman .... producer
Sheldon Schrager .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
John Barry 
 
Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall  (as Conrad Hall)
 
Film Editing by
Jim Clark 
 
Casting by
Marion Dougherty 
 
Production Design by
Richard Macdonald 
 
Art Direction by
John J. Lloyd  (as John Lloyd)
 
Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins  (as George Hopkins)
Rick Simpson (uncredited)
 
Costume Design by
Ann Roth 
 
Makeup Department
Del Armstrong .... makeup artist
Lynn Del .... hair stylist
Graham Meech-Burkestone .... hair stylist (as Graham M. Birkstone)
Pascal .... hair stylist
Marlene D. Williams .... hair stylist (as Marlene Williams)
 
Production Management
Sheldon Schrager .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arne Schmidt .... second assistant director (as Arnie Schmidt)
Barry Stern .... second assistant director
Charles Ziarko .... second assistant director
Tim Zinnemann .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Allan Gordon .... property master
Adam John Backauskas .... property maker (uncredited)
L. David Gordon .... draper (uncredited)
Harold Michelson .... illustrator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
David Campling .... sound editor
Gerry Humphreys .... sound mixer
Dennis Johns .... sound assistant
Tom Overton .... sound recordist (as Tommy Overton)
Tennyson .... sound assistant
 
Special Effects by
Tim Smyth .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock .... special photographic effects
 
Stunts
Phil Adams .... stunt coordinator
Jeannie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
James M. Halty .... stunts (uncredited)
Tommy J. Huff .... stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Edesa .... assistant camera
Dave Friedman .... unit still photographer (as David Friedman)
Daniel R. Jordan .... key grip (as Danny Jordan)
Thomas Laughridge .... camera operator (as Tom Laughridge)
Rick Martens .... gaffer (as Richard Martens)
Danny Marzolo .... best boy
Ronald Vidor .... assistant camera (as Ron Vidor)
Thomas Del Ruth .... camera operator (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Dianne Crittenden .... additional casting (as Diane Crittenden)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert De Mora .... wardrobe (as Robert de Mora)
G. Tony Scarano .... wardrobe (as Tony Scarano)
 
Editorial Department
Don Beckwith .... assistant editor
Christopher Greenbury .... assistant editor
Mary Kessel .... assistant editor
Barry McCormick .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
John Barry .... conductor
Robert O. Ragland .... composer: additional music
 
Other crew
Marge Champion .... dance supervisor
Michael Childers .... production associate
Karen Hale Wookey .... script supervisor (as Karen Wookey)
Michael Maslansky .... unit publicist
Dan Perri .... title designer
Ronald Shedlo .... presenter
Bruce Weintraub .... production assistant
Harry Winer .... observer: AFI
Noreen Beasley .... assistant: Dan Perri (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
144 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Netherlands:16 | France:-12 | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (w) | Australia:MA
Filming Locations:
1240 Cerro Crest Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA more
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Betty Field was originally cast in the role of Big Sister but died shortly before filming began. Geraldine Page replaced her. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mrs. Odlesh: It isn't as splashy as some other places, but we pride ourselves on being a little classier.
Tod Hackett: [referring to a large crack in the plaster wall] Hmmm, the crack's real.
Mrs. Odlesh: Oh yes. We call this our earthquake cottage. Mrs. Porter had occupancy then. During the big one in '33. Property damage ran into the millions.
Tod Hackett: Will you fix it if I stayed for a while?
Mrs. Odlesh: Oh no! No! This is our showplace. Mrs. Porter wouldn't let us touch that wall. She worked that sampler herself to cover over the hole. Alrighty. I hope you'll be very happy here.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Cosby Show: Day of the Locusts (#5.25)" (1989) more
Soundtrack:
PARAMOUNT ON PARADE more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
A truly terrifying look at Hollywood, 19 April 2007
9/10
Author: zoeyneo from United States

The Day of the Locust takes place in one of the most bizarre settings to have ever existed in the real world. Hollywood in the 1930s was a place of grand illusions, with an incredible power to change people's lives for the better, or for the worse. The relics of that time are, for the most part, the films that were churned out on sound stages, generally very wholesome and carefree. The reality of what went on offstage is largely a mystery, although it is safe to assume it wasn't all glamor and good times. The Day of the Locust is dark historical fiction, and is utterly fascinating. It is a journey through Hollywood's golden age, guided by someone who comes to Hollywood a typical dream seeker, who finds himself helpless under the pressure of the industry and the misleading tactics of those who rule the screen. The characters that come in and out of his life are caricatures of the aspiring actresses, child stars, and crew members that help make Hollywood truly troubled and deeply strange.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (51 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Day of the Locust (1975)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Adore brandg56
location question trig_vein
Question about filming locations GunHillTrain
Allegory of Europe on eve of WW II? Pearl_Jade
soundtrack? pm759
The Long Goodbye buy_to_own
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Valentino Die Blechtrommel Midnight Cowboy Slaughterhouse-Five The Night of the Hunter
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.