Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Hell, even if it's a IP scan I'd take it. As long as it's not derived from that ancient Cannes Cut internegative.

The CRI internegative was literally minted from the OG neg so I'd love to see a new transfer of that. If handled properly it'd smash the current iteration, an HD telecine of that same element slathered in noise/dirt reduction. The OG neg would be even betterer, but mo' neg means mo' money.

I just hope that we're not getting the same old reheated crap with a new cover because it seems like EVERY goddamned transfer of this movie has bad flaws, even that newer Italian "restoration" of the Argento cut IP. If SS are doing this, they'd better do it right.

[Worship.my.wreck]

I only own 2 Second Sight releases. They did a great job with When a Stranger Calls and The Changeling. And If that's any indication, then I'd expect for them to knock this one out of the park.

[FilmNerdJamie]

Dear God, please find the original ending...

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by FilmNerdJamie

Dear God, please find the original ending...

Was it ever actually filmed? They went as far as doing some preliminary work on it (isn't one of the mock zombies that gets shot up at the tenement raid actually a cast of Galen Ross?) but I didn't think it was ever shot.

[FilmNerdJamie]

There's been conflicting statements over the years. But I recall Roy Frumkes saying how he saw it and had access to it for Document of the Dead but failed to act on it.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by dwk

Yeah. The current master is so bad that anything would be an improvement. (Has Second Sight paid for any new masters or do they, like most UK labels, rely on other companies to supply them masters?)

I can't say for certain myself as the only SS release I own is "Super Mario Bros." and I can certainly tell you that release isn't an older master; though whether it was done by them or supplied by the licensor I'm uncertain.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I might be in the minority, but I hope that it includes the extended cut of the film as that's my favorite viewing experience for the film. If it's region free and looks good, I'll pick this up.

Still hope it gets a release in the US at some point. Would love a Criterion release.

Considering they had 4 cuts of Xtro on that release, I'd be surprised if this didn't have all 5(?) cuts of the film in whatever they have planned.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I might be in the minority, but I hope that it includes the extended cut of the film as that's my favorite viewing experience for the film. If it's region free and looks good, I'll pick this up.

Still hope it gets a release in the US at some point. Would love a Criterion release.

Just get a region free player & stop complaining.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

I'd be surprised if this didn't have all 5(?) cuts of the film in whatever they have planned.

There are 3 cuts that are officially acknowledged: US theatrical, Cannes extended and Argento Euro. The Extended Mall Hours cut is unofficial and the Japanese release (which I believe was essential the US cut?) had a special prologue explaining the cause of the zombies.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Just get a region free player & stop complaining.

I guess reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. No worries about that, but just to let you know I wasn't complaining.

[AFFanAttic]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

There are 3 cuts that are officially acknowledged: US theatrical, Cannes extended and Argento Euro. The Extended Mall Hours cut is unofficial and the Japanese release (which I believe was essential the US cut?) had a special prologue explaining the cause of the zombies.

ha! I didn't know about that. I looked it up and it's pretty great.

Dawn of the Dead Japanese "Space Explosion" Intro - YouTube

[Show spoiler]in 19XX an exploding planet in a far off galaxy beamed strange rays across space to earth. it caused the transformation of the dead one after another into resurrected zombies seeking the flesh of the living.

[Member-222782]

If SS are doing this, they'd better do it right.

A flawed release of this film could be potentially catastrophic for SS so I'm pretty sure they're banking on doing it right. I feel like their last two (or 3 if you count Xtro) box sets were their way of trying to score points for themselves by gaining (or broadening) collector's awareness of the label in preparation for this. This could put them on the map permanently, especially if it's region free. Right now they're just a small UK label with a handful of stellar discs under their belt but if they do this right they're going to cement their reps big time.

[darkness2918]

I own the SS LE release of Xtro & its a great set. If they do Dawn right & its region free they can expect the money to come rolling in faster then they can count it.

[Jlouisbarrett]

I would have expected Arrow to re-release this, considering they did previously. But I, too, own Xtro, When a Stranger Calls and The Changeling and they’re all fantastic so I’d expect great things from a Second Sight edition of DotD. Plus, they’ve worked with David Mackenzie so if they do a new scan, I would assume they’d use him for the encoding.

[Jexes23]

Normally I’m one to nitpick, but with this title ANY hope is welcoming IMO.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Was it ever actually filmed? They went as far as doing some preliminary work on it (isn't one of the mock zombies that gets shot up at the tenement raid actually a cast of Galen Ross?) but I didn't think it was ever shot.

No it was not. As you outlined, the cast of Gaylen’s head originally intended for that was famously used for the shotgun head explosion at the beginning. Obviously with beard added.

[brian9229]

Originally Posted by edmoney

What do you mean when you say "any" company can release this? I don't believe it's a public domain title. Plus, Second Sight seems to be a pretty reputable boutique label with well-regarded, quality releases such as The Changeling, The Colour of Pomegranates, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc. They don't strike me as a company like Mill Creek that's just going to recycle some really dated master and put out a shoddy release.

Yes, ANY company can release this, I don't care which, the ONLY thing that matters(to me, and a few others)is whether they actually provide a new scan. If they're just going to use an old scan, like say AB's then what's the point?

[THUNDERSTRUCK]

If I were Criterion (or any other company), I'd tell RR to go f**k his hat. It's only Dawn Of The Dead, for christ's sake.

If it were a "real" classic e.g. Gone With The Wind, Citizen Cane, Casablanca, Psycho, The Godfather or Star Wars, I could see an intense bidding war. But DOTD? Not worth it.

Personally, I love the movie and would love to see an updated version released one day. But if no company will pay his outrageous demands, that company will go on, business as usual. Rubenstein will sit there for several more years, continuing to twiddle his thumbs.

Which is the better business model?

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by THUNDERSTRUCK

If I were Criterion (or any other company), I'd tell RR to go f**k his hat. It's only Dawn Of The Dead, for christ's sake.

If it were a "real" classic e.g. Gone With The Wind, Citizen Cane, Casablanca, Psycho, The Godfather or Star Wars, I could see an intense bidding war. But DOTD? Not worth it.

Personally, I love the movie and would love to see an updated version released one day. But if no company will pay his outrageous demands, that company will go on, business as usual. Rubenstein will sit there for several more years, continuing to twiddle his thumbs.

Which is the better business model?

Rights are a business, so movie quality is irrelevant. I would bet money that an equivalently priced release of Dawn of the Dead would massively outsell Casablanca/Citizen Kane/Gone with the Wind at this point in physical media's life. It's mostly nerds out there buying movies.

That said, Rubinstein is still an idiot and wants way too much.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by THUNDERSTRUCK

If I were Criterion (or any other company), I'd tell RR to go f**k his hat. It's only Dawn Of The Dead, for christ's sake.

If it were a "real" classic e.g. Gone With The Wind, Citizen Cane, Casablanca, Psycho, The Godfather or Star Wars, I could see an intense bidding war. But DOTD? Not worth it.