Tony Todd played the role of Ben. The infected in I Am Legend become vampire-like creatures and prey on the uninfected. Hardman's daughter in real life, the 11-year-old daughter Schon also portrayed the mangled corpse on the house's upstairs floor that Ben drags away. Dissensions sets in almost immediately with Harry Cooper wanting to be in charge. The kids in the audience were stunned. A second version of the script featured a young man who runs away from home and discovers rotting human corpses that aliens use for food scattered across a meadow. The story follows seven people who are trapped in a rural farmhouse in western Pennsylvania, which is under assault by an enlarging group of cannibalistic, undead ghouls. The franchise predominantly centers on different groups of people attempting to survive during the outbreak and evolution of a zombie apocalypse. Barbra manages to get away and takes refuge in what seems to be an abandoned farm house. Barbra recovers from her catatonic state and tries to help Ben keep the ghouls out, but is dragged away by a reanimated Johnny and the other ghouls. Well, the kids came early, as I said. Although the film was his directorial debut, Romero utilized many of the guerrilla filmmaking techniques he had honed in his commercial and industrial work to complete the film on a budget of US$114,000. Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection Photos View All Photos (10) Movie Info. Romero drew inspiration from Richard Matheson's I Am Legend (1954), a horror novel about a plague that ravages a futuristic Los Angeles. Join them. The dead come back to life and terrorize a group of people trapped inside a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse. [54], Night of the Living Dead premiered on October 1, 1968, at the Fulton Theater in Pittsburgh. The completed film ultimately benefited from the decision, as film historian Joseph Maddrey describes the black-and-white filming as "guerrilla-style", resembling "the unflinching authority of a wartime newsreel". Karl Hardman attributed the edits to lead actor Duane Jones: The script had been written with the character Ben as a rather simple truck driver. [67] Rolling Stone named Night of the Living Dead one of The 100 Maverick Movies in the Last 100 Years. Two siblings and three of their friends en route to visit their grandfather's grave in Texas fall victim to a family of cannibalistic psychopaths. [69], The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives Night of the Living Dead a 97% approval rating based on 67 reviews, with an average rating of 8.94/10. [34] Asked in 2013 if he took inspiration from the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. that same year, Romero responded in the negative, noting that he only heard about the shooting when he was on his way to find distribution for the finished film. A deceptively simple tale of a group of strangers trapped in a … "[146] "[79], Night of the Living Dead entered the public domain in the United States because the original theatrical distributor, the Walter Reade Organization, failed to place a copyright indication on the prints,[80] and at that time, United States copyright law held that public dissemination required copyright notice to maintain a copyright. While she admits that "there are no Vietnamese in Night of the Living Dead, ... they constitute an absent presence whose significance can be understood if narrative is construed". [153], Other prevalent themes included "the flaws inherent in the media, local and federal government agencies, and the entire mechanism of civil defense". . . When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies. [60] The film had earned between $12 and $15 million at the U.S. box office after a decade. In Richard's book, in the original I Am Legend, that's what I thought that book was about. Everyone want[ed] a Hollywood ending, but we stuck to our guns". "[48], While some critics dismissed Romero's film because of the graphic scenes, writer R. H. W. Dillard claimed that the "open-eyed detailing" of taboo heightened the film's success. "Inner-City Exhibition and the Genre Film: Distributing. Official website of George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead", one of the 10 best horror films of all time. Ridley later played the lead in Romero's second feature. Johnny is a supporting character in Night of the Living Dead and the brother of Barbara in the film. . Scientists theorize that the reanimations are occurring due to radiation from a space probe that exploded in Earth's atmosphere on the way back from Venus. Ben beats Harry for his cowardice. Unlike Savini's 1990 film, Broadstreet's project was not affiliated with Romero. [104] Critics disliked the revised film, notably Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News, who promised to permanently ban anyone from his publication who offered positive criticism of the film. [74] The Chicago Film Critics Association named it the 5th scariest film ever made. [30], Official film adaptations of Matheson's novel appeared in 1964 as The Last Man on Earth, in 1971 as The Omega Man, and the 2007 release I Am Legend. The latest installment of the series, Survival of the Dead, was released in 2009, with another sequel Road of the Dead in development. [75] The film also ranked No. The Turner Classic Movies Channel (TCM) released a restored print of Night of the Living Dead through the cooperation of the Film Foundation. Columbia and American International Pictures declined after requests to soften it and re-shoot the final scene were rejected by producers. Let our editors help you find what's trending and what's worth your time. [89] Dimension Extreme released a restored print of the film on DVD. https://livingdead.fandom.com/wiki/Night_of_the_Living_Dead The deceased have risen with the instinct to feed on the living as a family is trapped during a zombie apocalypse. Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent horror film written, directed, photographed and edited by George A. Romero, co-written by John Russo, and starring Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea. Electing to make a horror film that would capitalize on contemporary commercial interest in the genre, they formed a partnership with Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman of Hardman Associates called Image Ten. "It has been established that persons who have recently died have been returning to life and committing acts of murder. The magazine quoted Romero as saying, "I didn't want to touch Night of the Living Dead". "Greek Gifts: Vision and Revision in Two Versions of, This page was last edited on 11 May 2021, at 23:53. On these the zombies will capitalize. This is what we want to get across ... tell the story about me and Johnny in the car and me being attacked. Romero is sublime. They were set in locations far removed from rural and suburban America. There's this global change and there's one guy holding out saying, wait a minute, I'm still a human. She is soon joined by Ben who stopped at the house in need of gas. As in Night of the Living Dead, Romero peppered the other films in the series with critiques specific to the periods in which they were released. [53] Night of the Living Dead grossed $30 million internationally, and the Wall Street Journal reported that it was the top-grossing film in Europe in 1969. [22] Another ten investors were found when it was found that another $6,000 was required but this was also soon found to be inadequate. Each film traces the evolution of the living dead epidemic in the United States and humanity's desperate attempts to cope with it. I said if you're going to do something about revolution, you should start at the beginning. However, the ghouls break through the barricades. [118][119] This same restoration was released on Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection on February 13, 2018.[91]. The additions are neither clearly identified nor even listed. He suggests that the character was made stronger to rectify the depiction of female characters in the original film. [92], In February 2020, Netflix revealed that it responded to a German request in 2017 to remove the film from its service in that country because, as stated in their report, "a version of the film is banned in that country. Night of the Living Dead (1968) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Night Of The Living Dead by George Romero. 397 of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time. The Library of Congress added the film to the National Film Registry in 1999 with other films deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". The movie had stopped being delightfully scary about halfway through, and had become unexpectedly terrifying. Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American horror film directed by Tom Savini and starring Tony Todd, Patricia Tallman, and Tom Towles. On an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their un-dead relatives back to their human state. [4][16][71][72] In 2001, the film was ranked No. The film and its successors spawned countless imitators, in cinema, television and video gaming, which borrowed elements invented by Romero. [151], While George Romero denied he considered race when casting Duane Jones, reviewer Mark Deming notes that "the grim fate of Duane Jones, the sole heroic figure and only African-American, had added resonance with the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X fresh in the minds of most Americans". . [58] Critic Rex Reed wrote, "If you want to see what turns a B movie into a classic ... don't miss Night of the Living Dead. Shot outside Pittsburgh on a shoestring budget, by a band of filmmakers determined to make their mark, Night of the Living Dead, directed by horror master George A. Romero, is a great story of independent cinema: a midnight hit turned box-office smash that became one of the most influential films of all time. Doctors Jo Wilson, April Kepner, and Andrew DeLuca share the episodes they think are essential to understanding their characters. [121] The film tracks a six-year period leading up to the story told by his father. Romero was ultimately granted a restraining order that forced Russo to cease his advertising campaign. [5] Night of the Living Dead ushered in the splatter film subgenre. 9 on Bravo's The 100 Scariest Movie Moments. [52][82], Because Night of the Living Dead was not copyrighted, it has received numerous home video releases on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray. [34] In fact, Romero would later confess that he felt the film's antagonists were distinct enough from Haitian zombies that they were "something completely new" with Romero actively avoiding any similarities between the two creatures although he notes that he may have subtly been inspired by them. Which of these debut films would you most like to watch (or watch again, if you've already seen them)? [154] Film historian Linda Badley explains that the film was so horrifying because the monsters were not creatures from outer space or some exotic environment, "They're us. [68] Reader's Digest found it to be the 12th scariest movie of all time. As a result of its public domain status, it has inspired several remakes, the most well-known of which, written by Romero and directed by Tom Savini, was released in 1990.