Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti (original title)

Director:

Jorge Grau

Writers:

Sandro Continenza
Marcello Coscia
(more)

Release Date:

1 June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

One of the best zombie films ever made.

Plot:

A cop chases two hippies suspected of a series of Manson family-like murders; unbeknownst to him, the real culprits are the living dead, brought to life with a thirst for human flesh by chemical pesticides being used by area farmers.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Radiation | Human Flesh | Farmer | Living Dead

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Cristina Galbó	...	Edna (as Christine Galbo)
Ray Lovelock	...	George
Arthur Kennedy	...	The Inspector
Aldo Massasso	...	Kinsey
Giorgio Trestini	...	Craig
Roberto Posse	...	Benson
José Lifante	...	Martin (as Jose Ruiz Lifante)
Jeannine Mestre	...	Katie
Gengher Gatti	...	Keith
Fernando Hilbeck	...	Guthrie
Vera Drudi	...	Mary
Vicente Vega	...	Dr. Duffield
Francisco Sanz	...	Perkins
Paul Benson	...	Wood
Anita Colby	...	Nurse
Joaquín Hinojosa	...	Autopsy Doctor
Vito Salier	...	Naked Man
Isabel Mestres	...	Telephonist

Directed by
Jorge Grau

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Juan Cobos		uncredited
Sandro Continenza
Marcello Coscia
Miguel Rubio		uncredited

Produced by
Edmondo Amati	....	producer
Manuel Pérez	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Giuliano Sorgini

Cinematography by
Francisco Sempere

Film Editing by
Domingo García
Vincenzo Tomassi

Production Design by
Carlo Leva

Art Direction by
Rafael Ferri

Makeup Department
Carboni	....	wig maker
Giannetto De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Rocchetti	....	wig maker

Production Management
Felice D'Alisera	....	production manager
Julio Parra	....	unit manager
Giuliano Principato	....	unit manager
Manuel Pérez	....	production manager (as Manolo Pérez)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gianni Arduini	....	assistant director (as Giovanni Arduini)

Sound Department
Nick Alexander	....	dubbing editor
Antonio Cárdenas	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Juan Antonio Balandín	....	special effects
Luciano Byrd	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Giannetto De Rossi	....	special optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Enzo Frattari	....	camera operator
Ramón Sempere	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carmen de la Casa	....	seamstress

Music Department
Giuliano Sorgini	....	conductor

Other crew
Eva Del Castillo	....	continuity
Julio Parra	....	production supervisor

Production Companies

• Star Films S.A.
• Flaminia Produzioni Cinematografiche (co-production)

Distributors

• Fida Cinematografica (1974) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Hallmark Releasing (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (a Newport release) (dubbed)
• Mercurio Films S.A. (1975) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1976) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed) (cut version)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Blue Underground (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Century Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS) (as "A Revanche dos Mortos-Vivos II")
• Divisa Home Video (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
• Poderosa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS) (as "Zumbi 3")
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD) (as "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie")

Other Companies

• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs

Also Known As:

"Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti" - Spain (original title)
"The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue" - UK, USA
"Do Not Speak Ill of the Dead" - International (English title) (literal title)
"Don't Open the Window" - USA

Runtime:

Italy:95 min | Spain:93 min | USA:85 min (R-rated version) | USA:93 min (unrated version)

Country:

Spain | Italy

Language:

Italian | Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Australia:R | France:-16 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | UK:18 | UK:X (cut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Finland:K-18 | Germany:(Banned) (2000) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Italy:VM18 | Australia:MA (2009)

Filming Locations:

Barnes Hospital, Cheadle, Cheshire, England, UK

Company:

Star Films S.A.

Trivia:

Director Jorge Grau purposely cast an actress known for having a flat chest in the role of the nurse so that a fake chest piece could be applied that the zombies could tear into for her death scene.

Goofs:

Factual errors: If you look at the lettering on the door while the police and George are at the Old Owl, you can see that owl is mistakenly spelled "Olw".

Quotes:

George:The dead don't walk around, except in very bad paperback novels!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Eurotika!: Blood and Sand (#1.11)" (1999)

Now THIS is a zombie movie!

I've been a fan of zombie films for pretty much the same amount of time that I've been a fan of films, and I thought I'd seen just about all there is to see from the horror sub-genre. So you can imagine my surprise then when I came across this hidden gem! Let Sleeping Corpses Lie does everything that you would want a zombie film to do; it has gore, shocks, atmosphere, humour, intrigue and a typically thin plot line, which allows the film to put more emphasis on the more important aspects, rather than swamping itself in needless plot details. Of course, the film does somewhat cash in on the success of George Romero's zombie milestone; 'Night of the Living Dead', but really; it's almost impossible for a post-Night zombie film to not have that comment lauded upon it, and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie has enough about it to more than adequately rise above the Night of the Living Dead rip-off's. The classically styled zombie film story follows a group of farmers that create a machine to kill insects with ultra violet rays. However, this contraption does more than it says on the tin, as recently deceased members of the public start popping up, just around the same time that George and Edna; two people that came together after an accident, roll into town.

Ray Lovelock takes the title role, and looks the part as a young London man. His style, along with very over the top dubbed in London accent work a treat, and his performance adds something of a sense of humour to the picture. Christina Galbó has less to do opposite Lovelock, but she does well with what she has and makes for a good heroine. The film starts off rather slowly, but the relaxed pace never makes the film boring, but it does add to the film when the horror really starts; as we're sufficiently on the edge of our seats by then. Director Jorge Grau creates a fabulous atmosphere through his English countryside setting, and I personally thought it made a very nice change for the zombie antics to be set in the English countryside rather than America, as they usually are. Despite the fact that this is an Italian film, the filmmakers have managed to implement a great British feel to the movie, and the movie feels something like a fusion between Italian and Hammer horror. This is certainly a plot line that Hammer would have taken on! The gore in the film is few and far between, but when it's on screen, you'll definitely know about it, as it doesn't exactly hold back! On the whole, I think it's criminal that this film hasn't won itself more recognition. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie is a film that I wont hesitate to name as one of the best zombie films ever made, and it therefore comes with the highest recommendation!