Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 black-and-white independent horror
film directed by George A. Romero. The film stars Duane Jones as Ben
and Judith O'Dea as Barbra. The plot revolves around the mysterious
reanimation of the dead and the efforts of Ben, Barbra and five others
to survive the night while trapped in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse.
Romero produced the film on the low budget of $114,000, but after a
decade of theatrical re-releases it had grossed an estimated $12
million in the United States and $30 million internationally.
Reviewers criticized the graphic contents, but three decades later the
Library of Congress placed Night of the Living Dead on the United
States National Film Registry with other films deemed "historically,
culturally or aesthetically important." The culture of Vietnam-era
America had a tremendous impact on the film. It is so thoroughly riven
with critiques of late 1960s American society that one historian
described the film as "subversive on many levels." While not the first
zombie film made, Night of the Living Dead influenced subsequent films
in the sub-genre. The film is the first of five Living Dead films
(completed or pending) directed by Romero, and has been remade twice.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Living_Dead
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1517:
According to traditional accounts, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses
onto the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, marking the
beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/95_Theses)
1863:
The New Zealand land wars resumed as British forces in New Zealand led
by General Duncan Cameron began their Invasion of the Waikato along
the Waikato River.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_the_Waikato)
1922:
Benito Mussolini became the youngest Premier in the history of Italy
at age 39.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini)
1941:
Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers completed the colossal busts of U.S.
Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt,
and Abraham Lincoln at Mount Rushmore.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore)
1984:
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India was assassinated by two of her
own bodyguards. Riots soon broke out in New Delhi.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
-- John Keats
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Keats)