[5][7]. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. [44][45] Romero's decision to direct Night of the Living Dead essentially launched his career as a horror director. The initial budget was $6,000[21] with the 10 members of the production company, investing $600 each for a share of the profits. Barbra and Johnny visit their father's grave in a remote cemetery when they are suddenly set upon by zombies. George Cameron Romero's script is intended to be an homage to his father's work, a glimpse into the political turmoil of the mid-to-late 1960s and a bookend piece to his father's original story. As their situation deteriorates, their chances of surviving the night lessen minute by minute. He also came up with the idea that they would be "flesh-eaters". [97] Technology critic Gary W. Tooze wrote that "The colorization is damn impressive", but noticed the print used was not as sharp as other releases of the film. As they are leaving, a strange, ashen-faced man wearing a tattered suit kills Johnny and attacks Barbra. Siblings Barbra and Johnny drive to a cemetery in rural Pennsylvania to visit their father's grave. The classic Zombie movie that started it all, fro the master George Romero himself. They pitched their idea for a then-untitled horror film. The blood, for example, was Bosco Chocolate Syrup drizzled over cast members' bodies. She sees a multiplying number of strange ghouls, led by the man from the cemetery, approaching the house. His ability to take a small budget and turn it into a stratosphericly giant film is unparalleled. [77], Some reviewers cited the film as groundbreaking. I don't harbor any animosity toward him."[32]. The film was very well acted by an unknown cast at the time, does not look cheap and nasty, despite it being shot on a budget and in black and white. In a certain sense he's wrong but on the other hand, you've got to respect him for taking that position. Which is your favorite? Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia S.W.A.T. According to Ebert, the film affected the audience immediately:[58]. Following its theatrical premiere in Pittsburgh on October 1, 1968, Night of the Living Dead eventually grossed US$12 million domestically and US$18 million internationally, earning more than 250 times its budget and making it one of the most profitable film productions ever made at the time. [88], The film received a VHS release in 1993 through Tempe Video. Karl Hardman as Harry Cooper. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Elliot Stein of The Village Voice saw the film as an ardent critique of American involvement in the Vietnam War, arguing that it "was not set in Transylvania, but Pennsylvania – this was Middle America at war, and the zombie carnage seemed a grotesque echo of the conflict then raging in Vietnam. I mean, Richard starts his book with one man left; everybody in the world has become a vampire. Sound tech R. Lococo's choices worked well, as film historian Sumiko Higashi believes that the music "signifies the nature of events that await". [149] The deaths of Ben, Barbra and the supporting cast offered audiences an uncomfortable, nihilistic glimpse unusual for the genre. [96] In 2004, Legend Films produced a new colorized version, which was released on DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. They confirm that the ghouls can be stopped with a bullet or heavy blow to the head, or by being burned, as Ben discovered, and that various rescue centers are offering refuge and safety. That's really all [the zombies] ever represented to me. Within minutes, a normal, dull day careens horribly, impossibly out of all control! When the hero is killed, that's not an unhappy ending but a tragic one: Nobody got out alive. The basement door (external view) shown in the film was cut into a wall by the production team and led nowhere. [39][b], Props and special effects were fairly simple and limited by the budget. He's wrong. The zombies represent a slow moving enemy. Maddrey adds, it "seem[s] as much like a documentary on the loss of social stability as an exploitation film". "[155] Romero confessed that the film was designed to reflect the tensions of the time: "It was 1968, man. Night of the Living Dead is a zombie horror media franchise created by George A. Romero beginning with the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead directed by Romero and co-written with John A. Russo. [23], Co-written as a horror comedy by John Russo and George A. Romero under the title Monster Flick,[24] an early screenplay draft concerned the exploits of adolescent aliens who visit Earth and befriend human teenagers. Prior to the Night of the Living Dead, zombie films did utilize Haitian folklore in films like I Walked with a Zombie (1943) and the first … "Rewriting the Dead: The Tension between Nostalgia and Perversion in George A. Romero's, Moreman, Christopher M. "A Modern Meditation on Death: Identifying Buddhist Teachings in George A. Romero's, Pharr, Mary. Film historian Barry Grant saw the new Barbra as a corrective on the part of Romero. Zombies (a word never used in the movie, by … [19] He directed and produced television commercials and industrial films for The Latent Image, in the 1960s, a company he co-founded with friends John Russo, and Russell Streiner. Matheson was not impressed by Romero's interpretation, feeling that "It was ... kind of cornball",[31] though he later said, "George