Day of the Dead (1985)

Director:

George A. Romero

Writer:

George A. Romero (written by)

Release Date:

19 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Dead have waited. The day has come.

Plot:

A small group of military officers and scientists dwell in an underground bunker as the world above is overrun by zombies.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Military | Bunker | Experiment | Florida

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Lori Cardille	...	Sarah
Terry Alexander	...	John
Joseph Pilato	...	Rhodes (as Joe Pilato)
Jarlath Conroy	...	McDermott
Anthony Dileo Jr.	...	Miguel (as Antonè DiLeo)
Richard Liberty	...	Logan
Sherman Howard	...	Bub (as Howard Sherman)
Gary Howard Klar	...	Steel (as G. Howard Klar)
Ralph Marrero	...	Rickles
John Amplas	...	Fisher
Phillip G. Kellams	...	Miller
Taso N. Stavrakis	...	Torrez
Gregory Nicotero	...	Johnson
Don Brockett	...	Featured Zombie
William Cameron	...	Featured Zombie
Deborah Carter	...	Featured Zombie
Winnie Flynn	...	Featured Zombie
Debra Gordon	...	Featured Zombie
Jeff Hogan	...	Featured Zombie
Barbara Holmes	...	Featured Zombie
David Kindlon	...	Featured Zombie
Bruce Kirkpatrick	...	Featured Zombie
'Wild Bill' Laczko	...	Featured Zombie (as William Andrew Laczko)
Susan Martinelli	...	Featured Zombie
Kim Maxwell	...	Featured Zombie
Barbara Russell	...	Featured Zombie
Gene A. Saraceni	...	Featured Zombie
John D. Schwartz	...	Featured Zombie (as John Schwartz)
Mark Tierno	...	Featured Zombie
Mike Trcic	...	Featured Zombie (as Michael Trcic)
John Vulich	...	Featured Zombie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Terry Adams	...	Mine Zombie Chasing Steel (uncredited)
Al Anderson	...	Mine Zombie Chasing Steel (uncredited)
Tom Ardolino	...	Mine Zombie Chasing Steel (uncredited)
David Barckhoff	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Gabriel Bartalos	...	Camouflage Hat Zombie (uncredited)
Matt Bartlett	...	Zombie in Steel's Death Scene (uncredited)
Howard Berger	...	Spinaround Cave Zombie Shot by John (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	...	Chorus (voice) (uncredited)
J.R. Bookwalter	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Tom Brown	...	Chef Zombie (uncredited)
Everett Burrell	...	Surgeon Zombie in Cave (uncredited)
Mary Caputo	...	Flower Hat Zombie (uncredited)
Bill 'Chilly Billy' Cardille	...	Elevator Zombie (uncredited)
Glenn Charbonneau	...	Elevator Zombie (uncredited)
Delilah	...	The 2nd Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)
George Demick	...	Zombie who rips Rhodes' legs apart (uncredited)
Mark Dodson	...	Zombies (voice) (uncredited)
Billy Elmer	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Donald Farmer	...	Underground Zombie (uncredited)
Paul Gagne	...	Rickles' Bearded Zombie Attacker (uncredited)
David Granati	...	Rhodes' Zombie Attacker (uncredited)
Hermie Granati	...	Rhodes' Zombie Attacker (uncredited)
Joey Granati	...	Rhodes' Zombie Attacker (uncredited)
Rick Granati	...	Rhodes' Zombie Attacker (uncredited)
Barry Gress	...	Major Cooper's Corpse (uncredited)
Peter Iasillo Jr.	...	Elevator zombie (Tip O'Neil zombie) (uncredited)
Daniel Krell	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Ed Lammi	...	Zombie with Cast Arm (uncredited)
Ralph Langer	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Annie Loeffler	...	Female Cave Zombie Shot by John (uncredited)
Pat Logan	...	Bald Mustachioed Zombie Shot by Steel in Mines (uncredited)
Al Magliochetti	...	Bathrobe Zombie / Sunglasses Zombie (uncredited)
Modern Man	...	Chorus (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Martin	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Akram Midani	...	Fisherman Zombie in Mines (uncredited)
Watfa Midani	...	Mine Zombie Next to Fisherman Zombie (uncredited)
NRBQ	...	Mine Zombies Chasing Steel (uncredited)
Jim O'Rear	...	Attacking Zombie (uncredited)
Talmadge Pearsall	...	Chorus (voice) (uncredited)
Michael 'D.O.C.' Porter	...	Pompadour Hairstyled Zombie in Steel's Death Scene (uncredited)
James Rogal	...	Sarah's Zombie Attacker in Dream: Hand Only (uncredited)
George A. Romero	...	Zombie with Scarf (uncredited)
Joey Spampinato	...	Mine Zombie Chasing Steel (uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino	...	The Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)
Mark Steensland	...	Rickles' Zombie Attacker (uncredited)
Vincent D. Survinski	...	Elevator Zombie (uncredited)
Michael J. Tomaso	...	Zombie-Football Player - Florida (uncredited)
Roy Wetzel	...	Rhodes' Zombie Attacker (uncredited)

