Day of The Locust (1975)
Screening as part of the 2025 From Page To Screen film festival
Introduced by festival curator Andrew Chater
John Schlesinger’s adaptation of Nathanael West’s 1939 novel is a hallucinatory critique of the wide-eyed dreamers caught in the uncompromising gears of the Hollywood dream factory.
Tod Hackett (William Atherton) is an aspiring artist recently arriving in the world of dazzling 1930s Tinseltown who finds himself entangled in the lives of oddballs like wannabe starlet Faye (Karen Black) and tragic loner Homer Simpson (Donald Sutherland). With stunning, sun-bleached cinematography by Conrad Hall and haunting performances from an iconic cast, Schlesinger’s visionary adaptation is both grotesque and mesmerising, culminating in an utterly unhinged apocalyptic climax that is hard to watch but impossible to look away from.
Dir. John Schlesinger, USA 1975, 144 mins. With Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, William Atherton, Burgess Meredith, Geraldine Page.
Certificate 18
Gain deeper insight into the film with our curator, Andrew Chater, as he explores its themes, significance, and creative process. Watch the video below to hear his expert perspective.
Dates & Tickets
| Date | Time | Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 23 April, 2025 | 2:00pm | Buy Tickets |
Reviews
With impeccable detail and merciless wit, John Schlesinger’s 'The Day of the Locust' presents 1930s Los Angeles as a nightmarish circle in Dante’s Inferno.
A daring, epic film... a brilliant one at times, and with a wealth of sharp-edged performances.