Customer Reviews

Deadly Harvest [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The first sentence for the description on the back of the DVD case for the film Deadly Harvest (1977) states the following `Cinematic changes have lead to a hungry planet.' Cinematic changes? I saw the film last night, and I'm betting they probably meant `climatic changes'...not a good sign... written by Martin Lager (The Starlost: The Beginning) and directed by Timothy Bond ("Star Trek: The Next Generation"), the film stars the immense Clint Walker (6' 6") who played the lead in the mid 50s television series "Cheyenne", along with appearing in a number of films including The Night of the Grizzly (1966), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and Pancho Villa (1972). Also appearing in this Canadian production is a young Kim Cattrall (Porky's, Police Academy), Nehemiah Persoff (Fate Is the Hunter), Geraint Wyn Davies ("Forever Knight"), Dawn Greenhalgh (The Virgin Suicides), David Brown (Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault), and Jim Henshaw, who would later find his true calling writing episodes on such television series as "Friday the 13th", "War of the Worlds", and "La Femme Nikita", but will always be know to me as the voice of Bright Heart Raccoon from The Care Bears Movie (1985).

The film begins with an aerial shot of some snowy farmlands and ominous voiceover relating the precarious predicament man has gotten himself into by the end of the 70s (and I ain't talking about disco). Apparently industrial pollution, urban sprawl, unchecked population growth, and just poor planning in general have caused changes in the climate such that its snowing in the middle of summer, and the years harvest has gone the way of last years harvest...that's to say both are a wash...oh yeah, the gooberment has also squandered away the grain reserves (they sold them to a famine stricken Asia for a tidy profit), so food stuffs are becoming increasingly difficult to come by, causing said gooberment buffoons to not only cut the present rationing of food, but impose martial law along with a curfew, close all borders, and stop all public long distance communications. Things are tough all over as people from the city begin raiding the outlying farms in hopes of stealing some food, but farmer Grant Franklin (Walker) and his family seem to getting by okay (despite the fact that some city goons stole their prize cow), and even have something to look forward to with the impending marriage of Grant's daughter Susan (Cattrall)...but, as most of us know, things will get worse before they get better...on the day of the wedding, circumstances have led to a group of armed city men to crash the party (the wedding guest have brought food as gifts for the young couple), violence erupts, and people get killed, driving the normally (and annoyingly) pacifistic Grant into action (finally)...the frozen ground may not yield any crops, but a deadly harvest is on the way as Grant seeks retribution from those who done him and his kin wrong...

I was a bit hesitant to buy this DVD specifically because of the cheap and funky Adobe Photoshop DVD case artwork, featuring an obviously recent headshot of Ms. Cattrall, looking nothing like she did back in 1977, but, I have to say, the movie turned out better than I expected (my expectations were extremely low). I'm not saying this is a great film, but in terms of unintentional humor, it's worth a look. I thought the movie was meant to take place in the United States, but they only ever stated `North America' in the film, and with the abundance of Canadian accents (eh?) and snow, Canada wouldn't be an illogical setting. One of the best parts come at the beginning when we see a small group of dubious gooberment officials meeting in a crummy office, trying to sort out the impending famine that will surely result due to their actions (or inactions). One recommends euthanasia, the killing off of the old and the sick (one step away from Soylent Green), but all eventually agree that telling the public the truth would be a bad thing...the truth being how badly the officials screwed everyone over...in my synopsis I made the movie sound like an action type vehicle, but that's not really accurate. There is some action, but the overall intent of the film seemed to be showing how individuals would act (and react) during a crisis situation, some choosing to maintain a hopeful, optimistic view (Grant was looking into hydroponics as a possible, viable alternative), while others choose to exploit (or harm) their fellow human beings, thinking of nothing but themselves as desperation and despair settled in...the main focus is on the Franklin family, but we also get to see another family, one that lives in the city, and how the father eventually finds a way to cope with the situation (in another classic scene worth the price of admission alone). As I said this really isn't an action movie, but there is a satisfying sequence at the end, as the farmers go to war with the invading raiders from the city. The acting is pretty rotten as the story is saturated with sappy melodramatics and exaggerated histrionics. The production values are fairly low, but perhaps that was because so much was spent on the helicopter aerial shots that permeate the movie...the worst aspect about this film, the one that stands out above the others, is the hideous musical scoring...it this really schlocky, inappropriate, psuedo sci-fi electronic crapola, much like that'd you hear on an episode of the late 70s futuristic television show "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", starring Gil Gerard. I appreciate a good musical score, especially one that blends in smoothly with the story, not necessarily drawing too much attention to itself, while the great musical scores do draw attention to themselves, but more so in a manner of complimenting the visuals, adding a vibrancy and sense of life...here it pulsates like that of an ingrown toenail cutting into the soft, pink flesh, the resultant infection releasing a steady stream of virulent pus.

