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Cast

Donald Sutherland
as Homer

Karen Black
as Faye Greener

Burgess Meredith
as Harry Greener

William Atherton
as Tod Hackett

Geraldine Page
as Big Sister

Richard Dysart
as Claude Estee

Bo Hopkins
as Earle Shoop

Pepe Serna
as Miguel

Lelia Goldoni
as Mary Dove

Billy Barty
as Abe

Jackie Earle Haley
as Adore

Gloria Le Roy
as Mrs. Loomis

Jane Hoffman
as Mrs. Odlesh

Norman Leavitt
as Mr. Odlesh

Madge Kennedy
as Mrs. Johnson

Ina Gould
as Lee Sister

Florence Lake
as Lee Sister

Margaret Willey
as The Gingo

John War Eagle
as The Gingo

Natalie Schafer
as Audrey Jennings

Gloria Stroock
as Alice Estee

Nita Talbot
as Joan

Nicholas Cortland
as Projectionist

Alvin Childress
as Butler

Ann Coleman
as Girl

Gyl Roland
as Girl

Paul Stewart
as Helverston

John Hillerman
as Ned Grote

William Castle
as Director

Grainger Hines
as French Lieutenant

DeForest Covan
as Shoeshine Boy

John Michael Quinn
as Major Domo

Robert Pine
as Apprentice

Angela Greene

Jerry Fogel
as Apprentice

Dennis Dugan
as Apprentice

David Ladd
as Apprentice

Bob Holt
as Tour Guide

Paul Jabara
as Nightclub Entertainer

Queenie Smith
as Palsied Lady

Margaret Jenkins
as Choral Director

Jonathan Kidd
as Undertaker

Kenny Solms
as Boy in Chapel

Byron Paul

Wally K. Berns
as Theatre Manager

Dick Powell Jr.
as Dick Powell

Bill Baldwin
as Announcer at Premiere

Roger Price

Robert O. Ragland
as Guests at Audrey Jennings

Wally Rose
as Assistant Director

Virginia Baker

Fred Scheiwiller

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Critic Reviews for The Day of the Locust

Audience Reviews for The Day of the Locust

• Apr 23, 2011

  Wow, what an ugly film. Presumably, this cynical tale of Hollywood wannabes was green-lit following the success of "Chinatown." Not one likable character in the cast -- even the lead Tod (William Atherton), with his shallow love for Faye (Karen Black), is hard to embrace. Donald Sutherland gives a remarkable performance as repressed neurotic Homer Simpson (now why does that name sound familiar?), but should have entered the story much earlier. Burgess Meredith? Wonderful, but wasted in a minor part. As if the other depravities weren't enough, there's even a repulsive cockfighting scene needlessly thrown into the mix. Meanwhile, the surreal climax is like an entirely different movie (shades of "The Wall"?) and goes way, way over the top. Interesting to see the often villainous Atherton as an innocent, William Castle in a cameo as a fictional director and the pubescent Jackie Earle Haley as an insufferable child-star brat.
  

  Eric B Super Reviewer
• Apr 18, 2010

  Profoundly sad view of the lower rungs of Hollywood life in the 30's. Disturbing and unsettling. The climatic sequence is both horrifying and mesmerizing.
  jay n Super Reviewer
• Nov 12, 2009

  Allegorical film that depicts the moral decay of 1930's Hollywood. Donald Sutherland gave an unusual performance as Homer Simpson. The epic, horrifying climax is the true highlight of the picture, one of the best sequences of cinema ever filmed. Masterpiece.
  Ivan D Super Reviewer
• Mar 17, 2008

  An often surreal but always intriguing morality tale. This film has it's sights set mostly on "Hollywood", with a few "pop shots" at organized religion (which if you think about it is not so different from Hollywood). Sure the characters are "over the top" and "steretypical", a virtual cornucopia of Hollywood has beens and hopefuls. But that's kind of the point. It's meant to be a sort of snap-shot of 1930's-40's Hollywood and all that it entailed. The acting is solid with the casting spot on. Especially Donald Sutherlands performance as Homer Simpson and the seemingly under appreciated William Atherton as Todd Hackett. The cinematography is brilliant, ranging from glorious to bleak but always captivating. The last 15-20 minutes are genius!
  Robert C Super Reviewer

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