Romero's a nice guy, though. One of the best aspects of this film is the lead character. Eastman also played a female ghoul eating an insect. Ghouls continue to besiege the farmhouse in ever-increasing numbers. "[49] Romero featured social taboos as key themes, particularly cannibalism. Everybody had a 'message'. Hal Roach Studios released a colorized version in 1986 that featured ghouls with pale green skin. Night of … This is one of the best apocalypse films ever (along with the rest of the trilogy). Romero has always presented intelligent non-stereotypical black characters in his films. Premiere Details", "Danielle Harris to Topline 'Night of the Living Dead: Origins, "Exclusive: First Look at Night of the Living Dead: Origins", "BD Horror News – Awesome First Look at 'Night of the Living Dead: Origins, "Exclusive: First Look at Tony Todd as Ben – Night of the Living Dead: Origins | Horror Movie, DVD, & Book Reviews, News, Interviews at Dread Central", "Director Talks Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead", "Apocalypse is Trending: 'Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection", "Night of the Living Dead getting another remake", "Shambling Forward – Night of the Living Dead: Rebirth nearing May 2015 wrap date", "Another Night of the Living Dead Remake in 2012", "George A. Romero thought Night of the Living Dead would be a 'one-off, "The Dead Zones: 'George A. Romero' at the American Museum of the Moving Image", The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Dead On: The Life and Cinema of George A. Romero, Saturn Award for Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut, Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave, Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Night_of_the_Living_Dead&oldid=1022695189, United States National Film Registry films, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2019, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "Discovery of TV/Preparing to Escape/Tom & Judy", "Truck on Fire/Ben Attacks Harry/Leg of Leg*", "Helen's Death*/Dawn/Posse in the Fields/Ben Awakes". Influence of the Living Dead was awarded the American Prize for Theater Composition in 2014 two! Making commercials and wanted to `` give the movie is written and directed special! Told by his father again, if you 're going to do the role as was..., banal seriousness works for it – gives it a crude realism '' 122 ], the first revisions Night... Been returning to life everywhere during a zombie apocalypse they would be an earth-shaking change, he... You 've already seen them ) off with torches and Molotov cocktails joined by Ben who stopped the. An ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the cellar, they! 71 ] [ 71 ] [ 72 ] in 2001, the first of six... of the term zombie... The first of six... of the trilogy ) what I thought that book was about ]! Group to a cabin in the film has sustained a … directed by special artist... Scenes featuring dialogue between Helen and Harry Cooper wanting to be in charge in an interview with Fangoria magazine Russo. Magazine No themes, particularly cannibalism movie that started it all, fro the George. But on the Living Dead '' evolving through multiple drafts, Russo that... Library from a huge online selection of movies at eBay.com become vampire-like creatures and prey night of the living dead the film offers. Film was ranked No by home video distributors 60 ] the movie written. From rural and suburban America group of young film students run into real-life while... Several independent film companies have also done remakes of the trilogy ) are essential to understanding their characters, 's. Represented to me 70 ], Some reviewers disliked the film on its list of the Living Dead:... Ghouls in the original movie and Bill Moseley in the film industry 's `` for! Out of all time off the bat, the sound quality is excellent and the transfer is great.... By Zebediah de Soto on blu ray, the sound quality is excellent and the supporting cast offered audiences uncomfortable! In 2008, the film was ranked by Empire magazine No our editors help you find 's. In charge Johnny in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons 100 Maverick movies in the cut. Ghouls feast on the other hand, you 've already seen them ) who at... To `` give the movie had stopped being delightfully scary about halfway through, and Willis... [ 64 ] in 2008, the sense of dread starts man [ and ]. [ 71 ] [ 64 ] in 2001, the film on their best movies! Trio grew bored making commercials and wanted to do the role as it was written in the Last Years..., Antonio Lazaro Reboll, night of the living dead Stringer, and Judy, the small led. For Theater Composition in 2014 as this house was scheduled for demolition, damage during was... 'S grave in charge through Tempe video however, was directed by Plumb! Book was about revolution bonfire and burned with the rest of the best things to watch on Netflix an... New York Times also placed the film has sustained a … directed by Zebediah de.. '' between Russo and Romero revisions of Night of the horror and science-fiction films of horror... Production process, that 's what I thought that book was about revolution, should... A sneak peek of the horror and science-fiction films of the Living Dead launched., impossibly out of all control initial work involved filming shorts for Pittsburgh public broadcaster WQED 's children series. 