Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti (1974)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jorge Grau

Writers:

Sandro Continenza (writer)
Marcello Coscia (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

1975 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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 | Police

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		writer (uncredited)
Sandro Continenza		writer
Marcello Coscia		writer
Miguel Rubio		writer (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
Manuel Pérez	....	production manager (as Manolo Pérez)
Giuliano Principato	....	unit manager

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

• Flaminia Produzioni Cinematografiche
• Star Films S.A.

Distributors

• Hallmark Releasing Corp. (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (a Newport release) (dubbed)
• 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)
• Century Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS) (as "A Revanche dos Mortos-Vivos II")
• Divisa Home Video (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
• Fida Cinematografica
• Mercurio Films S.A. (Spain)
• Poderosa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS) (as "Zumbi 3")
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD) (as "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie")

Other Companies

• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs

Also Known As:

Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue
Do Not Speak Ill of the Dead (International: English title) (literal title)
Don't Open the Window (USA)
Fin de semana para los muertos (Spain) (working title)
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (USA)
No profanar el sueño de los muertos (Spain)
No se debe profanar el sueño de los muertos (Spain) (informal title)
Sleeping Corpses Lie
The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (UK)
Zombi 3 (Da dove vieni?) (Italy)

Runtime:

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

Country:

Spain | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Barnes Hospital, Cheadle, Cheshire, England, UK

Company:

Flaminia Produzioni Cinematografiche

Trivia:

The cemetery scenes in the film were shot at the historical English graveyard where Robin Hood's Little John is said to have been laid to rest. The production experienced trouble though when tourists arrived to see the crew (and their garbage) hanging around the cemetery. Complaints were made and the film crew was forced to wrap shots in the cemetery in 24 hours.

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:

Referenced in Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Stylish, but regretfully overlooked zombie fun!

Corpses who seem to have risen from their graves infest an isolated piece of countryside and walk among the living again…Shortsighted and prejudiced critics might easily refer to this as another gem that tries to pick in on the success of George A. Romero's classic `Night of the Living Dead'. On top of that, `Let Sleeping Corpses Lie' is an early 70's Spanish/Italian co-production and those movies automatically get categorized as meaningless garbage. But, if you decide to ignore this movie due to these reasons, it's your loss. You'll miss out on one of the most imaginative and clever zombie films ever made! Jorge Grau's modest horror masterpiece is stuffed with ingenious findings, strong plot-twists and adorable black humor. And surprisingly great acting too, as Ray Lovelock (Autopsy) and Christina Galbo (What have you done to Solange) form a lovely horror couple. They're stuck with each other after a silly accident and continue their trip together. Ending up in a quiet little village, they discover that experiments with ultrasonic agriculture methods have disastrous effects on the nerve systems of primitive life forms, causing babies to act homicidal and the dead to live again. The dumb cops, however, have no ears for the warnings and the Inspector considers the couple to be Bonnie and Clyde-like Satanists. `Let Sleeping Corpses Lie' is an excellent horror film with a lot of style and substance. The film contains a lot less nauseating butchering than you might expect but the few sequences in which zombies are devouring their victims are pretty damn gory. The photography is beautiful and you should be prepared for a few impressive shocks that'll hit you like a ten-ton hammer. Highly recommended to all horror fans!