Info Wanted: Are there any preservations of Lucio Fulci's 'Zombie' (Zombi 2)?

The main reason I ask this is because there have been numerous rereleases of the film over the years, and each time, there’s always changes made to the opening logo and credits. Changes in font, changes in color, any kind of alteration you can think of. See these videos here for a brief understanding of what I’m talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST4I_r8BUCg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpQ6Y6Qca60&t=566s

So to reiterate on my question, are there any existing efforts to preserve Zombie’s original titles, namely the US theatrical version?

I could try it for one of my Halloween releases.

Charles Threepio said:

I could try it for one of my Halloween releases.

Halloween releases?

Every Halloween, I hope to release some spooky fun restorations.

Charles Threepio said:

Every Halloween, I hope to release some spooky fun restorations.

Oooh! That’s actually really cool! Do you have a record of all your previous Halloween restorations? Love to check that out.

I’ll actually release my first Halloween restorations next year.

Charles Threepio said:

I’ll actually release my first Halloween restorations next year.

Ah, I see. Well best of luck, and Godspeed.

Why does the font change release after release, was their ever an explanation given?

You know what would be a cool idea; a HD reconstruction of the original R-Rated US Theatrical Version (which I believe was on the very first DVD release from Anchor Bay, reports said the 5.1 mix on their wasn’t bad either).

I’ll probably also work on the UK X-rated version, which is shorter by a few minutes owing to the censorshit of the Ferman days. One thing I know I’ll be doing for sure is the original Jerry Gross theatrical mix, as heard on the Wizard and Magnum releases and a bootleg VHS from Woodhaven.

As far as I can remember, this original theatrical mix is different than the one most of us are used to around the point where Dr. Menard shoots the zombie as it’s getting up, the end of the “shark vs. zombie” scene, and the zombie invasion of New York (the transition there happens after “…Manhattan. General Stein…” and the anchor’s scream sounds very different in the original theatrical mix).

Charles Threepio said:

As far as I can remember, this original theatrical mix is different than the one most of us are used to around the point where Dr. Menard shoots the zombie as it’s getting up, the end of the “shark vs. zombie” scene, and the zombie invasion of New York (the transition there happens after “…Manhattan. General Stein…” and the anchor’s scream sounds very different in the original theatrical mix).

Very interesting to hear. Who knew a movie with such a low budget would get so many changes post-release. Regrading and mixing’s one thing, but changes in voices and foley is just ridiculous.

Reminds me of when I saw the Evil Dead 4K restoration in theaters. It had an all new soundtrack and it felt far too grandiose for the original micro-budget film.

IIRC the mix we’re most used to, featured on newer releases such as the Anchor Bay and Blue Underground releases, was used for international releases of the English dub, typically with the “Zombies 2” or “Zombie Flesh Eaters” title.

OpenRift412 said:

Charles Threepio said:

As far as I can remember, this original theatrical mix is different than the one most of us are used to around the point where Dr. Menard shoots the zombie as it’s getting up, the end of the “shark vs. zombie” scene, and the zombie invasion of New York (the transition there happens after “…Manhattan. General Stein…” and the anchor’s scream sounds very different in the original theatrical mix).

Very interesting to hear. Who knew a movie with such a low budget would get so many changes post-release. Regrading and mixing’s one thing, but changes in voices and foley is just ridiculous.

Reminds me of when I saw the Evil Dead 4K restoration in theaters. It had an all new soundtrack and it felt far too grandiose for the original micro-budget film.

Ditto on the new Evil Dead score. Was much too much for the movie.

Film looked incredible, though.

ThrowMeTheWhip said:

OpenRift412 said:

Charles Threepio said:

As far as I can remember, this original theatrical mix is different than the one most of us are used to around the point where Dr. Menard shoots the zombie as it’s getting up, the end of the “shark vs. zombie” scene, and the zombie invasion of New York (the transition there happens after “…Manhattan. General Stein…” and the anchor’s scream sounds very different in the original theatrical mix).

Very interesting to hear. Who knew a movie with such a low budget would get so many changes post-release. Regrading and mixing’s one thing, but changes in voices and foley is just ridiculous.

Reminds me of when I saw the Evil Dead 4K restoration in theaters. It had an all new soundtrack and it felt far too grandiose for the original micro-budget film.

Ditto on the new Evil Dead score. Was much too much for the movie.

Film looked incredible, though.

Gotta get my hands on that 4K version. I do wonder if they’re still using the version that’s digitally tampered with to edit out one of the crew members showing in a one of those blink and you’ll miss it shots. That’s what I heard on IMDb anyway.

Dek Rollins said:

OpenRift412 said:

ThrowMeTheWhip said:

OpenRift412 said:

Charles Threepio said:

As far as I can remember, this original theatrical mix is different than the one most of us are used to around the point where Dr. Menard shoots the zombie as it’s getting up, the end of the “shark vs. zombie” scene, and the zombie invasion of New York (the transition there happens after “…Manhattan. General Stein…” and the anchor’s scream sounds very different in the original theatrical mix).

Very interesting to hear. Who knew a movie with such a low budget would get so many changes post-release. Regrading and mixing’s one thing, but changes in voices and foley is just ridiculous.

Reminds me of when I saw the Evil Dead 4K restoration in theaters. It had an all new soundtrack and it felt far too grandiose for the original micro-budget film.

Ditto on the new Evil Dead score. Was much too much for the movie.

Film looked incredible, though.

Gotta get my hands on that 4K version. I do wonder if they’re still using the version that’s digitally tampered with to edit out one of the crew members showing in a one of those blink and you’ll miss it shots. That’s what I heard on IMDb anyway.

The 4K version still has the changes on the BD release with some exceptions. What comes to mind is that the lights in the background of the “they won’t let us leave” scene in front of the mangled bridge are no longer erased. I think Rob Tapert standing in the background of the bridge crossing shot is still erased, but the crewman’s reflection in the window inside the cabin is not erased anymore. The small lens flares in some shots are also no longer erased.

That’s so weird that they’d pick and choose which mistakes to keep and which to toss. It just sounds kind of silly and impractical.

mumbles_ said:

There’s a 4K version of Zombie coming in May. https://www.kultcinema.ca/zombie-1979-4k-ultrahd-blu-ray/

I heard about that. I’m interested to see what that will look like.