Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti (1974)

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 | Farmer | Human Flesh | 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		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)
• Blue Underground (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 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)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD) (as "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie")

Other Companies

• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs

Also Known As:

The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (UK) (USA)
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
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 films bizarre alternate title "Don't Open the Window" inspired Edgar Wright to make his mock-trailer "Don't" for the film Grindhouse (2007).

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: Hail Hitler!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shaun of the Dead (2004)

A Living Dead masterpiece

The opening ten minutes of this film present a skewed, cynical perspective of society. As our "hero" rides through London on his way to the countryside, Spanish director George Grau feeds us endless images of choked traffic, smoke spewing from grates, commuters filing onto buses like zombies and, finally, a quick shot of a naked woman dashing across a busy street. We notice her, but nobody else does, they're too damn occupied with their own busy lives.

It's a theme revisited in 2004's SHAUN OF THE DEAD, another zombie film with intelligence behind it, but in LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE, it's purely subtext, but it's subtext that works on us like a spreading virus.

As George Romero suggested -- in "Night of The Living Dead" -- that radiation from a downed satellite may have been responsible for the revival of the long gone and recently deceased, Grau is more overt as he links what looks like a piece of farming machinery to the resurrection of the dead.

This film's effectiveness is due to its deliberate pacing and detail-oriented direction. A principle that horror is unexpected in the sunshine is applied to the film's first half as the stumbling dead begin to multiply.

The final showdown in a hospital (The Manchester Morgue) has a graphic, savage nature to it that restates the subtle subtext.

Like great Spanish horror directors before him, George Grau brings a respect for the genre to this moderate masterpiece and his sincerity overcomes the occasional plot snag.

Horror is about fear, and not just fear of the unknown, it's also about the fear of knowing too much.

Perhaps it is best to glide through life like a zombie, oblivious to the changes around you.

LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE was a milestone for horror movies.