No Blade of Grass (1970)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Cornel Wilde

Writers:

John Christopher (novel)
Sean Forestal (writer) ...

Release Date:

23 October 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The creeping terror drifted towards them stamping out all civilization in its eerie path!

Plot:

When a deadly virus strikes London, John Custane takes his family to hoped-for safety in Scotland.

Plot Keywords:

Downbeat | Survival | Environment | Bikers | England

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Nigel Davenport	...	John Custance
Jean Wallace	...	Ann Custance
John Hamill	...	Roger Burnham
Lynne Frederick	...	Mary Custance
Patrick Holt	...	David Custance
Ruth Kettlewell	...	Fat Woman
M.J. Matthews	...	George
Michael Percival	...	Police Constable
Tex Fuller	...	Mr. Beaseley
Simon Merrick	...	T.V. Interviewer (Fred Gray)
Anthony Sharp	...	Sir Charles Brenner
George Coulouris	...	Mr. Sturdevant
Anthony May	...	Pirrie
Wendy Richard	...	Clara
Max Hartnell	...	Lieutenant

Also Known As:

The Death of Grass (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1971) | France:-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company:

Theodora Productions

Trivia:

First film of Christopher Neame.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Soylent Green (1973)

Soundtrack:

Lead Us On

Review

Good premise badly gone wrong

The idea of a virus making the world`s cereal crops sterile is a terrifying premise , especially given the present day debate on GM food, and in cinema terms is more relevant today than speculation on atomic war ( PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO , THREADS , THE DAY AFTER ) or a second ice age ( ICE ). NO BLADE OF GRASS made me sit up and think due to its relevance , but as a piece of film making it`s very flawed.

First of all what are the flash forwards about ? Is someone trying to take out copyright on a new concept ? They don`t really spoil the film but they sure as hell don`t add anything to it. The title song is haunting but the incidental music borders on the obscene, sounding as if a bunch of hippy musicians have mainlined LSD and decided to attack their instruments.And there`s a completely disjointed feel to the film that makes It feel like most of the film ended up on the cutting room floor and we`re watching the bits that are only relevant to the plot. MGM did make cuts to the film for distribution so perhaps we can forgive Wilde for that.What he shouldn`t be forgiven for is including possibly the most tacky , exploitive rape scene in the history of cinema

But I don`t want to put anyone off seeing this film , it`s certainly thought provoking , even if it does at times feel like propaganda. I`d love to see a remake, as long as the producer knows the meaning of the word subtlety