George A. Romero's The Amusement Park (1975) - September 13, 2022

[MifuneFan]

Shudder will be releasing the previously lost film from George A. Romero, The Amusement Park (1975), on Blu-ray on September 13th. The film was considered lost until it was rediscovered in 2017. It underwent a 4K restoration, and made its debut a couple years later.

https://www.importcds.com/the-amusem...k/014381139976

Recently discovered and restored 46 years after its completion by the George A. Romero Foundation and produced by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, The Amusement Park stars Martin's Lincoln Maazel as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies and humiliations of aging in America are manifested through roller coasters and chaotic crowds. Commissioned by the Lutheran Society, the film is perhaps Romero's wildest and most imaginative movie, an allegory about the nightmarish realities of growing older, and is an alluring snapshot of the filmmaker's early artistic capacity and style and would go on to inform his ensuing filmography. The "lost" film was restored in 4k by IndieCollect in New York City.

The Amusement Park - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Exclusive - YouTube

Reviving Romero's THE AMUSEMENT PARK | A Panel Conversation - YouTube

[buck135]

I'm in.

[DR Herbert West]

Finally.

[drush9999]

I watched it on Youtube before it was pulled. It's an interesting curio, but what the hell I'll try and complete my Romero filmography

[BladeRunner2007]

Definitely adding this to my Romero collection.

[hungrywives]

Very excited this is actually getting a physical release. I wouldn't recommend this to a single person I know but I adored it. There's just something about this particular era of Romero's career and era of Pittsburgh filmmaking in general that I find completely fascinating and watchable.

[Damonstein]

That's nice. I thought shudders 720p stream quality really made this look too chunky.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by hungrywives

Very excited this is actually getting a physical release. I wouldn't recommend this to a single person I know but I adored it. There's just something about this particular era of Romero's career and era of Pittsburgh filmmaking in general that I find completely fascinating and watchable.

That arrow boxset are some of my favorite films from him. Not that i dont like Dead, Dawn and Night but those three just worked better for me.

[hungrywives]

Originally Posted by gbm82

That arrow boxset are some of my favorite films from him. Not that i dont like Dead, Dawn and Night but those three just worked better for me.

I love that set. Love the atmosphere, love that little troop of local actors that always show up. Even some films that Romero had no direct involvement with like Effects capture much of that same spirit and it's all over The Amusement Park.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by gbm82

That arrow boxset are some of my favorite films from him. Not that i dont like Dead, Dawn and Night but those three just worked better for me.

I think THE CRAZIES is right up there with NIGHT and DAWN. Those are his three masterpieces IMO. Although, I haven’t really had a chance to watch MARTIN properly in a nice restored edition — watched it once many years ago but I’m waiting for the hopefully still upcoming Blu to give it a proper assessment and perhaps add it to that masterpiece list. But what I really want is to watch the uncut black and white version. They really gotta sort that shit out somehow.

And, I’ll absolutely be picking up THE AMUSEMENT PARK — from the footage I’ve seen and the write ups I’ve read, it sounds like a must-watch for any self-respecting Romero fan!

[Rayjg]

It’s actually a pretty decent little flick. Hopefully they can include Jacaranda Joe as an extry.

[HipsterTrash]

Absolutely day one for me.

Now time for the rest of his films too. Please.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Hopefully they can include Jacaranda Joe as an extry.

The Q&A after that showed seemed to indicate that (1) the actual film they shot was never conformed, the edit only exists on VHS (or maybe Beta?), and it may not have even been finished.... but they also found copies of the original reels of film, so it could be reconstructed on film if somebody wanted to pay for it... and (2) the ownership of the film was complicated and possibly not firmly established, and would take a long time to unravel.

So probably not. But if they did, it would be the SD copy anyway.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

The Q&A after that showed seemed to indicate that (1) the actual film they shot was never conformed, the edit only exists on VHS (or maybe Beta?), and it may not have even been finished.... but they also found copies of the original reels of film, so it could be reconstructed on film if somebody wanted to pay for it... and (2) the ownership of the film was complicated and possibly not firmly established, and would take a long time to unravel.

So probably not. But if they did, it would be the SD copy anyway.

Was it any good?

[agenda]

Full support and day one!

[badfingerboogie]

Was just looking at Blu options for this two days ago, so this is great news!

[bryantburnette]

I will have one.

[Rayjg]

Zombie Romero commentary or no sale

[Member-222782]

I'm not a fan of Romero's non-horror output but I do plan on picking up a copy of this film - eventually. The synopsis sounds oddly endearing - maybe because I myself am aging and I'm beginning to fear missing out on stuff I used to do when I was young due to, well, my age and medical conditions. Sucks getting old. Maybe the kind folks here can recommend other films that have similar storylines.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I'm not a fan of Romero's non-horror output but I do plan on picking up a copy of this film - eventually. The synopsis sounds oddly endearing - maybe because I myself am aging and I'm beginning to fear missing out on stuff I used to do when I was young due to, well, my age and medical conditions. Sucks getting old. Maybe the kind folks here can recommend other films that have similar storylines.

In horror: Bubba Ho-Tep and Phantasm: Ravager.