DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

I wonder what Romero's own personal favourite installment of the series is?

[tcib]

My first memories of DOTD is buying an exrental on Entertainment Video (?) and sitting downstairs on a Friday night after the folks had gone to bed, with a massive bag of twiglets. Think my dad came back down during the scene in which Roger gets bitten between trucks.
I believe I was about 15 and it blew me away. Not seen it in years though. This Blu-Ray may be an opportune moment to revisit it.

[Splatterdragon73]

I think i recall seeing Intervision's wonderful Dawn sleeve for the first time in a branch of Radio Rentals in a shopping centre in Washington on a trip with my dad, aunty and grandma. Unfortunately, the cassette couldn't be rented as we lived too far away from where we were and the trip was a one-off occasion. But that memorable VHS cover left quite an impression on me.

I hoped for a long time to see Romero's flawed but essential masterpiece and finally got the chance sometime in the mid-late '80s when an outlet called 'Videoscene' just opened on the troubled Kenton estate. The moment i saw that bald, pale, white-eyed zombie staring out at me for a second time i knew the time had come and i had to see this film!

So i badgered my dad to join and hire out Dawn and i wasn't disappointed, even though it was the snipped print!
I must've watched the movie several times that day and remember the VHS tape was easy enough to remove from the box but for some reason was a nightmare to put back in again!

Aaahhh, happy days!!

[vipco]

I first saw it on the fanily home video so it musta been on Betamax, pre cert.
I did'nt know about the censors cutting so I watched it without worry that it might be cut and it biew me away.

I loved it for the surviualist theme , thats what frightened me most, as it was quite possible, no, not the dead rising, but something like viral chemical rage experiments gone wrong. (Cold war paranoia)

The one bit spoils it for me is the slapstick cake fight and silly music........I was really fully immersed untill then.,,,,,,,I still dont get it.

I have the Arrow release with the head rising over an orangy horizon with somthing on one side of its face (?) Is this the Theatrical release.?

Whats the main difference between this version and the DC.?

My favourite Romero 'Dead' film is Land of the Dead, with Dawn, Day, & Night being equal 2nd imho.

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by vipco

I have the Arrow release with the head rising over an orangy horizon with somthing on one side of its face (?) Is this the Theatrical release.?

Yes this is the uncut theatrical version. Romero considers this to be the definitive cut of the film.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Splatterdragon73

I think i recall seeing Intervision's wonderful Dawn sleeve for the first time in a branch of Radio Rentals in a shopping centre in Washington on a trip with my dad, aunty and grandma. Unfortunately, the cassette couldn't be rented as we lived too far away from where we were and the trip was a one-off occasion. But that memorable VHS cover left quite an impression on me.

The moment i saw that bald, pale, white-eyed zombie staring out at me for a second time i knew the time had come and i had to see this film!

:

That British poster and cover art left the exact same impression on me as well SD!

[tcib]

Originally Posted by Splatterdragon73

in a branch of Radio Rentals in a shopping centre in Washington

My missus was from Washington. Small world.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

[QUOTE=vipco;42487]


The one bit spoils it for me is the slapstick cake fight and silly music........I was really fully immersed untill then.,,,,,,,I still dont get it.





I reckon this is Romero having a dig at consumerism Vip's.
Think about it.how many times have you wandered round a shopping mall,especially at Crimbo,and the tartan skirt and blue rinse brigade are shuffling along in front of you,with not a care in the world?
Next time you're stuck behind a squad of grannies,hum that music to yourself.
I'll bet it brings a smile to your face......

[Splatterdragon73]

Originally Posted by vipco

The one bit spoils it for me is the slapstick cake fight and silly music........I was really fully immersed untill then.,,,,,,,I still dont get it.

I have the Arrow release with the head rising over an orangy horizon with somthing on one side of its face (?) Is this the Theatrical release.?

Whats the main difference between this version and the DC.?

Like Vincenzo mentioned earlier the U.S. theatrical cut of Dawn is really Romero's personal edit as it boasts enough social commentary and splatter to generally keep the director happy. There's not too much of one or the other.

The extended 138 minute print was only developed for domestic viewing and was never intended for cinema exhibition.
It basically just features more dialogue and satire if i'm not mistaken as it's been about four years since i last watched this version as part of the ABUS Dawn ultimate edition.

With regards to the custard pie scene in the film i think that maybe Romero was possibly trying to show how complacent the bikers are towards the zombies and underestimate how dangerous the flesh eaters can be especially in large numbers. The deadsters are generally treated as walking jokes by Blade and co until the numbers game catches up with the raiders and the zombies overwhelm the bad guys.
You can laugh at a walking corpse for only so long before the rest of the gruesome gang get together and gorge themselves on your innards!
It only takes a split-second lapse of concentration and a zombie can have you and the bikers seem to forget this and find out the hard way due to treating the whole looting exercise as a joke and not taking the threat at hand seriously.

[vincenzo]

Aside from the music and some incidental shots the main difference between the theatrical print & DC is basically 2 extended scenes. A longer shopping scene inside the mall, and additional footage of the dock scene (including Joe Pilato as a cop).