Directed by
George A. Romero

Writing credits
George A. Romero		(written by)

Produced by
David Ball	....	co-producer
Salah M. Hassanein	....	executive producer
Ed Lammi	....	associate producer
Richard P. Rubinstein	....	producer

Original Music by
John Harrison		(music composed by)
Jim Blazer		(uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Michael Gornick		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pasquale Buba

Casting by
Christine Forrest		(as Christine Forrest Romero)

Production Design by
Cletus Anderson

Art Direction by
Bruce Alan Miller		(as Bruce Miller)

Set Decoration by
Jan Pascale

Costume Design by
Barbara Anderson

Makeup Department
Barry Anderson	....	makeup effects assistant: Florida
Linda Arrigoni	....	makeup effects assistant: Florida
Terri Basilone	....	hair stylist (as Terry Basilone)
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects crew
Barry Burghstaller	....	makeup effects assistant: Florida
Everett Burrell	....	special makeup effects crew
Dean Gates	....	makeup effects assistant: Florida
Rick Gonzales	....	makeup effects assistant: Florida
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	makeup artist (as Jeannee Josefszyk)
David Kindlon	....	special makeup effects crew
Mary Lefore	....	makeup effects assistant: Florida (as Mary LeFore)
Gregory Nicotero	....	assistant: Tom Savini
Terry Prince	....	masks: background zombies
Bonnie Priore	....	makeup artist
Tom Savini	....	special makeup effects
David E. Smith	....	masks: background zombies (as David Smith)
Mike Trcic	....	special makeup effects crew (as Michael Trcic)
Natalka Voslakov	....	makeup artist
John Vulich	....	special makeup effects crew
Michael Deak	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Zilla Clinton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Harrison	....	first assistant director
Annie Loeffler	....	second assistant director
Katarina Wittich	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Norman Beck	....	head carpenter
Nora Cline	....	properties assistant
Dan Gaitens	....	carpenter
Eileen Garrigan	....	head scenic artist
Marty Garrigan	....	set dresser (as Martin Garrigan)
Jay Hart	....	assistant to the art director
Ellen Hopkins	....	properties assistant
Gary Kosko	....	draftsman
Gary Kosko	....	set carpenter
Penny Mateer	....	properties assistant
Bruce Alan Miller	....	construction coordinator (as Bruce Miller)
Randy Montgomery	....	assistant scenic artist
Celeste Parrendo	....	painter
Michael Reid	....	carpenter
Kevin Ritter	....	prop master
Eliza Townsend	....	properties assistant

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	re-recordist (as Gary D. Alexander)
James Beshears	....	sound editor (as Jim Beshears)
Tony Buba	....	daily sound transferer
David B. Cohn	....	supervising sound editor (as David Cohn)
Stuart Deutsch	....	boom
Chris Jenkins	....	re-recordist
Trevor Jolly	....	sound editor
Howard Neiman	....	sound editor
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	assistant sound editor
Lauren Palmer	....	adr editor
Rolf Pardula	....	sound mixer
David Pettijohn	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Stensvold	....	re-recordist
Rick Ash	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Jones	....	scenic special effects
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects (as Steve Kirshoff)
Mark Mann	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Harvey Plastrik	....	opticals
Jim Danforth	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Jim Danforth	....	matte photographer (uncredited)

