It is one of the most memorable lines in Hollywood cinema that changed the film industry in 1968. The film was a low-budget horror film, produced for $60,000, entitled "Night of the Living Dead" and at the time, it was the scariest movie ever made as it introduced the world to flesh-eating zombies. The movie opens with sister and brother, Barbra (Judith O'Dea) and Johnny (Russell Streiner), on a Sunday joy ride, 200 miles from home traveling to place a wreath on their father's tombstone at the request of their mother. As they are walking through the cemetery Johnny once again tries scaring his sister, as he has been doing since they were kids. It is here where Johnny delivers the line that changed Hollywood forever - "They're coming to get you, Barbra" - as she is attacked by a zombie. Johnny tries to fight the zombie off but to no avail. Barbara escapes to a farmhouse, where she meets Ben (Duane Jones) and seeks safety. Soon the zombies come on full-force and more people hide in the farmhouse to get away from the zombies.
"Night of the Living Dead" was filmed in black and white and the excellent use of music adds to the spookiness of the film. Have you ever wondered how the film was created? What was used in the flesh-eating scenes? How many days the movie was shot? Well on Saturday, Aug. 1 you can have all your questions answered as writer and creator, John A. Russo, will be inducted into the Classic Film Hall of Fame, as part of the Rheem Theatre's Zombie Day, which will include the viewing of four great zombie movies.
The Zombie Day schedule is:
4 p.m. - "Fido" (2006) Comedy/Horror. In an Earthly world resembling the 1950s, a cloud of space radiation has shrouded the planet, resulting in the dead becoming zombies that desire live human flesh.
6 p.m. - "Zombieland" (2009) Comedy/Horror. A shy student is trying to reach his family in Ohio; a gun-toting tough guy is trying to find the last Twinkie; and a pair of sisters is trying to get to an amusement park and they all join forces to travel across a zombie-filled America.
8 p.m. - "Shaun of the Dead" (2004) Comedy/Horror. A man decides to turn his declining life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
9 p.m. - Zombie Costume Contest. First prize, $100 and one year of free movies and popcorn at the Lamorinda Theatres; second prize, $50 Lamorinda Theatres gift card; and third prize, $25 Lamorinda Theatres gift card.
9:15 p.m. - Induction ceremony and Q&A with John Russo.
9:30 p.m. - "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)
The world would have no "Walking Dead" or any zombie craze for that matter, if it was not for "Night of the Living Dead" and John A. Russo. Come meet Mr. Russo during Zombie Day at the Rheem Theatre on Aug. 1 and pay tribute to the man who started it all.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA