Night of the Living Dead 4K Restoration

[Neil]

It will begin screening at the Film Forum in New York City on October 13th - http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3447686/night-living-dead-4k-restoration-now-theatrical-distribution/

[Kaos]

I'll be seeing it the weekend before Halloween. It plays at the AFI theater in Silver Spring at various times over that weekend.

[All messed up]

I saw it last night at the Pittsburgh premiere.

The showing was preceded by a Q&A panel with 4 of the 5 surviving member of Image Ten (John Russo, Russ Streiner, Gary Streiner, and Rudy Ricci; with only Marilyn Eastman absent), the original investors in NOLD. The 4K release means that the investors now, after 50 years of struggle, finally own a copyright to a version of NOLD, which one called "exhilarating." The frustration of decades of battling with the US copyright office was palpable, as was the team's victory of securing the 4k restoration, and the archiving of the original negative at the Museum of Modern Art. Gary Streiner is doing a bang-up job carrying the torch publicly for this group, as evidenced by his leadership every year of the Living Dead Festival in the community of Evans City, the original filming location.

Creatively, seeing the film in 4K on the big screen did not knock me out initially, probably because we are all so used to seeing films with this level of clarity, and because the impact of the film lies, of course, more in the story and mood. But as the film progressed, it was a pleasure seeing a level of detail never noticed before such as:
- various props and set dressing in the farmhouse
- the zombies (oops, ghouls) in the background
- close-ups of the leads - their expressions, clothing
- sound effects

Seeing this level of clarity in the film makes one even more impressed with the high level of attention to detail that the filmmakers provided to their work; something that is usually absent in other low-budget pictures. It is further evidence of their high level of personal investment, hard work and passion in the project, which have contributed to its enduring success.

[EvilNed]

Sounds neat. Pleasant report.

I hope I get a chance to see it. I'm going to try to catch the Suspiria restoration that's touring the globe. Don't know if this one will hit my hoods, tho.

[Neil]

I saw it last night at the Pittsburgh premiere.

The showing was preceded by a Q&A panel with 4 of the 5 surviving member of Image Ten (John Russo, Russ Streiner, Gary Streiner, and Rudy Ricci; with only Marilyn Eastman absent), the original investors in NOLD. The 4K release means that the investors now, after 50 years of struggle, finally own a copyright to a version of NOLD, which one called "exhilarating." The frustration of decades of battling with the US copyright office was palpable, as was the team's victory of securing the 4k restoration, and the archiving of the original negative at the Museum of Modern Art. Gary Streiner is doing a bang-up job carrying the torch publicly for this group, as evidenced by his leadership every year of the Living Dead Festival in the community of Evans City, the original filming location.

Creatively, seeing the film in 4K on the big screen did not knock me out initially, probably because we are all so used to seeing films with this level of clarity, and because the impact of the film lies, of course, more in the story and mood. But as the film progressed, it was a pleasure seeing a level of detail never noticed before such as:
- various props and set dressing in the farmhouse
- the zombies (oops, ghouls) in the background
- close-ups of the leads - their expressions, clothing
- sound effects

Seeing this level of clarity in the film makes one even more impressed with the high level of attention to detail that the filmmakers provided to their work; something that is usually absent in other low-budget pictures. It is further evidence of their high level of personal investment, hard work and passion in the project, which have contributed to its enduring success.

Thanks for the report!

Shame Mr Romero wasn't there of course :(

[Kaos]

I saw it tonight, and it looked fantastic. It is likely that this version looks better than it did the night it premiered.

[EvilNed]

I saw it tonight, and it looked fantastic. It is likely that this version looks better than it did the night it premiered.

Jesus!

I'm going to see Suspiria and Evil Dead in 4k on tuesday. I hope I get to see this in 4k as well!

[Neil]

I saw it tonight, and it looked fantastic. It is likely that this version looks better than it did the night it premiered.

I'd imagine with better projectors etc... Yes!

[Kaos]

Great news! Criterion is releasing the Restoration on Blu-ray in February!

https://www.criterion.com/films/29331-night-of-the-living-dead

From the site:


New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director George A. Romero, coscreenwriter John A. Russo, sound engineer Gary R. Streiner, and producer Russell W. Streiner
New restoration of the monaural soundtrack, supervised by Romero and Gary R. Streiner, and presented uncompressed on the Blu-ray
Night of Anubis, a never-before-presented work-print edit of the film
New program featuring filmmakers Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, and Robert Rodriguez
Never-before-seen 16 mm dailies reel
New piece featuring Russo about the commercial and industrial-film production company where key Night of the Living Dead filmmakers got their start
Two audio commentaries from 1994, featuring Romero, Russo, producer Karl Hardman, actor
Judith O’Dea, and more
Archival interviews with Romero and actors Duane Jones and Judith Ridley
New programs about the editing, the score, and directing ghouls
New interviews with Gary R. Streiner and Russel W. Streiner
Trailer, radio spots, and TV spots
More!
PLUS: An essay by critic Stuart Klawans

[Neil]

^ But not a 4K version?

And what about all that extra footage (cellar?) they found a while back?

[Kaos]

Criterion hasn't started doing UHD blu-rays yet.