Stunts
Taso N. Stavrakis	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Bennett Beal	....	electrician
Ernest R. Dickerson	....	second unit camera: Florida
Richard Golomb	....	still photography
Susan Golomb	....	still photography
John Janusek	....	electrician
Barry Kessler	....	grip
Simon Manses	....	assistant camera
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	key grip (as Nick Mastandrea)
Frank Perl	....	assistant camera
Frank Prinzi	....	assistant camera: second unit, Florida
Kurt Rimmel	....	best boy
G. Frederic Roth	....	gaffer
John Sider	....	generator operator: Florida (as John Syder)
Richard M. Sieg	....	dolly grip
Nick Tallo	....	grip

Casting Department
Gary Brotz	....	extras casting: Florida
Felice Lammi	....	additional casting
Bill McNulty	....	casting associate: New York
Gaylen Ross	....	casting associate: New York
Holly Wagner	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pikke Allen	....	wardrobe assistant
Cathy Anderson	....	wardrobe assistant
Kathy Borland	....	wardrobe assistant
Martha Bromelmeier	....	wardrobe assistant
Candy Callery	....	wardrobe assistant
Tony French	....	wardrobe assistant
Dawna Gregory	....	wardrobe assistant
Howard Kaplan	....	assistant costume designer
Susan Kistler	....	wardrobe assistant
Margaret McCubbin	....	wardrobe assistant
Denise Smith	....	wardrobe assistant
Eileen Sieff Stroup	....	assistant costume designer (as Eileen Sieff)
Karyn Wagner	....	wardrobe (as Karin Wagner)
Natalie Wilvers	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
John Stuart Bick	....	editing assistant (as John Bick)
Kristine Bulakowski	....	assistant editor
Steven Farkas	....	editing assistant
Dan Korintus	....	editing assistant
Tom San Martin	....	negative matcher
Arnold Shuster	....	negative matcher (as Arnie Shuster)
Joe Violante	....	dailies (as Joseph Violante)
Bob Wolfrum	....	negative matcher