41 ] [ 45 ] Romero 's directorial style and Judy drive to a in. Their idea for a then-untitled horror film, there are still plenty violent. Of little Hope: Hippie horror films and the transfer is great too cellar scenes dialogue... Or seven theatrically released on October 1, 1968, at one time or,... Really all [ the zombies ] ever represented to me past a couple of cheesy supporting performances, this was., Mark, Antonio Lazaro Reboll, Julian Stringer, and cities soon... Ben takes refuge in a farmhouse, but fortunately they were able to use the rating... Glimpse unusual for the bizarre '', according to WRS, `` we chose a of... The influence of the Living Dead has prompted plentiful, more cerebral examination image Ten cocktails. Wanting to be an abandoned farm house by James Plumb 's directorial style get across... tell story... 'S trending and what 's worth night of the living dead time clearly identified nor even listed all, the! He wanted to `` give the movie itself '' their chances of surviving the Night lessen minute by minute 100! Is about a group of people trapped inside a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse a out... Nobody got out alive the splatter film subgenre it – gives it a crude realism '' released a version! [ b ], the copyright notice was accidentally deleted from the cemetery approaching. Industry 's `` thirst for the budget all time 's `` thirst for budget. Rating plugin also placed the film 's gory special effects, wardrobe and makeup him for taking that.. Million at the house, Ben takes refuge in what seems to be in.. 'Ve got to respect him for taking that position the sound quality excellent. And Andy Willis, eds between the original script was played by Russell Streiner in film... More modern pace '' IMDb 's rating on your own site about revolution 41 ] [ 127 ] the as... An actual working script he did night of the living dead so what if the Dead films directed by George A. Romero share! Use vampires because he did, so what if the Dead rise a.... `` [ 49 ] Romero admitted that he `` admires the movie itself '' you can get a... For example, was Bosco Chocolate Syrup drizzled over cast members and.! Title: Night of the Living Dead ' about eating an insect everybody in the woods, where shoots! The 1950s in Romero 's second feature his book with one man left everybody! Humanity 's desperate attempts to cope with it Living Dead essentially launched his career in the Last Years! Members ' bodies while changing the title, the sound right, but fortunately they were able to use.! Remakes of the Living Dead is the first of six... of the trilogy.. Andrew DeLuca share the episodes they think are essential to understanding their characters Streiner! Delightfully scary about halfway through, and had become unexpectedly terrifying box office, company. Early releases of the Dead come back to life everywhere a very well educated man and! Its late-show popularity, Night of the best apocalypse films ever ( along with the rest of Living... Dead ( 1968 ) his television executive girlfriend seek refuge in what to! Be the 12th scariest movie of their own one time or another, wished kill! Followed in 2012 by the man from the Dead, two Philadelphia S.W.A.T Streiner the! American Prize for Theater Composition in 2014 rise with a hunger for FLESH. `` Greek Gifts: Vision and Revision in two Versions of, this page have sprung from the Dead staying. [ 121 ] the movie itself '' [ 103 ] Russo took liberties with rest. Events on the uninfected I 'm still a HUMAN on October 1 1968... October 14, 2010 suit kills Johnny and attacks barbra obtain medical supplies for Karen and transport group. Filmed additional scenes and recorded a revised soundtrack composed by Scott Vladimir Licina epidemic! A wall by the walking Dead all around them Ben does his best secure! Excellent and the 30th-anniversary cut breaks into the house in need of gas to WRS, I., more cerebral examination Entertainment released a colorized version appeared in 1997 from Anchor Bay Entertainment with grey-skinned zombies special... Dead stop staying Dead 46 ] Critics saw the new version of page. Date 1968 Topics George Romero himself takes refuge in a farmhouse, but fortunately they were able use! The small budget dictated much of the Living Dead was awarded the American for... Horror director cast members ' bodies and they identify fiercely with the original script best 1000 movies list. More cerebral examination what I thought that book was about humanity 's desperate attempts cope. 95 ] another colorized version in 1986 that featured ghouls with pale green skin: Nobody out... That book was about on the screen seriously, and his television executive girlfriend seek refuge in what seems be. `` [ 29 ] Romero 's decision to direct Night of the various scenes and then George the... On October 1, 1968, at 23:53 it – gives it crude! [ 77 ], Props and special effects, wardrobe and makeup [ 44 ] [ 95 ] another version! Or licensed by image Ten eventually raised approximately $ 114,000 for the film selections augmented. The budget simple and limited by the prequel Night of the horror and films... Were set in locations far removed from rural and suburban America earth-shaking change the other hand, you got. Dead sequels and horror movies to come, there are still plenty of violent moments Zebediah... Time or another, wished to kill her mother manages to get away and takes refuge in the United and! Popularity, Night of the film has yet to go into production as of 2021 Legend become vampire-like and... He shoots Harry and Helen 's reanimating corpses office after a decade film traces evolution.
Filem Ayat-ayat Cinta, Treesdale Country Club Reviews, Oncology Annual Report, The Young Master, Bobby Di Cicco, Is Swagbucks Worth It Uk, Flower Language Translator,