(aka "L' ultimo uomo della terra" )

 

directed by Sidney Salkow
Italy / USA 1964

A mysterious bacterium has swept over the world and left everyone dead except for epidemiologist Morgan (Price), who picked up an immunity to the germ years before while working in South America. Unfortunately for him, the dead rise at night to become shuffling vampire/zombies bent on eating him alive. By day, his routine involves shopping for garlic and mirrors to repel the undead and grid-searching the town block by block to exterminate them with the dependable wooden-stake method. He piles the corpses in his station wagon and takes them to the local landfill where he makes a bonfire out of them; by night, he returns home to play old records and ignore the ghoulish goons outside his door. He keeps a generator running in his house for electricity (as well as at the local grocery) as he goes half-mad from loneliness and boredom ("Another day to live through; might as well get on with it."). His situation would be improved greatly by stealing a few guns and several cases of ammo, but no matter. Eventually he finds the Last Poodle on Earth and chases the dog through the streets until the mutt turns up on his doorstep. Morgan discovers, though, that the pooch is a zombie/vampire dog, so it's stake time for man's best friend. While zombie-hunting one day, though, he runs across the Last Babe on Earth and takes her home; alas, she is infected as well, but is the vanguard of a whole community of survivors. They've been able to stave off the vampire syndrome with a crude chemical injection; Morgan killed off many of their cohorts during his campaign, and they're not too happy with him about it. Based on a story by Richard Matheson ("I Am Legend," later remade into the rather limp Omega Man with Charlton Heston), The Last Man on Earth shows its low-budget seams at times; Morgan cruises around in his '56 Chevy wagon on narrow Italian streets filled with bulbous Fiats.


Excerpt from Jerry Renshaw's review on the Austin Chronicle located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 8 March 1964 - USA

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. MGM (stand alone) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (Midnite Movies with Panic in the Year Zero) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed for the PAL Screen Caps!

(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Diamond Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

MGM
Region 1 - NTSC
MGM
Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:26:20 1:26:51 1:26:51
Video

1.42:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 3.50 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.37 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
 

2.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.37 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

 

Diamond Entertainment

 

Bitrate:

 

MGM

 

Bitrate:

 

MGM - Midnite Movies

Audio English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono. English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono

English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono.

Subtitles None. English, Spanish, French or None. English, Spanish, French or None.
Features Release Information:
Studio: Diamond Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.42:1

Edition Details:
• Small bio of Vincent Price (Text).

DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 2
 

Release Information:
Studio: MGM

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.30:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with Richard Matheson (6:25).

 

DVD Release Date: December 4th, 2007
Keep Case

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: MGM

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.30:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with Richard Matheson (6:25).

• Panic in the Year Zero on opposite side of disc
 

DVD Release Date: March 22, 2005
Keep Case

Chapters 16

 

Comments:

ADDITION: November 07: Just hold on a minute!

Well, we appear to have caught MGM in another quasi-swindle. The single edition of The Last Man on Earth being released Dec 3rd, 2007 is exactly the same (menus, bitrate, single-layered transfer, disc size etc.) as the March 2005 Midnite Movies edition... but minus Panic in the Year Zero.  Supporting our contention it also has the 2004 VOB files. BUT, the aggravating thing here is, they are asking almost the exact same purchase price for the Midnite Movies edition (actually only $1.40 more) - yes, the one that includes a better film; Panic in the Year Zero !!!

NOTE: Both have the 6 minute Richard Matheson interview.

So they want us to pay essentially the same money... for less content - with absolutely no improvements. Hummmfff.

Don't get hoodwinked by MGM! If you are interested in buying (and I do recommend at less than $13) then go for the Midnite Movies edition and have an apocalyptic doomsday festival night incorporating The Omega Man as well. What fun!

I have one thing to say to MGM - 'Not on my watch pal'.

On the MGM vs. the Diamond: I'm sure we don't have to say too much here. The MGM is infinitely superior in every area. It really looks like a decent DVD - sharp and clean - correct ratio, nice grays - optional subtitles - all good. It is bundled with Panic in the Year Zero reviewed HERE.

There is 30 seconds difference in the running times, 10 seconds is 2XMGM logo's, we haven't looked for the missing 20 seconds on the Diamond release but they appear in the last 20 minutes of the movie.

 - Gary Tooze

 



DVD Menus


(
Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 

 
 

 

 


 

Screen Captures

(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Diamond Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. MGM (editions have duplicate transfers) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


 

 

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Report Card:

 

Image:

MGM

Sound:

MGM

Extras: MGM
Menu: MGM

 

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Diamond Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

MGM
Region 1 - NTSC
MGM
Region 1 - NTSC




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