22 April 2021

Dawn of the Dead Press Kit issued in Italy by distributor Titanus in 1978

"Zombie - Dawn of the Dead" press kit or more precisely cartella stampa, as they are referred to by distributors in Italy. Issued by distributor Titanus "World Sales Organisation". Although issued in Italy, this press kit was intended to "All Other Territories" and could be referred to as the "Foreign Press Kit"As mentioned by Richard P. Rubinstein in his 2004 audio commentary track, Dawn of the Dead's distribution was divided into two "territories".
"Then we executed the business arrangement which basically, I don't want to sound let's say too Hollywood but, we divided up the world, in terms of distribution. Alfredo Cuomo, Claudio Argento, Dario Argento represented quote the foreign group, that would include Asia as well. Basically, oversimplified, we kept the English language world and they got everything else with the exception of Latin America which was also part of our territories rather than theirs, that was the foreign language exception and that arrangement stands to this day."  [1]

"English Language Territories" and "All Other Territories" mention.

Dawn of the Dead publicity, Variety, 4 January 1978, p. 97


Although intended to Non-English Language Territories, the press kit actually is written in English. It consists of a three-panel folder housing 13 stapled single-sided pages of production and press information. Most of the pages are just retyped pages from the US press kit. Interestingly, two Excelsior Films lobby cards, Dawn of the Dead's Belgian distributor, were included with the copy I have in my collection.

22.2 x 31.7 cm

From my personal collection.

(Click on the pictures to review them in their native resolution.)


Folder Cover

Folder Outside

Folder Inside


p. 01, Cover Page


p. 02, Tagline


p. 03, The Story *


p. 04, The Story (cont.) *


p. 05, St. Martin's Press Release *


p. 06, Press Release *


p. 07, Press Release (cont.) *


p. 08, Makeup and Special Effects *


p. 09, Cast Biographies *


p. 10, Dario Argento Biography (cont.)


p. 11, Dario Argento Biography (cont.)


p. 12, Dario Argento Biography (cont.)


p. 13, Blank


Included Excelsior Films Lobby Card 1

Included Excelsior Films Lobby Card 2

Excelsior Films stamp on the back


*  Retyped from the US Press Kit.



To quote this article

Danny Duchesneau@2021, "Dawn of the Dead Press Kit issued in Italy by distributor Titanus in 1978", Dawn of the Dead Collector's Blog, published on 22 April 2021.


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[1]  RUBINSTEIN, Richard P., Dawn of the Dead Extended Cut Audio Commentary, US, Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2004