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Author Topic: Zombie (Dawn of the Dead) - UFA - 3 x 400ft
Jean-Marc Toussaint
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Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004

- posted December 19, 2005 02:04 AM      Profile for Jean-Marc Toussaint   Author's Homepage   Email Jean-Marc Toussaint   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
ZOMBIE
3 x 120 m (3 x 400 ft) – 45 minutes - UFA – Germany

This is a fast-paced digest of the European cut of George A. Romero’s « Dawn of the Dead ». Originally produced by Italian schlock-meister Dario Argento (« Suspiria », « Inferno », « Profondo Rosso »), this version of the film is shorter, faster and honestly better than the US cut, and that’s really odd, considering that the original film is quite good. It also features a new fantastic soundtrack by Argento’s old partners in crime, The Goblins.

The film is extremely well condensed. It keeps the whole storyline intact (opening and closing shots of the cut-down are the opening and closing shots of the film), as well as most of the action scenes and most of the gore.

Reel 1 content
TV station chaos / SWAT team storms the appartment building / Peter and Roger meet / Helicopter escape / Flying over the Midwest / Arrival at the mall / Exploration

Reel 2 content
Boiler room attack / Securing the doors / The group decides to stay / Truck scene & blocking the gates / Roger gets bitten / Getting rid of all the zombies inside

Reel 3 content
Disposing of the bodies / Roger dies / Fran learns how to fly the chopper / Attack of the biker gang / Stephen is being chased and dies / Zombies get into the mall / Peter and Fran barely escape

My print (purchased from Andreas) is very slightly faded but this is not distracting as the photography of the film was purposedly raw.
Sound is in German, of course, but can be reconstructed with the Region 2 DVD. This super 8 cut-down is apparently still very much looked for by collectors, particularly in Germany.

[ December 19, 2005, 05:36 AM: Message edited by: Jean-Marc Toussaint ]

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Scott G. Bruce
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Registered: May 2005

- posted December 19, 2005 08:09 AM      Profile for Scott G. Bruce   Email Scott G. Bruce   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I just got hungry. Did anyone else get hungry reading this?

Thanks for the review, Jean-Marc! I'm a big fan of early atmospheric zombie movies, like WHITE ZOMBIE (1932) with Bela Lugosi. You've convinced me that I should start exploring more recent interpretations of the genre, gore and all. I've gone so far as to watch (and love!) the recent parody of modern zombie films, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, which I highly recommend. Have you seen it? I chuckle just thinking about it.

Thanks again for the review. SGB

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James N. Savage 3
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From: Washington, DC
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- posted December 19, 2005 12:38 PM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Jean-Marc,

Thanks for that review! I remember when I first learned of its availability on super 8 in the early 80's. I wanted it so bad, but had no way to order it from Germany (no internet yet [Roll Eyes] ).

They sure do pack alot of scenes into those 3 x 400 foot reels!

Scott- Yes, Shawn of the Dead is great! My wife and I watch the DVD all the time. Its one of the most well-made spoof type movies I have ever seen. You actually care about the cast, which is more than can be said of the "Scary Movie" series or other horror movie spoofs.

Nick.

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God

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From: France
Registered: Oct 2004

- posted December 19, 2005 02:49 PM      Profile for Jean-Marc Toussaint   Author's Homepage   Email Jean-Marc Toussaint   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Shaun of the Dead is indeed a lot of fun.
Did you see "Land of the Dead"? It's great. Romero's back (after a few minor flicks, it seems that he's almost back from the dead!) No one does living dead films like him.

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James N. Savage 3
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From: Washington, DC
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- posted December 19, 2005 05:54 PM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Land of the Dead was indeed a worthy addition to George's "Dead" series. All four movies are very good. I saw "Land" at the cinema when it opened last summer, and bought the DVD upon its release.

The biggest difference with "Land" would be the presence of popular actors, where as the first three used virtual unknowns. Its still better than the numerous cheap immitations that have been made through the years.

Nick.

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Joe Taffis
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From: United States
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- posted December 29, 2005 07:49 PM      Profile for Joe Taffis   Email Joe Taffis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
hey Nick, I agree with you completely....

[ December 24, 2013, 08:21 AM: Message edited by: Joe Taffis ]

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Joe Taffis

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Marc Marti
Film Handler

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From: La Vall d'Uixo (Spain)
Registered: Jun 2005

- posted January 07, 2006 06:58 AM      Profile for Marc Marti   Email Marc Marti   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I had mixed feelings while watching "Land..." on the cinema. I will buy it on DVD these days to give a second chance to the film (and to complete my romero's dvd collection. I'm a very big fan of him!!). Have you seen "Martin"? It's one of my faves.

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Marc

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Gian Luca Mario Loncrini
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From: Verona (Italy)
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- posted September 13, 2009 06:42 PM      Profile for Gian Luca Mario Loncrini   Author's Homepage   Email Gian Luca Mario Loncrini   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I actually have the full DAWN OF THE DEAD feature (Dario Argento's cut) and it's not a bad print at all (on KODAK SP). Color is still very good. And it's very rare to find it. It took so long to have a good copy (even if it is used, being an ex one for rental).

