Rating: 
Summary: You're in the movie now.
Review: A naive young art director played by William Atherton takes a job in a Hollywood studio in the 1930s and sinks into a bleak nightmare of crushed hopes and failed dreams. Nathanael West's novel reaches the screen with none of its impact diminished. Donald Sutherland's performance as a simple Midwesterner who falls in love with a venal bit player (Karen Black) is astonishingly good. Burgess Meredith is also good as Black's father, an ex-vaundevillian who struggles to make a living as a door-to-door salesman. Disturbing and fascinating, the film is brilliantly photographed by the great Conrad Hall and amply directed by John Schlesinger. It's a shame more people don't know about this film, and it's a shame that it hasn't yet been released on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: unborn stars LIVING AT THE SAN BERNADINO ARMS ...
Review: BRAVE and AMAZING piece of work circa 3 decades ago.
JACKIE HALEY as "Adore" ~ the androgyneous child wannebe star steals the show and becomes the pivot.
ATHERTON, BLACK, SUTHERLAND form the trio of misfits - followed closely by Burgess Meredith [nom-perf.]; Billy Barty [watch that party out of hand sequence .... 'dwarf tossing ala Wizard of Oz??], the sensuous Pepe Serna..... and then there's hunky Bo Hopkins as the Hollywood Western Company Cowboy ... 'all' is very artificial and correctly so - 'all' reflective of the system - then and now .....it's all still here ....
Frightening and very brave for 1974.
The cockfights are disturbingly real as is the collapse of the sound stage - AS FOR THE ENDING! Possibly one of the most violent movie ever made about Tinseltown and 'the system'.
DVD is OK - would have liked extras - real extras ...
Rating:
Summary: Should have won Oscars for sheer nerve
Review: Firstly I need to make a correction or two to a couple of my fellow reviewers. While astounding, THE DAY OF THE LOCUST won NO Oscars. Burgess Meredith was indeed nominated for his extraordinary work as was Jerome Hellman for photographing it so beautifully. Sadly neither took Oscar home.
What amazes me more was Donald Sutherland's incredible Homer Simpson(yes that's right, Homer Simpson), was also ignored. What a beautiful, sympathetic but ultimately tragic character he plays here. John Schlesinger has delivered an amazing slice of life in Hollywood with this film. Instead of the current trend in cinema where gung-ho directors rush their audience towards a climax by throwing a dozen or so more in along the way, Schlesinger takes his time & allows us to get to know this strange, eclectic group intimately before unleashing the gobsmacking climax. When it comes in all its' brulatity, I guarantee you, it will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
P.S. I don't know what everyone's complaining about, my DVD transfer is mighty fine.
Rating:
Summary: An ugly look at realism
Review: Hard to review a movie that leaves you kind of dead inside. A fantastic movie about the uglier side of the glamour and glitter of the Hollywood we seem to idolize. Don't watch this if you are depressed or alone, but don't miss it.
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Summary: Karen Black
Review: I am a Karen Black Fanatic and simply love this film because of her. But, I also think this film has a VERY good message about hollywood. Its all business and doesnt care about the "people". Look how fast stars are has beens etc. When asked if it would make a difference if a person had died in the film it is said "no". The idea that hollywood is SO glamorous is quite the facade and this film shows the true dark side of hollywood and its mentality. Faye is the representation of the facade of the good side of hollywood. Desirable and beautiful on the outside. Tainted on the inside. Homer is the by product of having it all and then being tossed away like a worthless piece of trash. I think the ideas offered here are quite amazing! The film is worth watching many times to catch all of the symbolism and points made. It is a GREAT film!
Rating: 
Summary: OUT OF FOCUS
Review: I have decided to post my note just because former reviews refer to the VHS only. I bought this DVD because I consider this movie excellent and somehow unique. The quality of this dvd edition is unfortunately very bad. Sometimes the picture is even out of focus, and the definition is always critic even in the best condition of light. For these reasons I gave 1 star only to a movie that should deserve 4!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite on target
Review: I purchased the video because I am teaching Nathanael West's novel this term and wanted to see what Hollywood did with West's view of Hollywood. Well, there were pluses, serious pluses: Burgess Meredith was a great Harry Greener; the cockfight scene was well-played; Karen Black was a good Faye Greener, except on those occasions when the director or script misguided the character into moments of sincerity.And that misguidance highlights the weaknesses of the film. There is no sincerity in Hollywood; there is no reality beneath the plywood sets; if they collapse, there is nothing beneath: that is the tone of the West book. Hollywood is 99 & 44/100 percent image, and as such represents a human society which is likewise a combination of glitter, misdirection, and pointless desire. The book is a trip into existential despair. The movie fails to wallow deeply enough. The other big disappointment -- well, more than a disappointment, is the filming of the concluding riot scene. The filming is too 70ish -- gore mixed with psychedelic flashing between scene and imagination. The horror thus communicated is an individual horror. It is strong (part of the scene made my spouse physically ill). It is not, however, universal and despairing. Subtlety and selection leaves a longer impression than spectacle (that, of course, is a lesson Hollywood never has learned; and that is part of West's story). Overall, some very good moments, some good acting, but the tone does not quite do justice to West's book.
Rating:
Summary: This movie is weird but very well done.
Review: I saw this movie back in the seventies and Donald Sutherland became my most admired and favorite actor. He played a pathetic man, and played it very well. The end of the movie really made me just sit there for a few minutes in shock. It is one of my all time favorites. All the actors are fantastic!
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Summary: Day of the Decadent
Review: I would have to say that "The Day of the Locust" is a well-crafted film about the denizens who occupy the periphery of Hollywood. That said, these individuals are so shallow and decadent that it does not make for a pleasurable viewing experience. About the only redeeming character in the film is an ill-fated one named Homer Simpson played by Donald Sutherland. Your heart truly breaks for him. Alot of the other reviews of this film applaud this film for daring to take it's audience into such a dark area. I'd just as soon not visit such a place.
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Summary: FINALLY!!!! Can't wait......
Review: I'm so glad that Paramount has finally decided to release this often-overlooked masterpiece on DVD. Genuinely one of the most affecting films I've ever seen- tragic, dark, boisterous, everything the mind conjures about Hollywood in its heyday is presented here. I guarantee that the last 10-15 minutes of this film will leave your mouth agape, shocked at how this film concludes itself. Amazing.
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