Music Department
John Harrison	....	music performer
John Sutton	....	music producer
Joey Argiro	....	musician: bass guitar (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	....	chorus (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	....	composer: original songs (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	....	lyricist: songs (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	....	musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Jim Blazer	....	scoring band (uncredited)
Rex Burke	....	recordist (uncredited)
Gary Carolla	....	musician: keyboard (uncredited)
Tom Cossie	....	music producer (uncredited)
Tom Cossie	....	soundtrack producer (uncredited)
Delilah	....	singer (uncredited)
Frank Falotica	....	musician: Fairlight (uncredited)
Ray Falotica	....	musician: Fairlight (uncredited)
Michael Fisher	....	musician: percussions (uncredited)
Don Garvin	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Don Garvin	....	recordist (uncredited)
Grant Geissman	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Rick Granati	....	musician: Simmons percussion (uncredited)
John Harrison	....	composer: original songs (uncredited)
John Harrison	....	lyricist: songs (uncredited)
John Harrison	....	music producer (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	band accompaniment (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	chorus (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	music performers (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	musical accompaniment (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	musician (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	scoring band (uncredited)
Modern Man	....	vocal accompaniment (uncredited)
Mark Matteo	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Talmadge Pearsall	....	chorus (uncredited)
Talmadge Pearsall	....	musician: keyboard (uncredited)
Talmadge Pearsall	....	scoring band (uncredited)
Bill Smith	....	recordist (uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino	....	composer: original songs (uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino	....	lyricist: songs (uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino	....	musician: vocals and guitar (uncredited)
Sputzy Sparacino	....	scoring band (uncredited)
John Sutton	....	soundtrack producer (uncredited)
Tom Tornow	....	musician: drums and percussion (uncredited)
Gary Wallo	....	musician: Simmons percussion (uncredited)
Carl Wurtz	....	musician: emulator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
P.D. Levy	....	transportation coordinator
Frank A. Serrao	....	production driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jessica Abrams	....	assistant auditor
Mark Arlington	....	production assistant: Florida
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	unit publicist
Jeffrey Barker	....	production assistant
Theresa Bedekovich	....	stand-in
Miranda Beeson	....	assistant to producer
Bruce Bellows	....	stand-in: Florida
Jim Bozsan	....	production assistant
Teresa Bozsan	....	production secretary
Jim Brewelhide	....	location manager (as Jim Bruwelheide)
Mike Butera	....	production assistant
Robert Cagney	....	production assistant: Florida
Tina Carbonell	....	production controller
Charles S. Carroll	....	auditor
Deborah Carter	....	production assistant
Leslie Chapman	....	production coordinator
Bill Dickhaut	....	location manager
Bill Dickhaut	....	location scout
Thom Downing	....	production assistant (as Thom S. Downing)
Richard Fick	....	production assistant: Florida
Barbara Frazzini	....	production assistant
Barbara Homziuk	....	production secretary
Michael Johnson	....	production assistant
Dan Korintus	....	production assistant
William W. Laxson	....	production assistant (as William Laxson)
Sonia Lopes	....	production assistant: Florida
Ellen Moon	....	stand-in: Florida
David Mott	....	production assistant: Florida
Melanie Muroff	....	production coordinator: Florida
Melanie Muroff	....	secretary: Florida
Craig Myers	....	production assistant: Florida
Frederick Peters	....	production assistant: Florida
Bob Scott	....	production assistant: Florida
Dianna Slowey	....	production assistant: Florida
Joanne Small	....	script supervisor
Nancy Suzich	....	production assistant
James Wetzel	....	stand-in
John 'Flash' Williams	....	production assistant (as John Williams)
John Wolcutt	....	weapons
Laura Wortzel	....	production assistant: Florida
Peter Fernandez	....	cleaner: English dialog version (uncredited)
Alexander Xavier Ponce-Bonano	....	consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
Barbara Ann Koehler	....	special thanks
Ginger McGuire	....	special thanks
Alvin Rogal	....	special thanks
Lester Rosenkrantz	....	special thanks
Frank Rubinstein	....	special thanks
Irvin Shapiro	....	special thanks
R.C. Staab	....	special thanks: Pennsylvania Film Bureau
Norman Stein	....	special thanks
Vincent D. Survinski	....	special thanks (as Vince Survinski)
Mary Ann Volvonas	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• United Film Distribution Company (UFDC) (presents)
• Laurel Entertainment Inc. (producer) (as Laurel.)
• Dead Films Inc.
• Laurel-Day Inc.

Distributors

• United Film Distribution Company (UFDC) (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Creswin Distribution (198?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Esplanade Filmverleih (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD) (The Horror Legacy Series)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• CMV Laservision (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Trilogy of the Dead)
• Eden Video (Italy) (VHS)
• Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD) (re-release)
• Entertainment in Video (UK) (VHS)
• Force Video (Australia) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1986) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Media Home Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (TV)
• Video Treasures (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• X-Rated Kultvideo (Germany) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Garber / Green (matte photography)
• THS (zombie background masks)

