The No Blade of Grass

Director: Cornel Wilde

Overview

A London family tries to move to the Scottish countryside in the wake of social chaos prompted by pollution. John (Nigel Davenport), his wife Ann (Jean Wallace) and their marriageable daughter Mary (Lynne Frederick) contend with street thugs, murderers and people fleeing deadly toxic clouds in an animalistic struggle for survival. The family is joined by a violent hippie (Anthony May) and his girlfriend Clara (Wendy Richard) as they try to leave before martial law and complete anarchy ensue.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/01/2011
UPC:	0883316331941
Original Release:	1970
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00
Sales rank:	25,991

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Nigel Davenport	John Custance
Jean Wallace	Ann Custance
Lynne Frederick	Mary Custance
John Hamill	Roger Burnham
Patrick Holt	David Custance
Anthony May	Andrew Pirrie
Wendy Richard	Clara
Nigel Rathbone	Davey
George Coulouris	Mr. Sturdevant
Ruth Kettlewell	Fat Woman
M.J. Matthews	George
Michael Percival	Police Constable
Tex Fuller	Mr.Beaseley
Simon Merrick	TV Interviewer
Anthony Sharp	Sir Charles Brenner
Max Hartnell	Lieutenant
John Lewis	Corporal
Norman Atkyns	Dr. Cassop
Christopher Lofthouse	Spooks
John Avison	Yorkshire Sergeant
Jimmy Winston	Hun
Richard Penny	Hun
R.C. Driscoll	Hun
Geoffrey Hooper	Tweed Jacket
Christopher Wilson	Farmer
William Duffy	Murdered Farmer
Mervyn Patrick	Joe Ashton
Denise Mockler	Emily Ashton
Ross Allan	Alf Parsons
Karen Terry	Parsons' Daughter
Joan Ward	Mrs. Parsons
Brian Crabtree	Joe Harris
Susan Sydney	Liz Harris
Michael Landy	Jess Arkwright
Louise Kay	Susan Arkwright
Bruce Myers	Bill Riggs
Margaret Chapman	Prudence Riggs
Christopher Neame	Locke
Bridget Brice	Jill Locke
Reg Staniford	Mr.Blennit
Maureen Rutter	Mrs. Blennit
Derek Keller	Scott
Suzanne Pinkstone	Mrs. Scott
Surgit Sood	Surgit
Dick Offord	Joe
Joanna Annin	Joe's Wife
John Buckley	Captain
Malcolm Toes	Sergeant Major
Cornel Wilde	Narrator
Charles Carroll	Composer
Louis Nelius	Composer
Burnell Whibley	Composer

Technical Credits

Sean Forestal

Jefferson Pascal

Cornel Wilde	Producer
Terry Witherington	Special Effects
Sean Forestal	Screenwriter
Jefferson Pascal	Screenwriter
Cyril Swern	Sound/Sound Designer

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Editorial Reviews

This apocalyptic drama from actor-turned-director Cornel Wilde is a powerful experience despite some flaws. The apocalyptic scenario works because it is compelling without ever lapsing into phony sentimentality and never cops out on the serious, dark sensibility that it establishes at the beginning. A few story developments seem rushed or glossed-over -- most notably the scenes involving the daughter's ultimate choice of boyfriend -- but the film is never at a loss for compelling incidents and maintains dramatic tension throughout. Wilde's aggressive style of direction fits this narrative, going for a fractured story-telling style that jumps back and forth in the midst of its main narrative. The flashbacks work well and are often orchestrated with devastating effect (the best is a sequence that intercuts two scenes of childbirth, one happy and the other tragic). Unfortunately, the flash-forwards give away too much story information upfront and 'spoil' a number of key plot developments. That said, Wilde's commitment to his material shines through and he does a fantastic job of conveying both the physical and psychological rigors of the protagonists' journey as they are forced to sacrifice their ideals for the sake of survival. Performances are also quite good throughout: Nigel Davenport affects a cool style as the ex-military man leader who plays his cards close to the vest while Jean Knight brings some warmth to the story as his caring wife and Anthony May adds enough ambiguity to his tough-guy character to keep him intriguingly unpredictable. To sum up, No Blade Of Grass is an intense, often brutal affair but it offers plenty to ponder for the science fiction fans who can handle its rough-and-tumble style.