Wilde In The Future

 

(IMDB)

NO BLADE OF GRASS-1970-When a mysterious virus nearly wipes out England's agriculture and pollutes the water, a man, John Custance (Nigel Davenport) and his wife Ann (Jean Wallace) and two kids along with their friend Roger (John Hamill) head for a farm in the country. Along the way they pick up the violent Pirrie (Anthony May) and his flirty wife Clara (Wendy Richard). It doesn't take long for the group to descend into killing and stealing. The wife and daughter are raped by 3 creeps and their cars and goods are taken by a town. Meanwhile the government has fled and the world is descending into cannibalism. Things don't turn out like they planned and there's a wild fight with a motorcycle gang. They make it to the farm but problems arise with David (Patrick Holt) John's brother. 

Basically this treats a future calamity in pretty depressing chilling dog eat dog terms (more so then say PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO which at times GRASS imitates). Where as Ray Milland's character worked against a breakdown in society, John readily accepts it's kill or be killed and might makes right (especially in the climax). There are a few lapses but overall this is an ahead of its time feature directed and co-written by actor Cornel Wilde (he and a lead actress Wallace were married in real life) especially with the world situation today.

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Not Bad For A TV Movie

GARGOYLES-1972-Dr. Boley (Cornell Wilde) and his daughter Diana (Jenifer Salt) visit an old desert rat named Uncle Willie (Woody Chambliss) who has an unusual skeleton of what he says is a demon from a local Indian tribe. While interviewing Willie, they are attacked by something with claws that kills Willie and sets the place on fire. The father and daughter escape (with the skull) but one of the creatures attacks their car. They stay at a hotel owned by the boozy Mrs. Parks (Grayson Hall). The local sheriff blames some bikers but Boley tries to convince him otherwise. Later some gargoyles invade the hotel and one is hit and killed by a truck. Boley wants to take the dead creature back to LA but the gargoyle leader (Bernie Casey) wants it back. They re-invade to get the body and kidnap Diana too. With the help of the police (including Scott Glen), the bikers and some dogs, Boley infiltrates the lair, saves Diana and ruins the gargoyles' plan for world dominance. 

Director Bill Norton directed this above average TV horror movie after making his debut earlier with CISCO PIKE. He made some other mainstream films like MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI and BABY: SECRET OF THE LOST LEGEND but later went back to making TV movies.

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