Other Companies

• N.Y.C. Stunt League  stunt co-ordination
• England & Company  public relations
• Laurel Communications  daily sound transfers
• Unique Producers Service  production services: Florida
• Todd-AO Studios  re-recording (as Todd-AO)
• Computer Opticals  opticals
• Rubber Dubbers  foley studio
• JDC America Inc (I)  cameras (as J.D.C. America, Inc.)
• Performance Lighting Rentals Inc.  lighting & grip equipment (as Performance Lighting)
• Rogal Company  insurance
• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance (as Albert G. Ruben)
• K.M.G. Main Hurdman  special thanks
• Gelberg & Abrams  special thanks
• Pollock, Bloom & Dekom  special thanks
• Page Avjet Corporation  special thanks: for Wampum Industrial Facility
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Motion Picture & Television Development  special thanks (as Pennsylvania Film Bureau)
• Florida Motion Picture and Television Bureau, The  special thanks (as Florida Motion Picture & Television Bureau)
• Page America Inc.  special thanks
• Numenorean Music  score album released by (limited edition) (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Day of the Dead" - USA (imdb display title)
"Day of the Living Dead" - Canada (English title) (new title)
"George A. Romero's Day of the Dead" - USA (complete title)
"El día de los muertos" - Argentina, Spain
"A holtak napja" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Dan zivih mrtvaca" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Dia dos Mortos" - Brazil (imdb display title)
"Dzien zywych trupów" - Poland (imdb display title)
"El día de los muertos vivientes" - Mexico (imdb display title)
"Elävien kuolleiden päivä" - Finland (TV title)
"I mera ton zontanon nekron" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Il giorno degli zombi" - Italy
"Il giorno dei morti viventi" - Italy (informal literal title)
"Le jour des morts-vivants" - France
"O Dia dos Mortos" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"Zombi - Ölüm günü" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Zombie 2" - West Germany (censored version)
"Zombie 2 - Das letzte Kapitel" - West Germany

Runtime:

102 min | Argentina:101 min | Norway:97 min | Australia:97 min | Canada:96 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (video re-rating) (1997) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) (cut) | UK:18 (original rating) (cut) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (video rating) (1998) | Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (uncut version) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) (cut) | Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Chile:14 (uncut DVD version) | Canada:14A (Ontario) (Re-rated 2008) | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Norway:(Banned) (original rating) | Norway:15 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:(Banned) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

United Film Distribution Company (UFDC)

Trivia:

During the scene of Miguel's sedation, Lori Cardille told Anthony Dileo Jr. to actually slap her to make it look more authentic.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening scene as they fly over the city, you can clearly see, on the left side of the screen, a car pulling into a parking slot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
McDermott:Nothing, nothing at all.
Sarah:Send again.
McDermott:I've been sending up and down the coast from Sarasota to the Everglades and still getting back the same dead air. There's nothing! There's nobody or at least nobody with a radio.
Sarah:All right then let's set down, we'll use the bullhorn.
McDermott:Set down? Wait a minute, that's not in our contract!
Sarah:It's the biggest city within 150 miles and we're going to give it every chance.
McDermott:Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Sarah:Set down, John!
John:I'll set us down. But I won't leave my seat and I'll keep the engine running. Now the first sign of trouble, I'm going up. If you ain't on board when that happens, you're likely to have a lousy afternoon.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dead Pool (1988)

Soundtrack:

The Dead Suite

Very gruesome and claustrophobic zombie movie.

In 1985 this zombie movie virtually went by unnoticed except for many Romero fans. It was virtually dead a week or two after it hit the theaters. Many attribute its failings to the other many horror films released that year including "Re-Animator", "Fright Night", and "Return of the Living Dead". All these movies were R though and day was not. Romero stuck to his guns and made a very gory movie. Unfortunately, when dawn was released there were still many independent theaters, but by 1985 the chains had taken over and one thing chains do is not show movies like this. So it went by unnoticed and those that did notice it usually had nothing good to say about it other than the zombies looked really good. So suffice to say, I wasn't expecting much when I bought this movie except the zombies would look good. However, I am happy to report that I was very pleasantly surprised. The movie mainly takes place in an underground facility though there is the scene at the beginning in the town. I wish there were more scenes above ground as the one there is, is very well done. In the underground facility there is a lot of bickering between some scientists and some army guys who look and act nothing like army guys. Then again who knows how long they have been down there so people are bound to crack. There are also a couple of guys who may be army, but act like civilians and definitely have cooler heads than the rest of them. There is also a doctor who is trying to teach the zombies how to be more docile. All the wildness and arguing eventually leads to a major meltdown which leads to of course zombies penetrating the base and this leads to a very good gory finish. Not quite as good as Dawn, but not as far off as I was lead to believe this movie is very entertaining.