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Dawn of the Dead AKA Zombi AKA Zombies (1978)
When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.Director: George A. Romero
OVERALL: Draw-
OVERALL: Draw
R1 UE is the clear winner, since it offers the three "official" versions of the movie with proper transfers, a DTS soundtrack and the best overall extras.
However, some additional extras can be found on the following releases:
- R0 UK 4-Disc has "'Scream Greats" documentary, "Fan of the Dead" documentary and "Document of the Dead: Lost Scenes" featurette.
- R2 CE France has "Special Effects" featurette, "Comparison between the Original Director's Cut and the Dario Argento cut" featurette and an interview with 'Mad Movies' magazine founder Jean-Pierre Putters, but they are in French only.
- R2 Germany has a "Behind The Scenes" featurette, an interview with director/writer George A. Romero and outtakes.
- R2 CE Italy has an exclusive audio commentary, in Italian only, and "When there are no more room in hell…" featurette, "Before and after the restoration" featurette and "'Demonia' in concert, 9 November 2002" featurette.
- R2 UK BMG editions have also an exclusive audio commentary.
General notes:
The following versions of the movie are known, with the first three considered as "official":
(1.) The "Director's cut” (139 min), also known as "Extended version", "US version", "Longer version" and "Cannes version". This version of the movie has some more humour in it, and is more horror-oriented. It has the different musical score than the other versions (less Goblin). This version was rushed into shape for a showing at Cannes in 1978, and is the first completed version of this film. This version never played officially in the theaters in the United States.
(2.) The "US theatrical version" (127 min), is the version that Romero prefers the most (so this is the true "Director´s Cut" of the film). This shorter version has tighter editing and pace, and some of the music by The Goblin. This is the version, that was released to theaters in 1979 in the United States.
(3.) The "European cut" (119 min), also known as "Dario Argento version" and "Italian version". Editing of this version was supervised by producer Dario Argento. Argento cut out most of the humor, and made the film more action-oriented. This version has a musical score by The Goblin. Even with the shorter running time, there are scenes that are not in either of the Romero versions, and Argento cut scenes entirely different from Romero.
(4.) The so-called "Complete Cut"/"Ultimate Final Cut" (156 min) combining scenes from Romero's and Argento's cuts of the film.
A review of R0 UK 4-Disc is available on DVD Beaver, as well as a comparison between several editions through the following link: -
CUTS:
- R0 Anniversary Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts - US theatrical cut
- R0 Collector's Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts - Director's Cut (139:17 NTSC)
- R0 Australia- Umbrella Entertainment - No cuts - US theatrical cut (126:59 PAL)
- R0 Ultimate Edition Australia- Umbrella Entertainment - No cuts - contains the Director's Cut (139:28 NTSC), the US theatrical cut (127:05 NTSC) and the European cut (119:09 NTSC)
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R0 Holland- Dutch Filmworks - No cuts - contains both the Director's Cut (139:25 PAL) and the European cut (114:00 PAL).
Fonts and location of the end credits of the Dario Argento cut are different from the UE. - R0 United Kingdom- Arrow Films - No cuts - US theatrical cut, all previous cuts waived.
- R0 4 Disc Edition United Kingdom- Arrow Films - No cuts - contains the Director's Cut (121:44 PAL), the US theatrical cut (139:20 PAL) and the European cut (119:00 PAL).
- R1 America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts - US theatrical cut (127:05 NTSC)
- R1 Divimax Special Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts - European cut (119:09 NTSC)
- R1 Ultimate Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts - contains the Director's Cut (139:28 NTSC), the US theatrical cut (127:05 NTSC) and the European cut (119:09 NTSC).
- R2 Denmark- Nordisk Film - No cuts - includes the director's cut (139:25 PAL) and Argento cut (113:59)
- R2 Collector's Edition France- Opening - No cuts - European cut (114:16 PAL).
- R2 Germany- Astro - No cuts - Ultimate Final Cut (155:30 PAL).
- R2 Italy- Alan Young Pictures - No cuts - European cut.
- R2 Italy- CVC - No cuts - European cut.
- R2 Collector's Edition Italy- Alan Young Pictures - No cuts - contains the director's cut, the US theatrical cut and the European cut.
- R2 Trilogy of the Dead Scandinavia- Paramount Home Entertainment - No cuts - US Theatrical Cut (129:42 PAL) and the European Cut
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R2 United Kingdom- BMG - Yes, Director's Cut, cut by 0:06 by the BBFC.
The following has been cut:
- A male zombie's head being blown off by a shot-gun (0:01).
- A black zombie biting his wife's arm: we still see the bite, but not the spurt of blood immediately afterwards (0:01).
- Two zombie kids being blown away (0:04) - R2 Full Uncut version United Kingdom- BMG - No cuts - Original Director's Cut, all previous cuts waived.
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R2 Trilogy of the Dead United Kingdom- Anchor Bay Entertainment - Yes, Original Director's Cut, cut by 0:06 by the BBFC.
The following has been cut:
- A male zombie's head being blown off by a shot-gun (0:01).
- A black zombie biting his wife's arm: we still see the bite, but not the spurt of blood immediately afterwards (0:01).
- Two zombie kids being blown away (0:04).
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Comparison added by Craig on 20/07/01
Comparison last updated by Eric_Cotenas on 18/04/21UPDATE LOG:
21/11/10: Comparison clean-up and addition of R0 UK 4-Disc.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
11/10/15: Addition of the Scandinavia Paramount, added ASINs, capsaholic.
17/01/20: Updated notes.
18/04/21: Updated DVDBeaver
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