The Day of the Locust (1975): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Day of the Locust is a 1975 drama thriller directed by John Schlesinger, starring Donald Sutherland, Burgess Meredith and Karen Black. It is based on The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West. It runs 2 hours 24 minutes and earned $42 worldwide. It won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 1976. Critics gave it 61 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 24m (144 min)
- Director
- John Schlesinger
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Day of the Locust About?
The premise of The Day of the Locust without spoilers, adapted from The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the 1930s in Los Angeles, a struggling actress, an aspiring artist, and a former child star find themselves drawn together in a decaying apartment building. Observing the dark side of Hollywood and the corrosive effects of ambition, introverted accountant Homer Simpson witnesses the destructive power of greed and the unraveling of societal values as the city descends into chaos.
The Day of the Locust Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- female nudity
- casting couch
- nudity
- sex
- actress
- underwear
- transvestite
- syphilis
- prostitute
- photographer
- mob rule
- lust
+38 more Show fewer
- insurance company
- ice cream cone
- brothel
- male female relationship
- brothel madam
- call girl
- androgyny
- great depression
- panties
- tap dancing
- grauman's chinese theatre los angeles
- on set accident
- naive man
- loneliness
- mass hysteria
- reference to adolf hitler
- lawnmower
- murder of a child
- scene during opening credits
- love
- man
- fan the person
- convertible car
- hollywood california
- walking on a bar
- car in fire
- pornography as subject
- satire comedy
- stag film as subject
- neighbor neighbor relationship
- 1930s
- art director
- artist
- alcoholic
- accountant
- watching a movie
- kicked in the face
- food obsession
The Day of the Locust Cast
Donald Sutherland leads the cast, with Burgess Meredith and Karen Black. Directed by John Schlesinger; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John Schlesinger
Also Starring in The Day of the Locust
· 6 moreMore from John Schlesinger
More films directed by John Schlesinger, best-rated first: Cold Comfort Farm, Midnight Cowboy, The Falcon and the Snowman and Marathon Man.
The Day of the Locust Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Day of the Locust 61 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 61 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB
The Day of the Locust Plot Summary
What happens in The Day of the Locust from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Aspiring artist Tod Hackett, a recent Yale graduate, ventures into 1930s Hollywood with dreams of making it big. He secures a position as an art department production illustrator at a prominent film studio and moves into the San Bernardino Arms, a dilapidated bungalow court filled with colorful characters who are all on the fringes of the film industry. Among the eclectic residents is Faye Greener, a struggling actress with grand ambitions, her father Harry, an ex-vaudevillian, and Abe Kusich, a dwarf embroiled in a tumultuous romance with his girlfriend, Mary. Adore Loomis, a young boy whose mother hopes to turn him into a star, resides nearby, and Homer Simpson, a repressed accountant, secretly harbors feelings for Faye.
Full summary
The whole story of The Day of the Locust, scene by scene
The Day of the Locust Box Office
The Day of the Locust grossed $42 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$42
The Day of the Locust Awards & Nominations
The Day of the Locust won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 1976. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 1976, with 1 win from 3 nominations.
1 win5 nominations2 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1976 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best Costume Design
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Burgess Meredith
- Nominated Best Production Design
-
Golden Globes 1976 2 nominations- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Karen Black
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actor) – Burgess Meredith
The Day of the Locust Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 3 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer The Day of the Locust (1975) ORIGINAL TRAILER
- Trailer The Day Of The Locust (Modern Trailer)
- Featurette Unboxing
How Well Do You Know The Day of the Locust?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the primary profession of Tod Hackett?
Cars in The Day of the Locust
33 cars on screen, including the 1938 Chevrolet Master and the 1931 Ford Model A.
-
1938 Chevrolet Master Important role -
1931 Ford Model A Important role -
1931 Cadillac Minor role -
1937 Cadillac Minor role
The Day of the Locust Also Known As
21 alternative titles, including “O Dia do Gafanhoto” and “O Dia dos Gafanhotos”.
- Also known as
-
- O Dia do Gafanhoto
- O Dia dos Gafanhotos
- Katastrofenatten
- Heinäsirkat
- Medaljens bakside
- Dzien szaranczy
- День Саранчи
- Gräshopporna
- Le Jour du Fleau
- 淑女·荡妇·情人
- Der Tag der Heuschrecke
- Il giorno della locusta
+9 more Show fewer
- Como plaga de langosta
- A sáska napja
- Le Jour du fléau
- יומו של הארבה
- Den kobylek
- Çekirgenin Günü
- Dzień szarańczy
- 蝗虫之日
- 부서진 세월
Seen The Day of the Locust?
Movies Like The Day of the Locust
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Locusts, 2 Days in the Valley and The Naked Zoo.
The Day of the Locust FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Day of the Locust, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Day of the Locust?
The Day of the Locust runs 2 hours 24 minutes (144 minutes).
When was The Day of the Locust released?
The Day of the Locust was released on May 7, 1975.
Who directed The Day of the Locust?
The Day of the Locust was directed by John Schlesinger.
More films by John Schlesinger Who is in the cast of The Day of the Locust?
The Day of the Locust stars Donald Sutherland, Burgess Meredith and Karen Black, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Day of the Locust make at the box office?
The Day of the Locust grossed $42 worldwide.
How is The Day of the Locust rated?
The Day of the Locust has 61 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Is The Day of the Locust based on a book?
Yes. The Day of the Locust is adapted from The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West.
What awards did The Day of the Locust win?
The Day of the Locust won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 1976.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
