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No Blade of Grass

Film still

No Blade of Grass - 1970 | 96 mins | Drama, Sci-Fi | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Cornel Wilde.
Producer: Cornel Wilde
Script: Sean Forestal and Jefferson Pascal. (based on the novel by John Christopher)
Cinematography: H.A.R. Thomson.
Film Editing: Eric Boyd-Perkins and Frank Clarke.
Art Direction: Elliot Scott.
Costume Design: Tony Armstrong.
Makeup Department: George Blackler and Biddy Chrystal.
Sound Department: Roy Baker, Ken Barker, Cyril Swern and Otto Snel.
Original Music: Burnell Whibley.

The Cast

Nigel Davenport - John Custance
Jean Wallace - Ann Custance
John Hamill - Roger Burnham
Lynne Frederick - Mary Custance
Patrick Holt - David Custance
M.J. Matthews - George
Tex Fuller - Mr. Beaseley
Anthony Sharp - Sir Charles Brenner
George Coulouris - Mr. Sturdevant
Anthony May - Pirrie
Wendy Richard - Clara

Plot Synopsis

Based on a best-selling novel by John Christopher, this combination of horror movie and cautionary eco-tale warns against the dangers of pollution as crops lie withered and fields are littered with bodies of dead cattle. This potentially powerful apocalyptic vision is arguably more relevant now than it was back in 1970 and unfortunately is dealt with too melodramatically by Wilde.

Set in a futuristic Britain that has been decimated by the sudden onset of a terrible grass plague caused by environmental damage. One man, John Custance (Nigel Davenport), is persuaded by his brother David (Patrick Holt) to flee London with his family to the sanctuary of his brother’s farm. The Custance family join Pirrie (Anthony May) and his wife and make the treacherous journey to David's well-stocked farm in the Lake District. The convoy encounter an orgy of rioting in the city and violence in the countryside as they must fight insane biker gangs and deal with their own internal wrangles, but eventually, they make it to the farm. Unfortunately, only some were especially invited, and John's ruthless brother refuses to let them enter and so they decide to fight their way in.