No Blade of Grass *** (1970, Nigel Davenport, Jean Wallace, Patrick Holt, Lynne Frederick, John Hamill) – Classic Movie Review 7626

Writer/ producer/ director Cornel Wilde came to Britain to direct the 1970 eco-warrior movie No Blade of Grass, a green-friendly, concerned and often involving sci-fi action thriller, which stars his wife Jean Wallace, along with Britain’s Nigel Davenport, Patrick Holt and Lynne Frederick.

There is a dark, intense tone of foreboding, and a burst of sexual violence as Wallace and Frederick are attacked by marauders.

The screenplay by Sean Forestal and Cornel Wilde (credited as Jefferson Pascal) is taken from John Christopher’s novel. In it, some time in the future, a deadly virus strikes London, the ensuing pollution kills crops and John Custance (Nigel Davenport) and his British family and friends flee to the country for hoped-for safety at his brother’s farm in Scotland from the collapse of city life. While travelling, they encounter hostile folk hungry for their food.

It is Frederick’s film debut, aged 16.

Also in the cast are John Hamill, Ruth Kettlewell, Anthony May, M J Matthews, Michael Percival, Tex Fuller, Simon Merrick, Anthony Sharp, George Coulouris, Wendy Richard, Max Hartnell, John Lewis, Norman Atkyns, Nigel Rathbone, Christopher Lofthouse, John Avison, Jimmy Winston, Richard Penny, R C Driscoll, Geoffrey Hooper, Christopher Wilson, William Duffy, Mervyn Patrick, Denis Mockler, Ross Allan, Karen Terry, Joan Ward, Brian Crabtree, Susan Sydney, Michael Landy, Louise Kay, Bruce Myers, Margaret Chapman, Christopher Neame, Bridget Brice, Reg Staniford, Maureen Rutter, Derek Keller, Suzanne Pinkstone, Surgit Sood, Dick Offord, Joanna Annin, John Buckley and Malcolm Toes.

No Blade of Grass is directed by Cornel Wilde, runs 98 minutes, is made by Theodora Productions, is released by MGM, is written by Sean Forestal and Jefferson Pascal, based on John Christopher’s novel, is shot in Metrocolor by H A R Thompson, is produced by Cornel Wilde, is scored by Burnell Whibley, and is designed by Elliot Scott.

The magnificent Odeon, Balham Hill, South London.

It was screened at the last picture show (in a double bill with Shaft’s Big Score!) at the art deco Odeon, Balham Hill, South London, in 1972. The magnificent auditorium was destroyed by builders in the early 80s to turn into flats, but the foyer and façade are intact and what is left is now a Majestic Wine warehouse.

The remains of the Odeon, Balham Hill, South London, is now a Majestic Wine warehouse.

Nigel Davenport (23 May 1928 – 25 October 2013) is best known for A Man for All Seasons, Play Dirty (1969) and Chariots of Fire. Nigel Davenport’s first son was the film critic Hugo Davenport. His second son, the actor Jack Davenport, was by his second wife, the actress Maria Aitken.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7626

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com