Not certain about the cellar footage.

[EvilNed]

This will be the definite blu ray release of this film. Feels good.

[MinionZombie]

Hopefully the new Blu-Ray will come to UK shores, too! I'd certainly make the triple-dip for that package of extras. :cool:

As for UHD - well, the market for that is still quite niche, so these don't often get released (usually just very mainstream stuff on UHD) - however, it's good to see some 'future proofing' with these old movies by getting these 4K scans done now, especially while some of the key creatives are still alive to supervise the transfers. :)

[Neil]

Hopefully the new Blu-Ray will come to UK shores, too! I'd certainly make the triple-dip for that package of extras. :cool:

As for UHD - well, the market for that is still quite niche, so these don't often get released (usually just very mainstream stuff on UHD) - however, it's good to see some 'future proofing' with these old movies by getting these 4K scans done now, especially while some of the key creatives are still alive to supervise the transfers. :)

A friend of mine who works in the industry is doing 12k scans for future proofing!

[beat_truck]

I read somewhere (I forget where) that the "9 minutes of extra footage" thing turned out to be a load of BS, it wasn't actually found after all. I was reading anything and everything I could possibly find on the subject as I really wanted to see it. Needless to say I was very disappointed, actually kinda pissed more like it, when I read that.:(

[MinionZombie]

A friend of mine who works in the industry is doing 12k scans for future proofing!

I recall Kevin Smith saying he did an interview with Stan Lee which was shot in a resolution like that, and he asked to look at some of the footage but they said they couldn't - because nothing could play the footage yet! :lol:

[bassman]

For those of you with Amazon's Prime video service, I've passed up a "newly remastered" version of Night on there multiple times. Is it the same as this 4K edit or just another public domain cash grab?

[MinionZombie]

For those of you with Amazon's Prime video service, I've passed up a "newly remastered" version of Night on there multiple times. Is it the same as this 4K edit or just another public domain cash grab?

I would have thought that'd be some cash-grab, if you've passed it up several times at this point.

The special features listed below are for an upcoming release - so that'd be the one to wait for, I'd think. :)

[Kaos]

For those of you with Amazon's Prime video service, I've passed up a "newly remastered" version of Night on there multiple times. Is it the same as this 4K edit or just another public domain cash grab?

You did yourself a service by passing it up. It is the Mill Creek release which is worse than the standard def version on Amazon prior to that one. Definitely a cash grab.

- - - Updated - - -

By the way, Criterion will be releasing the restored version on blu-ray of Night in the UK in February as well.

[MinionZombie]

By the way, Criterion will be releasing the restored version on blu-ray of Night in the UK in February as well.

https://media1.tenor.com/images/8d0cfad0ea1e1343dc1ce076e83274af/tenor.gif?itemid=5084863

[bassman]

Criterion’s release won the Saturn Award for best DVD/Blu Ray Special Edition: https://deadline.com/2018/06/saturn-awards-winners-black-panther-blade-runner-2049-shape-of-water-get-out-1202418606/

[EvilNed]

In the US it was in the top 10 best selling BluRays for a week or two, which is the first time that's ever happened to a Criterion

[MinionZombie]

Criterion’s release won the Saturn Award for best DVD/Blu Ray Special Edition: https://deadline.com/2018/06/saturn-awards-winners-black-panther-blade-runner-2049-shape-of-water-get-out-1202418606/


In the US it was in the top 10 best selling BluRays for a week or two, which is the first time that's ever happened to a Criterion

Sweet! :thumbsup:

Night has never looked or sounded better. An excellent restoration with a top notch selection of extras. Shame about the iffy packaging style, but that's only a tiny quibble. It's nice to have a definitive copy of Night in my collection. Now ... how about Dawn & Day, eh? ;) I'm waiting for a truly worthy Blu-Ray upgrade on both of those to step up from my Ultimate Edition and Divimax copies respectively.

[beat_truck]

I was going to buy a copy because it was supposed to have the work print with the 9 minutes of added material, but since that turned out to be a sham, I won't be buying it anytime soon. I still use old SD CRT TVs, so the added resolution wouIdn't do me much good, anyhow. I'm satisfied with the Millennium Edition DVD for now.

[EvilNed]

I was going to buy a copy because it was supposed to have the work print with the 9 minutes of added material, but since that turned out to be a sham, I won't be buying it anytime soon. I still use old SD CRT TVs, so the added resolution wouIdn't do me much good, anyhow. I'm satisfied with the Millennium Edition DVD for now.

Yeah, that whole "Night of the Anubis"-thing is a pointless addition. It's just an old beatup workprint with no added scenes.

[Kaos]

Hey folks,

If you prefer streaming to buying physical discs, Vudu is offering the Criterion version of Night of the Living Dead (1968) for purchase.

It looks great, btw.

Kaos

[nectarsis]

I was going to buy a copy because it was supposed to have the work print with the 9 minutes of added material, but since that turned out to be a sham, I won't be buying it anytime soon. I still use old SD CRT TVs, so the added resolution wouIdn't do me much good, anyhow. I'm satisfied with the Millennium Edition DVD for now.

I only ever saw that as a fan rumor quickly debunked by those involved.