The fullscreen picture on this Westlake Entertainment Group release is mediocre, making me think the source material was probably a slightly worn videotape. It's watchable, but the colors are flat and there's a consistent fuzz throughout. The audio comes through well enough, about equal to the picture quality. There is a menu and chapter stops, and even a special feature in the way of a glowing biography of Clint Walker and his career. Overall I'd give this 2 ½ stars, as it made me laugh...I would have been willing to go to three had there been some nekkidness...

Cookieman108

First a word about 'gray market' DVDs:

Often, transfers are not of the highest quality. The movies themselves are unrestored and rarely pristine (but still watchable), extras are non-existent and inclusion of artwork or liner notes varies by manufacturer. These niche companies can however provide a valuable outlet for product unavailable elsewhere.

Contrary to recent concerns over global warming, Canadian-made DEADLY HARVEST was created in an era when the fear was that Earth was rapidly COOLING. Its setting is the start of widespread famine caused by a too-brief summer and an overly-long, cruel winter.

Walker portrays a farmer trying to both provide for his family and fend off maurauders bent on seizing his food stores and few animals. Cattrall is Walker's daughter and Persoff plays a supply stockpiler who capitalizes on the misery and starvation of others. A bleak but fine concept is wasted here by poor scripting, subpar acting and a monochromatic visual palette. This one's well-deserving of a remake the next time it's determined the new Ice Age is upon us.

Related item:

Starring Paul Newman and released the very same year as "Deadly Harvest," Robert Altman's QUINTET is another frozen planet sci-fier where humankind faces imminent extinction.

Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb user poll rating.

(3.9) Deadly Harvest (Canada-1979) - Clint Walker/Nehemiah Persoff/Kim Cattrall

First off, most everything Cookieman said in his review is true and I won't rehash what he had to say about this movie. I'd just like to add that I thought this movie was entertaining without being "over the top" as many post-apocalyptic movies can get.

There are no biker-gangs in this film, no road warriors and no bizarre characters like you would normally find in this type genre.

The film has a sort of "this could really happen" kind of feel to it.

If economic collapse or a crop collapse were to occur, I could see this sort of scenario with city people raiding the country farmers playing out in this fashion.

This is not a great film, but I enjoyed it for what it is and I am giving it 3 stars. I think it covered the subject pretty well.

I first saw this movie about ten years ago and it has stuck in my mind ever since. I finally purchased it and it was just as disturbing the second time around. It's a truly gripping story of life in the U.S. following a worldwide famine and societal collapse.

this shows a world where the government has once again screwed everything up and now there is a food shortage that is getting worse and worse. Very close to what's happening now in that our food is so full of chemicals it will be rendered useless before long.

the movie is very old and not the best or what we are today used to in cinema, so please be patient with it. But it was made to get a point across and it did do that.

I watched it because I am a Clint Walker fan. Well I have seen better Clint movies, however, when Clint finally does get into action here the movie finally does pick up and become interesting.

First a word about 'gray market' DVDs:

Often, transfers are not of the highest quality. The movies themselves are unrestored and rarely pristine (but still watchable), extras are non-existent and inclusion of artwork or liner notes varies by manufacturer. These niche companies can however provide a valuable outlet for product unavailable elsewhere.

Contrary to recent concerns over global warming, Canadian-made DEADLY HARVEST was created in an era when the fear was that Earth was rapidly COOLING. Its setting is the start of widespread famine caused by a too-brief summer and an overly-long, cruel winter.

Walker portrays a farmer trying to both provide for his family and fend off maurauders bent on seizing his food stores and few animals. Cattrall is Walker's daughter and Persoff plays a supply stockpiler who capitalizes on the misery and starvation of others. A bleak but fine concept is wasted here by poor scripting, subpar acting and a monochromatic visual palette. This one's well-deserving of a remake the next time it's determined the new Ice Age is upon us.

Related item:

Starring Paul Newman and released the very same year as "Deadly Harvest," Robert Altman's QUINTET is another frozen planet sci-fier where humankind faces imminent extinction.

Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb user poll rating.

(3.9) Deadly Harvest (Canada-1979) - Clint Walker/Nehemiah Persoff/Kim Cattrall

This movie is a bit frustrating, it's an excellent story but it's treatment is second rate, a B movie that should have been done with an A director and a better budget. Clint Walker is great as usual but he can't do it alone. The futuristic tale suffers from a feeling they didn't want to pay extras to fill out the landscape. A very young kim cattrall is average but shows her potential. The dvd quality is poor. But given that the story itself is very interesting and Walker's portrayal is very good.

This is movie about what could happen if there was a serious food

shortage .It's pretty alarming when you see what your neighbor's can

or will do for survival.Clint Walker is simply a man trying to save his

family disaster ,even his own son turns against him.All I really want

to say is It's a bit un-nerving ,but seriously get's you to thinking.

Hunk of bygone years meets camp diva of future years; a strange parallel for a gay fan, or rationalization for buying this tanker?

Kim is young and cute, and Clint is older but still sexy. The plot (see expansive review above, which far outweighs the worth of the film) is thin.