You could write a whole book on the topic, "Movies About Movie-Making" – indeed Rudy Behlmer and Tony Thomas did just that with their Hollywood's Hollywood back in 1979. For this movie, they give a rave review. However , I disagree. Even though it is superbly photographed and set, I would describe Day of the Locust as an over-rated, pretentious, and disappointing production. Admittedly, Burgess Meredith , brilliant actor that he is, adds some zing to the turgid goings-on , but, aside from William Castle's curiosity-value brief appearance as the Waterloo movie director and the spectacularly staged "accident" on that set, the movie tends to out-stay its welcome. Donald Sutherland is a drag and some sequences like the cock-fighting episode (which doesn't figure in the book at all) could well be eliminated to tighten the very meandering, self-indulgent plot. Paul Stewart in an all-too-brief scene as the Zanuck-style studio head, plus Black and Atherton are mildly effective. The precocious brat of a kid is also very credible, but the film's longueurs and its arty climax destroy pace, illusion – and believability.
Review of The Day of the Locust
