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DAWN OF THE DEAD
VIDEOS In the U.S. Dawn wasn’t
available for home viewing until 1983 when Thorn EMI Video released the
clamshell cased theatrical version (TV1977) in December, borrowing the
Posterbook cover graphic, just adding a green logo. Although it rented
well and sold respectably (even at a pricey $59.99) in early 1984, a
small-box commercial version didn’t arrive until summer 1987 as part of
the affordable HBO/Cannon Video reissues of early 80’s Thorn EMI vids.
Another small box edition, with a darker reprint of the pakaging and no
stills on the back, came out in 1989 from HBO/Weintraub. A BETA version
was only available on Thorn EMI Video (TXB 1977) until 1986. Republic
Video, as they did with Night, brought the dead to life again in
1992 with their Lumiere Pictures print of the theatrical version. This VHS
(5831) had noticeably sharper video and superior sound to the earlier
videos and retained the same basic packaging as the HBO/Cannon (note the
hooded mummy from basement on left corner of box). An interesting point
about these Republic tapes are that they all read 131 minutes for the
running time, but they were not longer prints. They simply didn’t tell
you that the tape also contained commercials for other features, Amityville:
A New Generation and Witchboard 2. The tapes were in available
for up to a year afterwards. Initially the covers read "director’s
cut" and were replaced with "unrated theatrical cut"
anticipating Anchor Bay’s upcoming ‘director’s cut’. In reality
Republic actually had the director’s cut! Ironically Anchor Bay’s first release of
Dawn to video was a hasty EP budget version (SV10005) of the old
Thorn EMI print in early 1996. It was the first American VHS to use the
original US art, now in shades of orange and yellow. Just before Halloween
that same year, a long-awaited Collector’s Edition two-tape set with
purple logo (SV10006) arrived using the Elite Entertainment transfer
prepared for laserdisc. First editions were released full screen in err,
revealing more picture top and bottom that was cut off by the black
matting of the laserdisc. This was corrected in subsequent editions. The
second tape includes the last hour or so of the movie plus a few domestic
and two European trailers. Three years later, AB were at it again,
discontinuing this version, and offering a full screen VHS (SV10781) as
the 20th Anniversary Director’s Cut! Simultaneously they put
together a widescreen, 128 minute print (with the police dock scene almost
all intact) as the 20th Anniversary Theatrical Cut (SV10780).
Psychedelic Andy Warhol soupcan-inspired artwork adorned the covers.
Spain’s IVS/New Line issued two versions
with number (3093) in 1987, both badly dubbed 127 min. versions and with
dark contrast. The first was commercially sold (machete art from French
poster) and the other was the rental only with unique artwork of Peter
with his M-16 and zombies all around (Flyboy up top). Because of the
notoriety at that point of The Return of the Living Dead, which had
been released as El Regreso de los Muertos Vivientes, Zombi’s
former subtitle was changed to El Crespescule de los Muertos Vivientes
or Twilight of the Living Dead. One of the best looking prints had to be
from the Netherlands’ Cor Koppies Video (50420). Subtitled In De
Greep Van De Zombies (roughly "In the Grasp of the
Zombies"), the colors are bright and clear for a VHS. Plus there’s
no dubbing, just subtitles. All the gore in the Euro version is intact and
it runs 115 mins. Dutch Film Works issued a Hi-Fi stereo edition of a 141
min. print (DFW K00925) in 2000 with a cover almost exactly the same as UK
BMG PAL. |