But it's always a success, when I screen all those zombies walking inside that huge Monroeville Mall (see here: http://www.mallofthedead.net/ ).

Great great great. Even if I don't know how the 3*400 German edition is.

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Kurt Gardner
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From: San Antonio, TX
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- posted September 13, 2009 09:06 PM      Profile for Kurt Gardner   Author's Homepage   Email Kurt Gardner   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I also thought that "Land" went too far toward commercialism and spelt out Romero's obsessions (rejection of authority, terror of big government, race relations) in obvious, enormous strokes. Even the inclusion of the "Shaun of the Dead" cast, meant as an affectionate in-joke, was too much.

However, his latest, "Diary of the Dead," made on an extremely slim budget, shows that our George can still keep up with the kids and make a "Blair Witch"-style real-time movie about a zombie takeover. It's done in videotaped-by-the-participants style and is a hell of a lot more exciting than the overblown "Land."

That said, I'd love to have an English-language print of the 3-parter of "Dawn."

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Marshall Crist
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From: San Pedro, CA USA
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- posted September 13, 2009 10:04 PM      Profile for Marshall Crist   Email Marshall Crist   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I remember Larry Arpin reviewing the German 3x400' in his newsletter back in the day. It was very tempting, despite the language barrier.

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
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From: France
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- posted September 15, 2009 03:35 AM      Profile for Jean-Marc Toussaint   Author's Homepage   Email Jean-Marc Toussaint   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Gian: it's Zombie that you have, not Dawn of the Dead. [Wink]
The UFA three parter is the next best thing.

I sold a print featuring my reconstruction of the english stereo track a few months ago. Redubbing can be performed for 45 euros plus s&h.

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Gian Luca Mario Loncrini
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- posted September 15, 2009 04:39 AM      Profile for Gian Luca Mario Loncrini   Author's Homepage   Email Gian Luca Mario Loncrini   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi Jean-Marc, how are you?
What I actually have in my collection is a 6*600 ft (Italian edition and print) of 'Dawn of the Dead'. 'Zombi' is the Italian title, but we are talking about the same movie. [Big Grin]

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I remember when I was (super) 8 years old...

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Adrian Winchester
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- posted September 16, 2009 03:55 PM      Profile for Adrian Winchester     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
"What I actually have in my collection is a 6*600 ft (Italian edition and print) of 'Dawn of the Dead'."

My goodness - what an example of the amazing titles 'out there' that most collectors would never hear about. I've heard that lots of full length Super 8 titles, never released for sale, could be hired from shops in Spain (one or two were on eBay recently) but were there similar hire shops in Italy too?

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Adrian Winchester

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Adam Deierling
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- posted February 10, 2014 12:30 PM      Profile for Adam Deierling   Email Adam Deierling   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I just got a copy from Germany. I did a quick telecine of it using my Panasonic AG-AC130 Camcorder. Not bad results considering I have a two blade shutter in my GS1200. After I captured the film I re-edited the sound in the computer using the Euro cut of the film as it best matched the super 8 digest. Here are the results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DTP6ii8tWU&feature=youtu.be

I haven't re-recorded the print yet. I am having some difficulty with my recording circuit. I am hoping after I replace my capacitor it will fix things all up.

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Osi Osgood
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- posted February 10, 2014 12:53 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Wow! that looked really good for a telecine of the super 8 print! I don't think that you could have done much better going frame by frame "telecine"! Good job!

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Joe Taffis
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- posted February 10, 2014 07:14 PM      Profile for Joe Taffis   Email Joe Taffis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I like Argento's cut of this film. Does anyone know why he left out the zombie getting the top of his head sliced off by the helicopter blades? One of my favorite scenes in the American version [Frown]

[ February 10, 2014, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: Joe Taffis ]

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Joe Taffis

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Oemer Yalinkilic
Jedi Master Film Handler

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From: Berlin, Germany
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- posted February 11, 2014 07:13 AM      Profile for Oemer Yalinkilic   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Unfortunately the youtube clip is blocked for germany [Frown]

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Winbert Hutahaean
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From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
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- posted February 13, 2014 09:20 PM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Oemer it is easy...just use https://proxtube.com/, download it and it will unblock [Wink]

...there is nothing impossible in the internet world . [Big Grin]

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Winbert

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James N. Savage 3
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- posted February 14, 2014 10:26 AM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Adam thanks so much for uploading that complete digest to Youtube. I tried for many years to obtain a copy of this when I was collecting horror films, with no luck.

I saw the American theatrical version at the movies dozens of times when it came out, and I still know the movie like the back of my hand. The editing was very good on this, and I see now that it would have been very difficult for me to do the English dub, because of the little extras in this Argento version.

Nice colors and high marks for the great re-dub.

James.

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Oemer Yalinkilic
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From: Berlin, Germany
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- posted February 14, 2014 03:49 PM      Profile for Oemer Yalinkilic   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hey Winbert, thats cool, it works. [Wink]

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Flavio Stabile
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From: Roma, Italia
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- posted March 27, 2014 03:17 PM      Profile for Flavio Stabile     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Great! Never heard of proxtube so far...

Thanks WInbert! [Big Grin]

Flavio

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