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:

Virus | Attack | England | Biker | Farm

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

Exodus in a new guise

What most people seem to have missed is the Exodus theme and the Moses figure of the main character. He leads people to a new promised land in the midst of chaos and plague. He is assisted by a Joshua character who does the organizational work and heads the military actions. The daughter's fiancé is the hesitant and uncertain Aaron. Somewhat confused overall and not as effective as it could have been. The flash forwards were distracting and set up an anticipation that detracted from the present scenes. It is difficult to see how the film was an argument for environmental causes. It would be better seen as a cautionary tale on the fragility of society. Given a socially disruptive situation people are often incapable of recognizing the need for social order and become, instead, survivalists. Social order is even more necessary when normality is undercut and crisis events threaten to overwhelm our institutions.