The Day of the Locust

The Day of the Locust is a 1975 American satirical historical drama film directed by John Schlesinger. It stars Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, William Atherton, Burgess Meredith, Richard Dysart, John Hillerman, and Geraldine Page. Set in Hollywood, California, just before World War II, the film conveys the alienation and desperation of a disparate group of people whose dreams of success do not come true. The screenplay by Waldo Salt is based on the 1939 novel of the same title by Nathanael West. The Day of the Locust garnered scholarly attention for its nightmarish depiction and acerbic commentary of the Hollywood film industry, and critical attention for its visually implicit horror elements.