Wikipedia's article about Dawn of the Dead (70s version)

[Geophyrd]

I was cruising Wikipedia today and read the article about DoTD. Pretty intriguing stuff...lots of things I didn't know! The link to the page is at the bottom but amond the more interesting elements: Originally, the film was going to be Peter and Fran living like cavepeople in the mall ducts, watching as paramilitary troopers fed live meat to the zombies within. The Pagans did most of their parts completely improvised, in particular the pie fight. George had a whole other movie in mind for his sequel to NOTLD, but changed his mind when he went on a tour of Monroeville Mall. When he saw the civil defense storage room (featured in the movie) and the blank stares on the shoppers' faces, he had his movie in mind. Savini did a lot of the bullet hits using a fishing line tied to a button that was buried in dermawax. A bunch of the zombie actors would get drunk at the Brown Derby bar before filming just to be able to get into 'role.' One pregnant lady proposed having the zombies rip her open and her fetus falling out. Romero and Savini thought it was too gross to use. DoTD, according to Wiki, would become an unqualified success, eventually becoming one of the most financially and commercially successful independent films of all time...although they do say a citation is needed.[ In the Japanese version, almost all violence was excised, with the film freezing right when the violence started and left sound running. That version also attributed the zombies to a meteor exploding in the atmosphere releasing radiation. The script for DoTD was 253 pages. The newsroom sequence was 19 pages alone. Here's a link to the script. The head that is blown off during the SWAT sequence was originally supposed to be Fran's head during her suicide sequence. They used it later when George decided to let them go. Many of the zombies were actually amputees. Here's the link to the article

[tkane18]

Many of the zombies were actually amputees. I don't recall too many zombies with missing limbs. Oh well, now I have another excuse to watch it again.

[Danny]

"something new every day", huh?

[MikePizzoff]

Cool, thanks a lot Geophyrd! I knew a bunch of that stuff but what I didn't know was pretty cool.

[Bubdotd]

Nice man, like 80% of that i already knew (lol yeah i know) im obsessed.

[Geophyrd]

go read the wiki article. I just got tired of transcribing. lol

[axlish]

I don't recall too many zombies with missing limbs. Oh well, now I have another excuse to watch it again. One guy gets his arm ripped off under the truck tires. *Amputee* There are a few others splashed around Dawn.

[Adolf Kitler]

Looks like whoever wrote that wiki entry had a copy of "The Zombies That Ate Pittsburg" handy.

[scotty Boy]

The Pagans did most of their parts completely improvised, in particular the pie fight. Here's the link to the article Is this true? because on Documentary of the dead they showed this being filmed and it lokoed like it was planned all along?? maybe i am wrong tho and if so sorry, but surly the enthusiam is worth brownie points

[capncnut]

I don't recall too many zombies with missing limbs. Oh well, now I have another excuse to watch it again. There's a few. You got the zombie with his foot missing in the Project 107 scene, another one who rips his arm out from under the truck and there's one or two armless zombies here and there strolling through the mall in a few scenes. If my memory serves me correctly, doesn't one get 'squibbed' during the biker raid? A bunch of the zombie actors would get drunk at the Brown Derby bar before filming just to be able to get into 'role.' One of which stole a golf cart and ploughed it into a marble pillar!

[Neil]

Oi! What's wrong with THIS version of the script http://www.homepageofthedead.com/fil...nofthedead.txt The one you linked to is from here, but messed up... Took me f***ing ages to hand type that script in!!

[coma]

Took me f***ing ages to hand type that script in!! Thats crazy but very impressive So let me say thanks Neil!

[Wantaghzombie]

Man, nice script. Long enough to be a website by itself.

[Philly_SWAT]

Oi! What's wrong with THIS version of the script http://www.homepageofthedead.com/fil...nofthedead.txt The one you linked to is from here, but messed up... Took me f***ing ages to hand type that script in!! Wow, I had no idea you hand typed that script in Neil. You are always looking out for us deadheads!

[The Alive Man]

Don't understimate people, Philly. Even if we're not 'Homo Superior' like you, we try to do the best we can.