'Night of the Living Dead" Freebie vs. Elite vs. Elite

directed by George A. Romero
U.S.A. 1968

In 1968, a small group of friends in the business of making commercials and industrial shorts wanted to try their hands at “real” movie-making. Given the recent explosion of the exploitation and horror film market, led in the USA by godfather of gore, Herschel Gordon Lewis, it was decided that a horror film stood the best chance of being seen and maybe even making some money. George Romero and John Russo came up with an idea, and the group scraped together just over $100,000 and got started. With money tight, they used local talent, friends, and even investors in the film as actors. One of the investors was a butcher who provided the blood n’ guts for the operation. No one could have guessed that from these humble beginnings would emerge what is, arguably, the greatest of American horror films. A movie who’s negative was once stored in the basement of a Pittsburgh ad agency, now resides in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

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DVD Comparison:

Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC (30th Anniversary) vs. Elite (Millennium Edition)- Region 1 - NTSC vs. Elite (Special Collector's Edition) Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen for the Elite Millennium Screen Caps! and to Mark Wilson for all of the Anchor Bay screen captures

(Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Anchor Bay Region 0 - NTSC	Elite Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	Elite Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:36:03 (NTSC)	1:36:24 (NTSC)	1:36:48 (NTSC)
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.61 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate:7.31 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.47 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Anchor Bay
Bitrate: Elite Millennium
Bitrate: Elite Collectors
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) THX Certified	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono)) THX Certified
Subtitles	None	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: October 1, 1968 Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Single Layer Edition Details: • All Regions • Color, Black & White, Dolby • Commentary by co-writer John A. Russo, actor 'S. William Hinzman', producer Russell Streiner, and Bob Michelucci • Theatrical trailer(s) • 30th anniversary edition with over 15 minutes of new scenes • '98 edition of the original 90 minute "edit" with an all new musical score • 30th anniversary behind-the-scenes featurette • 30th anniversary still gallery • Scene from the S. William Hinzman feature Flesheater (1994) • Music video "Dance of the Dead" • 32-page color collector's booklet DVD Release Date: August 24, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 24	Release Information: Studio: Elite Entertainment, Theatrical Release Date: October 1, 1968 Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1 Edition Details: • Black & White, Dolby • Commentary with Romero, John Russo, Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman. • Commentary with Bill Hinzman, Judith O'Dea, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon, Russell Streiner and Vince Survinski. • Original Script / Threatment. • Scrapbooks of Marilyn Eastman and Vince Survinski. • Night of the Living Bread (8:25). Sound interview with Duane Jones (16:21). • Interview with Judith Ridley (10:39). • Beginnings: The Latent Image / Hardman Eastman Studios (Text). Scenes from Romeo's "lost" "There's Always Vanilla" (5:09). • Poster/lobbycards from "There's Always Vanilla". • Trailer (1:47). • TV spot (0:56). • THX Optimizer. DVD Release Date: March 12, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Elite Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: October 1, 1968 Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1 Edition Details: • All Regions • Black & White, THX • Commentary by director George A. Romero and co-writer John A. Russo • Commentary by cast members Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Judith O'Dea • Theatrical trailer • Night of the Living Bread (8:25). • S. William Hinzman, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon, producer Russell Streiner and production director Vincent D. Survinski DVD Release Date: May 18, 1999 Keep (Polygram) Case Chapters 31

Comments:

The Anchor Bay Region 0 DVD is cropped on all 4 sides. It also has some edge enhancement and fluctuating darkness. It does offer 5.1 sound. Both Elite version have the same transfer and as far as I understand it is the definitive version of the many that are on the market. Both Elite versions have the commentary track, but the more recent "Millennium" version has even more extras than the "Collector's" edition as well as 5.1 sound optional to the original mono sound. Yes, a no-brainer, the Millennium version have improved upon the sound, Extras and menu's of their own older "Collector's" version. .

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

(Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

(Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

(Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)